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The Ready Brief #243
Practical preparedness for uncertain times
FROM THE DESK
A cracked tooth or a lost filling rarely happens on a weekday morning. It happens on a holiday weekend, on a trip, or in the middle of a storm, when offices are closed and roads are flooded. This week's storm has put several Southwestern states under emergency declarations, the kind of event that can keep people from a dentist for days. Today's issue covers what to do until you can get to one.
THE BRIEF
Emergency Dental Care
Dental problems don't wait for convenient timing. A cracked filling, a knocked-out tooth, an abscess that swells overnight. These happen during camping trips, power outages, holidays, and disasters, precisely when dental offices are closed or inaccessible. Having basic dental first aid knowledge and a small kit addresses a gap that most emergency kits ignore entirely.
The most common dental emergencies fall into four categories: pain, broken teeth or fillings, knocked-out teeth, and infections. Each has a different first-response protocol.
For tooth pain without visible damage, the likely cause is inflammation of the nerve. Over-the-counter pain relievers are your first tool. Ibuprofen is generally more effective than acetaminophen for dental pain because it reduces inflammation. Some dentists suggest alternating the two; ask your dentist or pharmacist for a schedule and follow the label limits. Clove oil (eugenol) on a cotton ball, pressed to the painful spot, is an old topical remedy that can dull the pain for a short time. It tastes bad.
For a broken or lost filling, temporary dental cement (sold at most pharmacies under brand names like Dentemp or DenTek Temparin) covers the cavity and protects the exposed tooth until you can see a dentist. Clean the area first, then follow the package instructions. DenTek says its kit protects for up to 48 hours, so treat it as a bridge to an appointment, not a repair.
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a time-critical emergency. If the tooth is intact, handle it by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with clean water and do not scrub it. If possible, put it back in the socket without touching the root. If you can't, keep it moist: the American Dental Association says to hold it between your cheek and gums, or put it in milk. Get to a dentist right away, because the odds of saving the tooth fall the longer it stays out.
Dental infections (abscesses) present as swelling, throbbing pain, fever, and sometimes a visible pus-filled bump on the gum. This is the one dental emergency that can become life-threatening if untreated. An abscess that spreads can cause sepsis or obstruct the airway. If you suspect a dental abscess during a period when professional care is unavailable, manage pain with ibuprofen, rinse with warm salt water several times daily, and seek professional care as soon as possible. Antibiotics may be necessary, which is why some preparedness-minded individuals include a dental antibiotic in their medical kit after consulting with their physician.
Building a dental emergency kit takes five minutes and minimal space. Include: temporary dental cement, clove oil, dental wax (for orthodontic emergencies or sharp edges), cotton pellets, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a small dental mirror. The entire kit fits in a sandwich bag and costs under $20.
Preventive care is the best emergency dental plan. Regular dental checkups catch problems before they become emergencies. Brushing, flossing, and avoiding hard foods that crack teeth are boring advice that prevents painful situations.
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ONE THING THIS WEEK
Buy a tube of temporary dental cement.
Dentemp and DenTek Temparin temporary filling material is sold at most pharmacies, and the DenTek kit was listed at $3.48 at Walmart. Add it to your first aid kit or medicine cabinet. If a filling falls out at midnight on a Saturday, you'll have something to cover the cavity instead of three days of exposed nerve pain.
ON THE RADAR
El Salvador Sends 2,000+ Troops Into Haiti After Four Technicians Vanish
El Salvador has put more than 2,000 soldiers into Port-au-Prince since four of its military aviation technicians, working with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, went missing Oct. 18 after their armored vehicle was attacked in Croix-des-Bouquets. On Nov. 1, 400 Mawozo leader Wilson Joseph (alias Lanmò San Jou) wrote UN Secretary-General António Guterres asking for mediated dialogue and claimed, without evidence, that the four are dead. Salvadoran officials believe they are alive. A UN spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, not endorsement. The UN counts more than 5,700 people killed or injured in Haiti from January through mid-September. Next to watch: proof of life or recovery of the four.
Source: Latin Times, Associated Press via WDBO, Al Jazeera
LESSON FROM: THE ALTONS
Joseph Alton, MD, and Amy Alton, APRN, wrote The Survival Medicine Handbook, a reference for handling medical problems when help is not on the way. Its condition sections include dental problems, and their Doom and Bloom site has an article on tooth abscesses without a dentist.
The takeaway for this issue: dental trouble is easier to prevent than to treat. Keep your teeth in shape now, stock the simple supplies covered above, and get an abscess seen quickly, since the infection can spread.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Storm Targets 120 Million People Across 35+ States; Arizona Declares Statewide Emergency
A cross-country storm is expected to affect more than 35 states and 120 million people by the end of the week, according to FOX Weather (updated Nov. 3, so about a day old as this issue goes out). Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a statewide emergency in Arizona on Monday, and Utah and Colorado have declared emergencies too. Some rivers in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado reached record highs, and flooding continues along the San Juan River. Flagstaff police said a man was found dead after being swept into floodwater over the weekend. Azfamily reports the Salt and Gila rivers may flood at times because of dam releases. Check your county's flood alerts today. The National Weather Service says 6 inches of moving water can knock an adult down and 12 inches can carry away a car.
Source: FOX Weather, azfamily
WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING
About $4 at Walmart. The kit has a resealable jar of temporary filling material and an applicator for lost fillings and loose caps, and DenTek says it protects for up to 48 hours before a dental visit.
It is small enough to fit in any first aid kit, car kit or go-bag, which makes it one of the cheapest additions you can make.
Budget alternative: Clove oil and dental wax, bought separately. They handle pain and sharp edges, though not lost fillings.
OVERRATED / UNDERRATED
Overrated: Dental extraction tools in preparedness kits. Unless you have training, attempting to pull a tooth is far more likely to cause damage than to solve the problem. Leave extractions to professionals.
Underrated: Clove oil (eugenol). It has been used as a dental pain remedy for generations. A small bottle in your first aid kit can dull the pain from an exposed nerve or cavity for a short time. Most pharmacies and health food stores carry it.
THE LINK DUMP
Where There Is No Dentist: Hesperian's austere dental care reference. Free chapter PDFs; the full book is sold separately.
Doom and Bloom: Tooth Abscesses Off The Grid: The Altons on handling an abscess without a dentist.
Where There Is No Doctor: Hesperian's companion medical reference, with free chapter PDFs.
Red Cross: First Aid Classes: Online, in-person and blended first aid courses.
ADA MouthHealthy: Dental Emergencies: What to do for a knocked-out tooth and other dental emergencies.
FDA: Don't Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines: What expiration dates mean for the medicines in your kit.
COMING UP
Gasoline storage and rotation. How much to store, how long it lasts, and how to keep it from turning to varnish in your gas cans.
How was today's issue? Tap one below. If you pick "Could be better," tell us what to fix.
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PS: Check the expiration dates on the ibuprofen and acetaminophen already in your first aid kit. They are the two items on today's dental list that most households already own.
THE READY BRIEF is published for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here is professional legal, medical, financial, or tactical advice. Preparedness looks different for every household. Use your own judgment, consult qualified professionals when the stakes are high, and adapt what you read here to your actual situation.