Emergency Dental First Aid Kit

Suffering a dental injury is always stressful and often very painful. Having it happen during a crisis takes it to a whole other level. Being prepared for these events provides you with options and buys you time until you can get to a dentist. An emergency dental kit consists of tools and supplies to address dental injuries when professional help isn’t available.

 

In this article, we show you how to put together your own dental first-aid kit and discuss how it can add tremendous value to your preparations. We also review a basic list of materials, tools, and supplies that you may want to include in your kit.

The Set-Up:

Most people, no matter how ill-prepared they may be, usually have some basic first aid supplies or a store-bought kit. (Think bandages, antibiotic cream, gauze, etc.) Few people store or know how to use more advanced first aid supplies. Fewer still have a dental first aid kit. This may be for a number of reasons. Chief among them is that people usually feel very uncomfortable treating dental emergencies, and this is understandable. Dental injuries are scary and painful and can get very complicated in a big hurry. Under normal circumstances, you call your dentist and grab the first appointment. A few hours in the dreaded chair and you’ll probably be all-better. But what if there’s an ongoing crisis, or you’re far enough off-grid that no dentist is available?

Further, imagine that you, or a member of your group, has a dental emergency that just won’t wait and requires immediate intervention. While you may not be qualified to treat such an emergency, you can certainly do everything possible to stabilize the injury, bring relief/comfort, and try to avoid complications. Having a dental first aid kit is the first step in this process, it gives you options and provides access to much-needed tools and supplies.

Basic Dental Kit:

Putting together a basic dental kit is not difficult. Some of the items/medications listed below require a prescription, but there are many over-the-counter (OTC) options. Feel free to add any other supplies you may want; this is just a starting point. And don’t forget to get printed materials or a book(s) to help you navigate the most common types of injuries. Getting quality first aid training (medical and dental) would be even better.

·      Peridex Oral Rinse(Chlorhexidine Gluconate 0.12%) (Prescription) Peridex is a germicidal mouthwash that reduces bacteria in the mouth. It is also used to treat swelling, redness, and bleeding gums. This medicine is usually prescribed by a dentist.

·      HurriCaine (20% Benzocaine Oral Anesthetic) (Prescription) Benzocaine is used short-term to relieve pain from minor mouth problems (such as toothache, canker sores, sore gums/throat, and mouth/gum injuries). It is a local anesthetic that works by numbing the painful area. (Clove Oil and some other OTC options, are a good plan “B” but normally not as effective.) (Warning: According to the Mayo Clinic, products containing benzocaine may be linked to serious injury. Consult with your dentist or healthcare professional before using these products.)

·      Triamcinolone Acetonide (Dental Paste 0.1%) (Prescription) This medication is used for the temporary relief of symptoms, including sores and other injuries. This dental paste sticks to the inside of the mouth/cheeks/gums. It works by reducing the swelling, itching, and pain. This medication is known as a medium-strength corticosteroid. (Clean the mouth well, and apply a small amount with a cotton swab; don’t rub in. The best time to apply is bedtime. Avoid eating or drinking after application.

·      Denture Adhesive Cream (OTC) is Helpful for temporarily securing dentures, oral appliances, and loose crowns.

·      Mouth Guard (Dental Guard) (OTC): A custom-fitted guard will protect teeth but can also be used for securing loose teeth or teeth that have fallen out and been reinserted. You should have one for each member of your group, and you’ll need to take a prior impression of their teeth. (Label each guard by name.) (Mayo Clinic Tooth Loss Overview.)

·      Dental Tools (OTC) Dental tools for hygiene, cleaning, scraping, applying medications, adhesives, dental bonding agents, or more invasive emergency procedures. (Make sure to also include brush picks, floss, toothbrushes, dental irrigation syringes, etc., and sterilize all tools before using them.)

·      Dentak Temparin Max(Dental Repair Kit) (OTC) Is Used to temporarily repair or secure caps and filings.

·      Antibiotics – (Prescription) Used to treat infections. (Amoxicillin, penicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, azithromycin.) Consult with your healthcare professional about which antibiotic would be best for you. (Note: You should already have some antibiotics and medical supplies as part of your medical first aid kit. See Survival Medications, American Cop (July 2024).

·      General Supplies: Cotton swabs, cotton balls, gauze pads (various sizes), alcohol prep pads, toothpaste, gloves, distilled water, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, table salt, OTC pain/fever reliever, and OTC medications to reduce inflammation.

This is just a basic starting point and is not all-inclusive. Add to this kit as your circumstances and conditions dictate. I also recommend that you become familiar with basic dental and medical first aid. There are some very useful books and online resources. Also, consider taking a quality first aid class.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Where There is no Dentist; by Murray Dickson. (2021 Edition)
2. The Survival Medical Handbook by Joseph Alton, MD (2021 Edition) (this book covers medical first aid, but also has a section on dental first aid.)
3. Tactical First Aid and System Collapse Medicine class at Active Response Training.

Wrap-Up

Medical and dental emergencies will happen. A large part of “being prepared” is knowing that things will go wrong, and planning accordingly. Having the knowledge, skills, supplies, and tools will help you manage many situations. A basic dental first aid kit is a good start, but as your skill and knowledge level increases, consider building out your kit to a more advanced level.

Stay safe and be prepared.

About The Author

Richard is a retired attorney, an urban survival consultant, writer, firearms enthusiast, and freedom-loving American patriot. He’s the author of Surviving Doomsday: A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster, and The Quick Start Guide for Urban Preparedness. Richard’s books are available at Amazon and other fine retailers. You can connect with Richard on Twitter @SurvivingDoomsd.

 

Sources:

www.mayoclinic.org

www.activeresponsetraining.net

 

DISCLAIMER

The materials provided are for illustration and/or informational purposes only, and are not, nor are they intended to provide any sort of technical, medical or professional advice. Any use of the information contained in this article shall be solely at the reader’s risk. Readers should consult with an appropriate professional before using any medical/dental supplies, tools, and/or medications.