Food Storage Stockpile: Don't Forget the Dentist

The dentist? Yes, the dentist.

In a roundabout way.

A friend of mine forwarded me a list of dental products that are worth stocking up on as part of my food storage. Obviously, dental products are not food, but they can be expensive. Think about all the little occurrences that come up when you might need something for your mouth, besides a toothbrush or toothpaste.

There's the little kiddos who cut teeth, or the occasional piece of food that gets stuck in your teeth. The young child who loses their first tooth, or second tooth (it won't be long and our Little Man will be at that age when the Tooth Fairy will make an appearance in our house).

Essentially, things come up. The scenarios above are rather mild compared to an emergency that could arise. I remember my brother had a really bad fall, and he actually broke one of his front teeth in half. Ouch! Not only was it painful, it was permanent. We didn't really have anything to help him until he could see a dentist.

Here's what you should consider adding to your Dental Storage Kit.

Preventive maintenance cannot be stressed enough. Take care of your teeth. If possible, visit a dentist at least twice a year to find and take care of any potential problems. Brush, floss and rinse - stock up on oral hygiene supplies. This can be done cheaply compared to the alternative of paying for repair of major problems, resulting from poor oral hygiene.

Stocking sufficient toothpaste, brushes, rinse and floss to last several years can be done rather cheaply; this stuff would also make excellent barter goods, in the event of an all-out collapse. If pressed; it's easy to make your own toothpaste, by mixing equal parts of baking soda and salt. The result tastes like crap, but it does an excellent job of cleaning your teeth and gums. Simply moisten a toothbrush and dip it in the mixture and brush as usual.

It is a good idea to have a dental first aid kit to complement your other first aid supplies. A basic kit should consist of:

• Temporary filling material Temparin or Cavit
• Tweezers
• Gauze
• Toothbrush
• Soft dental floss
• Toothpaste
• Oragel or other dental pain reliever
• Ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin)
• Clove Oil (pain relief)
• Rubber gloves (some people are allergic to latex)
• Dental wax
• Toothpicks
• Cotton
• Dental Mirror
• Hand Sanitizer

Or if you prefer you can purchase a ready-made kit and expand it into a comprehensive package. I also suggest you get a copy of Where There Is No Dentist available as a free download from Hesperian.org.

How bad was your last toothache? What did you do about it? Have you prepared for this emergency? How?

Dental storage kit list is from Linda Roots. Thanks, Linda!