Dental Survival...

ROCK6

ROCK6

Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
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Well, I will no longer talk bad about the French Canadians:D I just had a small emergency with a very painful tooth. The dental clinic here in southern Afghanistan is run by the Canadians and the dentist was of the French flavor. Anyways, I was in some pretty extreme pain and received a root canal...it went well and I'm a little sore, but it got me thinking.

Even outdoors, a severe toothache can make it difficult to handle hot or cold fluids/food; difficult to eat hard or fibrous foods and can even make it difficult to get a good night's sleep. Before I went to the dental clinic here, I was thinking about Tom Hank's movie and knocking that tooth out...I actually looked at my Leatherman Crunch a few times thinking it would be a relief to rip the damn tooth out.

Motrin and Tylenol are a must for the kits to lessen the pain. I have the book “Where there is no Dentist”…a great resource, but I’m considering that small Dental Kit for my deployment kit. Not really a necessity for a week or so in the outdoors, but some way to deal with temporary pain would make the trip that much more enjoyable instead of a miserable and painful experience.

Just something I was contemplating while drugged up and recouping from my root canal:D

ROCK6
 
i had a similar incident in yellowstone recently. pain was so bad i was shaking...i just popped 1000mg of ibu....dentist said it should be removed.....im broke tho...tooth is still there....maybe one day when i get money

i did think of that same tom hanks scene!
 
When I lived in California my dentist was also a dedicated backpacker and climber. I asked him about situations like that. He said the only thing one can really do is serious painkillers. He ended up giving me a prescription for three Roxicet pills, on the condition that every year or so I bring them back in, he'd watch me throw them away, give me a new prescription. I'm not sure that was totally legal, but I think it was good of him to do that. (It helped that I was a longtime patient, I'm sure.)
 
Maceo said:
When I lived in California my dentist was also a dedicated backpacker and climber. I asked him about situations like that. He said the only thing one can really do is serious painkillers. He ended up giving me a prescription for three Roxicet pills, on the condition that every year or so I bring them back in, he'd watch me throw them away, give me a new prescription. I'm not sure that was totally legal, but I think it was good of him to do that. (It helped that I was a longtime patient, I'm sure.)
Click to expand...

probably helped it was in California. it seems they will prescribe anything out there.
 
How about just having a check up and regular cleaning twice a year. It's easier to catch and fix small things before they become serious problems.
You can buy temporary filling material from the drugstore for a lost filling or cracked tooth that has medication in it to "calm" a tooth down. Some floss wouldn't be a bad idea either.
 
I read somewhere they make a powder that numbs up your teeth if you have pain. not sure were to get it though
 
One of my Sar instructors raved about clove oil as a dental pain reliever. It is sold over the counter. I have no experience with it but have read good things as well.
 
ak jones said:
How about just having a check up and regular cleaning twice a year. It's easier to catch and fix small things before they become serious problems.
You can buy temporary filling material from the drugstore for a lost filling or cracked tooth that has medication in it to "calm" a tooth down. Some floss wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just had that tooth check prior to the deployment (we have mandatory annual exams), and that tooth was filled, but it was a bad filling that didn’t take and the tooth was in worse condition…I agree that prevention is the key, but “stuff” happens.

ROCK6
 
Clove oil works wonders for pain by numbing the area where it is rubbed. I cracked a tooth and exposed the root and thought I was going to die. Pine resin also works wonders as a temporary filling.
 
Hi.
In an emergency the Yarrow (achillea millefolium) plant will help relieve some of the pain. I`ve used it myself. Take a whole flower (top), chew it to a pulp and lay it around the bad thooth.
My experience however is that after a few days one have to use it more often, and more of it, to get the same effect as first time.

A small screwdriver and a piece of brass wire could be used to get rid of a bad thooth if it is a long way to the dentist.
Used by my father when trawling prawns off the Greenland coast in the 80`s.
Guess they didn`t have an ice skate onboard:).

Tor
 
The last time this subject came up I recommended carrying Orajel. I stand by that.

That thread ran a whimsical path of recommendations of plants and whatnot one could use for emergency analgesia. That's all fine and dandy in theory but in practice the reality may be very different. The appropriate plants may not be local, or in the optimum state, or you simply may not be able to find them. Then there's probably the single most important factor as far as I'm concerned – even if the above is all good one may not be able to disengage with the current task to piss about with that. Simple effective topical medication that is immediately available to be used in conjunction with other pain relief is the way to go. This is especially true when one makes a sudden transition to cold or altitude that can exaggerate tooth problems one never knew existed.

A tube of Orajel is tiny but so valuable should you need it. I hinted at its efficacy before by mentioning that it could also be used for sex play. Alas, nobody picked up on that and thread carried on its whimsy, listing plants that may work, and may even work well at introducing more foreign bodies to the effected site. On that, I shall be more plain this time. You know the advantages that can happen from rubbing cocaine on your dick and how that feels. Well, it kinda like that. Orajel is so good one can use it for that and save $100 USD. That same thing is what makes it so good as a topical medication for use on your tooth, as designed. Read the ingredients! A tiny tube of that is always in my kit, and I have immaculate teeth save for one annoying filling, a legacy from childhood.

http://www.orajel.com/products/adult/toothache.htm
 
We did have a long thread on subject recently with a bunch of good ideas, if someone with a gold status mind searching for it.
 
Just curious which of the orajel varieties is the strongest? [And I'm thinking about dental use....;)]

Thanks,

DancesWithKnives
 
Dunno, I've the maximum strength gel 'cos that's what's local to me OTC. I don't know if the 'sever pain' one is available here or if it is any better. I've not seen it.
 
I've said it before, after getting stuck from Friday afternoon to Monday with a bad tooth, before the dentist could see me, ALL my FAKs have those Dental Kits in them!

I would not wish that on people I hate.
 
Caffeine also helps dull pain. I have made strong coffee to help relieve tooth pain to some degree. However, I reach for the percocettes and call the dentist and get things fixed rather than endure the agony.
 
I agree about the Orajel. It's good stuff. Some people, though, don't want anything but natural products which is why I recommended clove oil. It really does work, but not as long lasting as Orajel. I also like the tip about the yarrow.

I also think that people who are looking for alternatives, such as herbal, etc. shouldn't be disparaged, not saying that anyone is by the way. Many things can happen like bottles breaking, losing them in an accident, etc. It is good to know as many alternatives, viable alternatives, as you can. At least, that is my philosphy.

Pine resin makes a fantastic temporary filler. I'll have to experiment with the yarrow, but it sounds viable. Clove oil works. Orajel is, hands down, the best (in my opinion). I know you can buy emergency dental kits which come with some type of temporary filling and pain relief, if I remember correctly.

Do a search for pine resin and tooth cavity filler. You will be amazed at what pops up. Of course, I add my own personal experience as well. Anyway, hope it helps to add to the conversation.
 
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