Ahhh, summertime is finally here again, and with that comes vacation getaways for many. All you want to do is get away and relax, get a tan, do some shopping or maybe dine out. Then, out of no where, it happens. You get a toothache or a broken tooth, or some other dental emergency happens and you don’t know what to do! Dental emergencies don’t take vacations, but Dr. Joy Lunan can give you some tips to take with you so you can still enjoy your getaway. 

Broken or Chipped Tooth – Rinse your mouth out with warm water. Apply gauze or a clean cloth to any areas that may be bleeding and apply pressure until it stops. A cool compress can be rested against the face to soothe the area if there is pain or swelling involved.

Lost Filling – Try filling the area with something sticky like sugarless gum or wax until you can get to a dentist. You can even find temporary filling material in a drugstore to use if you prefer. 

Knocked out Tooth  – If you can find the tooth rinse it off and try to put it back into the socket immediately. If this is not possible then keep the tooth in milk (is best) or water (if no milk is available) and get to a local dentist. The most important thing is to get the tooth back into it’s socket as soon as possible. 

Crown Came Out – Save the crown, rinse it off if needed, and place a small amout of wax or denture adhesive inside it. Place it back onto the tooth until you can get to a dentist.

Loose of Broken Bracket or Ortho Wire – A loose bracket can be reattahced temporarily with wax or denture adhensive. A loose band will wait until you see your dentist. A broken wire will need a small piece of pencil eraser or wax stuck onto the end of it so it doesn’t keep poking you. 

Dental emergencies happen all the time when people are on vacation. The best thing to do is to plan ahead and see Dr. Lunan before your trip. Mention any sensitive areas to her so she can address anything that may become problematic while you are away. If you are currently in treatment, try to finish it up beofre you leave. Gather your dental insurance information and Dr. Lunan’s phone number to keep handy just in case you need it while you are away. (203) 598-7920

With these tips you should be on your way back to smiling and back into that hammock.  Enjoy your summer from all of us at Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office in Middlebury, CT.   www.middleburydentist.com