When you leave home for your big summer excursion, you may not be expecting to have to deal with a dental emergency. Unfortunately, severe toothaches and other urgent dental issues can strike at any time – even while you’re in the middle of a vacation. To make sure that you’re properly prepared for the worst-case scenario, here are 3 tips for handling dental emergencies while you’re away from home.
1. Look Up Dentists in the Area Ahead of Time
In order to ensure that you’re able to get the care you need as quickly as possible during a dental emergency, it’s a good idea to research dental practices in the area you’re staying. Try to find a dentist who offers same-day appointments and is willing to accept your dental insurance. That way, you’ll already know who to call when an urgent dental issue occurs.
2. Put Together a Dental Emergency Kit
It pays to be prepared for unexpected oral health issues. When you’re packing for your vacation, you can create a kit that contains the essentials that you need for dealing with dental emergencies. Some of the items that should be in this kit include:
- Saline solution and a small container that you can put a knocked-out tooth in.
- Gauze to put a stop to any oral bleeding that might occur.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Dental floss.
3. Learn About Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Knowing what steps to take to manage a particular dental emergency can help you prevent the issue from growing worse before you can see a dentist. Here are a few examples:
- For a toothache, you can manage your discomfort with pain medication, and you can reduce any swelling with a cold compress. In some cases, the pain may be caused by something stuck between your teeth; to rule out this possibility, floss around the tooth in question.
- If a tooth is damaged in an accident, you should avoid directly biting or chewing with it. To protect your soft oral tissues, cover any sharp edges on the tooth with sugarless gum or dental wax.
- Should a tooth be knocked out of your mouth entirely, pick it up by the end used for chewing and rinse off any debris. Then try to place it back in its socket; if that’s not possible, put it in saline solution or milk instead. You could lose your chance to save the tooth if you wait too long, so strive to see a dentist within 30 minutes after the initial injury.
By keeping the above tips in mind, you can enjoy your summer vacation to the fullest while knowing that you’re well-prepared to handle any dental emergencies that come your way.
About the Author
Dr. Gus Bal is a graduate of Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He has been voted as “Best Dentist in Scarborough” for several years in a row by the Reader’s Choice Awards. He knows time is of the essence during a dental emergency, which is why he offers same-day appointments at Fisher Dental in Nepean. If you have an urgent dental issue and need to schedule an emergency appointment, you can contact Dr. Bal by calling (613) 727-0990, or you can use his online booking tool.