Wednesday, July 27, 2011

We Hope Your Teeth Have a Great Vacation!


It’s thankfully that time of year. The bags are packed and the car is full of gas and ready to go. The dog is at the kennel and your email has an autoreply message saying: I’m on vacation! We hope you enjoy any adventures that you have planned. Life is short so have some fun.

Of course, being away from the city means you’re going to be away from your dentist (don’t be to upset). We thought we would give you some helpful hints to keep your teeth healthy and prepared just in case your teeth misbehave while you’re not in Montreal.

Pack this stuff in your toiletry bag just in case...

For pain relief: Ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) is a great pain killer for dental pain and is safe to take for most people.

In case you lose a piece of a filling, or a crown pops off: Use Dentemp. It’s available at most pharmacies and is great to temporarily fill a hole or recement a crown.

If you lose a tooth: It’s good to know what to do if a tooth gets accidentally knocked out. Obviously, its essential to find a dentist ASAP. In the meantime however, the best way to increase the chance of successfully replanting  the tooth is to do the following: Do not touch the root of the tooth. Place it in an empty medication vial with cold milk or Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (Its a liquid specifically meant for this and is available at the pharmacy). Then go to a dentist within an hour.

If you get food stuck between your teeth: We all know the feeling after a yummy steak dinner. This one’s obvious-floss!

For cut gums/lips/tissue around the mouth: Apply clean gauze and wound disinfectant like peroxide. For minor bleeding in the mouth, applying pressure is the best way to get the situation under control. Afterwards, rinsing with warm salt water is a great way to help the wound heal.

That concludes your very own dental emergency kit. Simple, small and handy. When you get back call us and we will be happy to help in any way.

For those of you hanging around this summer, Retter Dental Care is open all summer long during our regular hours should you need us or have any concerns. Have a wonderful season and don’t forget to brush, floss and smile!

The Retter Dental Care team