We love being outside so much that we even named our dental clinic in Seton, Calgary Outdoor Dental. Like anything, the great outdoors can have some drawbacks. For instance: there’s no dentist out there! What would you do if you experienced a dental emergency like a toothache and you were far away from your dentist? Before you hit the trails or the slopes, ensure you have an outdoor emergency kit.
Protect Yourself with an Outdoor Emergency Kit
Nearly every outdoor enthusiast has had visions of Tom Hanks in Cast Away. The scene where he is in so much pain that he is willing to extract a tooth with an ice skate is enough to make anyone shudder.
Thankfully, you don’t have to resort to that, as long as you take an outdoor emergency kit with you. These kits are first-aid for your teeth. If you experience a toothache or need emergency dental care for children, these will help until you or your child can see your southeast Calgary dentist.
10 Items Every Outdoor Dental Kit Should Contain According to Your Calgary Dentist
You can find ready-to-go outdoor dental kits online or even at a nearby pharmacy. Some people choose to purchase products individually and put their own kits together. Whatever you decide to do, make sure your kit contains the following 9 items.
1. Gloves:
You don’t want to make a bad thing worse by sticking dirty fingers in your mouth. If you have a dental emergency, be sure to wear gloves.
2. Toothache Drops, Numbing Gel or Cloves:
If you’re having a toothache, you’re going to want to be put out of your misery as quickly as possible. Numbing drops or gel, as well as cloves or clove oil, will do the trick.
3. Temporary Cavity Filling Material:
Losing a filling or fracturing a tooth can cause pain and sensitivity to heat and cold. Over-the-counter temporary filling material will prevent further discomfort and adds stability to the tooth.
4. Temporary Dental Cement for Crowns:
If you have a crown, you’ll want to have some temporary cement with you just in case it pops off. Temporarily re-cementing the crown will prevent discomfort and shifting of the adjacent teeth. Important note: do not ever use super glue. Super glue can kill a tooth, leading to a root canal and a crown, or an extraction. Avoid super glue and go with the temporary cement.
5. Floss:
Yes, you should be flossing daily. However, in a dental emergency, dental floss is yet another tool in your arsenal. If you need to place a temporary filling or temporarily re-cement a crown you will need to remove excess material from in between your teeth with the floss. Cement or filling material between the teeth can lead to gum irritation.
6. Gauze or Cotton:
Before placing a filling or re-cementing a crown, it’s important to keep the tooth as dry as possible.
7. Disinfecting Wipes:
Use these to clean your hands before gloving them, and to disinfect a crown before re-cementing it.
8. Tweezers:
These are great for placing materials in the mouth, which can be difficult to do with your fingers.
9. Denture Repair Materials:
Both full and partial dentures can be broken. Avoid going without teeth by packing some denture repair materials.
10. Aluminum Foil:
Sport dentists swear by tinfoil. If you find a loose tooth after a fall, use tinfoil. Simply cut a piece of tin foil in small strips and no bigger than a gum wrapper. Curl up the foil to create a splint for your loose tooth while you’re emergency dentist is out of reach.
Don’t Let a Dental Emergency Catch You Unaware
A toothache or other emergency is never fun, but they’re even worse when you’re nowhere near your dentist. Avoid having a traumatic camping our hiking experience by being well prepared with an outdoor emergency kit.
For more information about what items to take along on your camping trip,
contact Outdoor Dental in Calgary. Dr. Patel and the friendly staff are outdoor enthusiasts too and can offer some great dental tips for active families in southeast Calgary.
