How Should You Prepare Your First Aid Kit with Oral Injuries in Mind?

Most of our first aid kits at home can handle minor injuries such as bumps and bruises? But is it prepared to handle a dental injury? Dental injuries are actually quite common in both adults and children and with a few items from that drugstore; you can make your own dental first aid kit in your home.

You can use a dental first aid kit to treat minor dental injuries and irritations. It can help relieve or control major dental problems until the patient can go to the dentist or doctor.

Here are the recommended items in your personal dental first aid kit:

• Aspirin or aspirin substitute
• Antiseptic oral cleanser
• Bottled water
• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs
• Dental mirror
• Dental floss
• Sterile gauze
• Sealable plastic bag
• Toothbrush
• Tweezers
• Wash cloth
• Oral pain relieving gel
• Instant ice pack
• Salt
• Paraffin or dental wax
• Medical exam gloves

Here are some tips to handle common dental emergencies:

Broken Tooth

Clean the dirt or debris from the injured area gently and slowly. You can use an antiseptic oral cleanser to clean the tooth. Apply cold compress on the face in the area of injury to lessen the swelling. Apply paraffin or dental wax on the sharp edge of the broken tooth to prevent damaging the nearby tissue. You need to go to the dentist immediately.

Canker or mouth sore

Canker sores are small white wounds that appear on the insides of the mouth and on the cheek, gums or tongue. It is commonly caused by burns from hot foods, cheek biting, brushing too hard and irritation from dentures or braces. You can rinse your mouth using oxygenating cleanser to removed food particles and other irritants from the sore and promote tissue healing. You can also apply oral pain relieving gel for lasting pain relief and acts as a barrier so that you can eat and drink comfortably.

Toothache

If you have a toothache, use a floss to get rid of any food trapped between the teeth and you can rinse it with warm water afterwards. Apply cold compress or ice pack on the inside of the cheek if you noticed some swelling. Leave it on for 20 minutes and allow a 20 minutes’ rest time before applying it again. You may over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as aspirin or aspirin substitute orally to relieve pain. Never place anything directly on the gum tissue since it may exacerbate the injury. Go to your dentist as soon as you can.

Knocked out tooth

It is important to retrieve the tooth if possible. Place it in a container with milk, salt water or the patient’s own saliva. Only use water if these are unavailable. If it is a permanent tooth, then it is important not to touch the root and gently insert the tooth back into the socket and go to the dentist immediately.

Your dentist will make a thorough examination of your teeth, gums and mouth for signs of disease or other conditions. Its purpose is to help you stay in good dental health and avoid complications by addressing different problems from the beginning.