Two Items To Include In Your Dental Emergency Kit
Posted on: 18 September 2015
When you are experiencing a dental emergency, you may feel a tremendous amount of stress and pain. However, it is important to note that there are steps you can take to be better prepared for these events when they arise. In particular, you should have a dental emergency kit prepared to ensure that you have the items you need to address emergencies when they strike. If this is a step that you have never seriously considered, there are two items that you should make sure to avoid overlooking in your kit.
Orthodontic Wax
There are some people that assume orthodontic wax is only useful for individuals that have braces. While it is true that this wax can be invaluable to these patients, there are many uses for this substance during a dental emergency. For example, it can be placed over a chipped tooth to help protect it from bacteria.
Before placing the wax over the injured tooth, you should thoroughly clean the tooth first to ensure you are not trapping bacteria inside it. This may cause discomfort, but it can drastically reduce the chances of your tooth developing an infection.
Temporary Dental Filling
While it is always best to see a dentist as soon as possible when your teeth have suffered damage, there may be times where you simply have to wait a couple of days before this can happen. In these instances, you will need to cap the damaged tooth with a more durable substance than orthodontic wax because the wax will only last for a couple of hours at a time before it needs to be reapplied.
To this end, temporary dental filling can be a great option that is available at most pharmacies. This is essential a temporary cement that can be applied over the damaged area of the tooth. It will harden to form a protective layer, but your dentist will be able to easily remove it before applying the permanent filling.
When you are making a dental emergency kit, it is vital to include items that will allow you to safely protect your damaged tooth until you are able to get it treated. By including orthodontic wax and temporary dental filling, it is possible for you to ensure that you are prepared to keep your damaged tooth safe while you are waiting to get treatment. While preparing these kits will may seem inconvenient or expensive, they can prove invaluable when your smile is being threatened by a dental emergency. For more information on dental emergency response, contact a professional like Milan Simanek DDS.
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