A dental Medical Emergency kit? Really? TRICARE suggests having one close by. Then I thought that it really can’t hurt having a few extra items in the car. Honestly, I had never heard of ‘tooth filling’ before. I guess, you never stop learning.

Whether you are traveling or playing a sport, dental emergencies are sudden, often painful, and can lead to a permanent problem. If a dental emergency does happen, the most important step is to get to a dentist as quickly as possible. But what if you or someone else needs help right away?

Below read TRICARE’s suggestions to a Dental Emergency Kit, this is what Adrienne, one of my blog readers added:

“I used to work in a dental office before having kids, and we’d see people who had tried to glue a broken crown back together before putting it back on their tooth, or had put glue on their broken tooth etc.

• NEVER use anything permanent to try and fix it. It will take more time, work and $$$ to have it repaired once you get to a dentist.

• I recommend have gauze pads (if a tooth gets knocked out roll/fold the gauze and put in place of the tooth, and apply light pressure) it will help keep the bleeding under control, as well as keep bacteria out of/away from the area if the tooth doesn’t slide back in easily.

• Toothpaste (any kind will do) or vaseline will definitely still work fine with any crown coming off.”

THANK YOU, Adrienne!

Suggestions to include:

• Cotton swabs—use to clean the area or as applicators n Cotton balls—use to help control bleeding

• Alcohol wipes—use to clean and disinfect area n Dental floss—use to dislodge food particles stuck between teeth n Dental mirror—use to view inside of mouth

• Latex gloves—wear if assisting someone other than yourself (use vinyl gloves if allergic to latex)

• Salt—combine with water to rinse mouth if cheek, gums or tongue are injured (also can use a pinch in water to transport a knocked-out tooth to the dentist, if milk is not available and tooth will not easily go back in socket)

• Dental wax—use to coat sharp edges of braces wires or other orthodontia

• Temporary dental filling material—can be used to temporarily fill a tooth where a filling was lost

• Vaseline—apply to dislodged crown and slip back over tooth for temporary seal

• Cold compress—use to reduce swelling

My personal experience: I had a crown fall out before and I was able to stick it back with white toothpaste until I saw a dentist. That was a few years ago and there are so many different kinds of toothpaste nowadays. Just try it – to hold you over until you are in the dentist’s chair.

Don’t forget to see your dentist as soon as possible in a dental emergency. Often just a few minutes can mean the difference between saving a tooth and replacing one!
For information on the TRICARE Dental Program, or to find more “Dental Health 911” tips, visit us online at www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com.