You’ve come a long way to enjoy your summer vacation. Not just physically – a lot of mental stress has built up to this trip. Everyone needs a break from time to time, which is why you shouldn’t let something like a dental emergency take over. But when someone loses a tooth or complains about oral aches, your first reaction might be to panic.
This is fair, especially since you’re in an unfamiliar location. Keep reading so you’ll know what to do if someone’s pearly white is in jeopardy.
Dental First Aid: Take Stock and Take Action
Give yourself a moment to take a deep breath and analyze the situation. What happened? What’s wrong? What are your loved one’s symptoms? Focus on what they need in the moment first. Staunch any bleeding with a soft cloth and let them take the appropriate pain relievers.
Now that your loved one is taken care of, you can look for their knocked-out tooth or dental fragment if there is one. It’s not a good idea to touch exposed dental roots or wrap anything up, but you can briefly wash the tooth with temperate tap water. To help preserve it, tuck it away in a container to soak in milk or saliva.
Contact A Local Emergency Dentist
You’ll likely be able to find a reliable emergency dentist with a quick Google search. However, you can also ask your travel insurance provider or a hotel concierge for recommendations. Some word of mouth might give you peace of mind.
Once you make it to a local emergency dentist, they’ll promptly examine the situation, administer any necessary pain relief measures, and keep you in the loop about treatment options. In that way, the process will be similar to how it would be at home. Just be sure to record the local emergency dentist’s contact details and take appointment notes. That’ll make it easier to relay information to your local dentist during a follow-up.
Have Fun, But Be Careful and Mind Your Tooth
After all of that, you’ll be free to return to your summer vacation – while also taking care to follow any recovery instructions, of course. You should also pay attention to the affected tooth. Let it heal and be gentle with it, avoiding hard foods and crunchy snacks. If you notice swelling, apply a cold compress. And keep in mind that you can always call the local emergency dentist if something doesn’t seem right.
Check In with Your Dentist After Checking Out
When you return home, you have just a little bit more dental homework to do. Even if everything seems fine with the affected tooth, you should have your regular dentist take a look at it. This will further ensure that treatment is going smoothly and nothing’s amiss.
We hope that your summer fun isn’t disturbed by a nerve-wracking dental emergency. But if you do experience one while you’re away, you can feel reassured knowing that you’re prepared to handle it.
About the Practice
Our team at OakBrook Dental & Orthodontics have a variety of dental experiences and specializations. This means we’re well-equipped to handle whatever dental emergency life might throw at you! If you’re visiting from out of town or are a local in need of urgent dental assistance, call our office at 469-526-4040. We’ll provide you with prompt and comfortable treatment.