DIY Dental Repair

A dental emergency can be a horrible experience, especially if you cannot get to a dentist right away. Fortunately, there are a few things that can be done at home to make the pain manageable until you can make an appointment with a dentist.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 cup of warm water
• Over-the-counter dental emergency kit
• Over-the-counter topical pain reliever, such as Orajel or Anbesol

Instructions

1. Brush your teeth well and floss between all the teeth you can. If it is too painful to brush and floss you can skip this step.

2. Mix 2 tsp. of salt with 1 cup of warm water and stir until all of the salt crystals are dissolved.

3. Rinse your mouth with the saltwater mixture by taking a mouthful, swishing it for 30 seconds, spitting, then repeating until the whole cup has been used. Repeat this a few times a day to prevent infections.

4. Take the dental emergency kit and follow the directions on the package to repair dental injury involving a broken tooth, lost filling or lost cap. Generally, these kits include a filling material that starts out soft but hardens when it contacts saliva. You may need to practice a few times to get it placed correctly.

5. Apply pain reliever according to the dosage instructions on the package.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your mouth clean while dealing with a dental injury.

• Call your dentist for an appointment as quickly as possible.

• If you experience swelling, pus drainage or fever go to the emergency room, since these are symptoms of a dental abscess, which can be fatal if left untreated.

• Emergency dental kits are not substitutes for a dentist and should only be used while waiting to see a doctor.

References

• Do it yourself dentistry