Newsletter - June 2013 Issue

Your Teeth Deserve A Vacation

The suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, the dog is in the kennel and it is time for the summer vacation! There is no better time for relaxing at the beach, exploring a fascinating city or just enjoying the outdoors. Being miles away from home always makes it less stressful and more fun. But being miles away from home means that you are far from us-your favorite dental office! And while there is no way to prevent a dental emergency from happening while you are away from home, there are a few items you can bring on vacation to make things more pleasant should an emergency situation arise. You can even throw several items into a cosmetics bag and make your own "Dental Emergency Kit!"

Pain relief: Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil or generic is usually safe and effective to use for minor dental discomfort.

Lost filling or crown: "Dentemp One Step Filling Material" is a good temporary solution for replacing a crown (cap) or protecting an area exposed by a lost filling. This is available at most drug stores.

Broken denture: "The D.O.C. Denture Repair Kit" works as a short term measure to adhere a lost denture tooth or repair a cracked denture. Also available at most drugstores.

Lost tooth: Carry an empty prescription medical vial. Should an accident occur and an adult tooth is lost with the root intact-DO NOT clean or handle the root. Place it in the medicine vial along with some liquid, preferably milk and seek dental attention immediately. The longer the tooth is out of the socket the less chance there is for the tooth to reattach to the bone.

Food or other item stuck between the teeth: This can be a very uncomfortable situation, be sure to have dental floss on hand to remove any item stuck between the teeth. You should be carrying dental floss with you anyway.

Cut on the gums, lip or tongue: As with bleeding anywhere in the body, pressure with a clean gauze or cloth is the first line of treatment. If the bleeding doesn't stop seek medical help immediately.

For many minor dental irritations of the teeth, gums and mouth, a good old-fashioned salt water rinse can give temporary relief. We are not big fans of Ambesol Gel as there are many side effects and over usage can harm the mouth tissues.

So there you have it-your very own travel dental emergency kit! The most important thing to remember that all solutions presented here are temporary in nature. Should an emergency arise, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Call our office today to schedule your appointment before heading to your summer getaway!

At DentalFlossophy, we are always here for you, even if you are away from home. If you have any questions about a dental emergency or anything else dentally related give us a call at 817-466-9972. Have a safe, healthy vacation and don't forget to brush and floss.

For more information or to book your appointment, please email us at flossopphy@yahoo.com or call us at 817-466-9972.

Have a great day!

Dr. Nancy Bui