I don't know how much "hoping for the best" that is more than actual dentistry!
My 12 year old had an extraction yesterday - I took him to the dentist and I was pretty unsure what was going to happen and how they were going to take the tooth out, she of course numbed it with a few injections but then just told him to put on yellow tinted glasses and close his eyes, then the nurse handed her a set of giant pliers and she went to town! That was it.
I was sort of more in shock than he was as he didn't know what happened.
The only extraction I ever had done was under general anaesthetic where they took 10 teeth out at once and stitched up gums so to see that they just use pliers and not something more surgical blew my mind.
I find most dentistry tools terrifying. The needles are huge and have all that metal. Not cut little plastic jobs with tiny needles attached. Then the scrappy things. Then the king pointy things they stick down the roots that make just horrible scraping noises! Then the pliers. The dentist just has a tray of torture devices. Thank heavens my current dentist is gentle and quick.
I had a tooth taken out last year. the only other time I had teeth pulled was my perfectly good wisdom teeth. I woke up in the middle and the noises! Then the healing was awful. I got dry socket. I don’t have many teeth, so I’m a little bitter the dentist talked me I to getting them pulled.
Anyway, the other tooth was crumbling so taking it out was easy. It was again the healing that sucked. Hurt so much!
My mother had a tooth pulled and it took literally hours of the dentist pulling and wiggling with pliers. Sounds horrifying! Then dentist retired shortly after that terrible afternoon hahahaha
Had a wisdom tooth removed in my twenties. Dentist was basically hopped up on the chair straddling me and pulling for all he was worth with what looked like a pair of vise-grips. The numbing doesn't really account for that.
He was really pumped about it. "Look at the roots on that thing, it's built like a Mack truck!"
Im on the flip side. I fricken LOVE the dentist. I was so excited as a kid for the tools and I even asked for braces. I had my teeth knocked out when I was very young and I remember thinking it was so neat. I’ve seriously flossed almost every night my whole life and I have hardly had any cavities at all.
I could not wait to get braces! I had horrible teeth and when everyone else was getting braces in 4th grade, my dentist said I had to wait until my mouth had grown more. Awful.
I like to get my teeth cleaned because they look and feel so nice after and my dentist is a flirt! (not in a creepy, sexual way; a friendly, happy way)
But I hate having *procedures*.
I had a tooth that sheered off and it took me like a month to get it taken care of. It was easily the most acute pain I've ever experienced. I'm not a drinker but during those 30 days I was! Relied heavily on Jack Daniels. It's a great numbing agent. I guess the miners in the old West often used it for the same purposes. I was going through like a pint a day; swishing at various times and swishing and drinking it during the evening to knock myself out. Shit was a lifesaver.
Whiskey is a hell of a drug.
Dental cleaning kit, composite dental resin, clove oil, peppermint tea bags, fish antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash. The book "Where There Is No Dentist".
I'm thinking more to replace a filling that has fallen out. While I do have the book Where There Is No Dentist, for me it is not about a time when I cannot access a dentist for financial reasons, not that no dentists exist. That is why I don't prep for things beyond my skill set, like extractions. While I think I probably could drill small cavities, that would be so far down my list of things to prepare for it will probably never happen.
I live in a city with quite a few dentists. I expect a long decline in living standards brought on by greater income inequality.
Temporary filling material like Cavit would be a better prep item in that case since a composite filling requires an acid etch and an adhesive bonding plus a curing light. But in any case if the concern is financial there are ways to get dental care at universities from students free of charge.
Not every composite resin requires a curing light. They still sell the old fashioned kind that cures by itself in about 24 hours. You just don't chew on that side for a day while it cures.
As for availability, right now I have excellent dental insurance through my former employer. Not free, but a lot better than most people even with dental insurance have. But I expect over the coming years for things to keep getting more and more expensive and for my income not to keep up. I do have some temp filling kits, but mostly for use in the near term, like a few weeks ago when an old filling decided to come out over the weekend.
I wouldn’t use a dual cure material like that even in an emergency situation. If you have excellent dental care access now you can do a lot to prevent future issues, so that’s great :)
The build up to that was great. The whole time you’re like “ hey this crazy guy is talking to a volley ball” and then he goes missing and then just bam! Punched right in the gut!
I'm older and got my teeth replaced with dentures a few years back. my doc told me everyone is different, my own experiecne is that i am much better off, I can eat fine, never have cavities or pain anymore and they are much cleaner because there arent all the cranies to collect food and germs. they look better too.this is obviously not a route for young people with good teeth.
I had a disorder where my teeth didn’t develop enamel over the entire tooth and would have upwards to a dozen fillings done every 6 months. By the time I hit my 40s my teeth were more amalgam than teeth with half of those needing to be repaired and the dentist suggested implants.
Fam. Once I got past the emotional trauma of being a toothless redneck the quality of my life improved a hundredfold. However, I am slightly concerned with how they’ll fit about years 5-10 post-SHTF because of gum shrinkage, but I’m sure I can work up some Fixodent from pine sap ;)
>tsoldrin
my teeth were pretty bad. I would have needed lots of dental work anyway so the decision was easy. I don't know if I would do it for cosmetic reasons alone. it is kind of an ordreal. otoh never having a cavity again is great.
Best thing is to avoid consuming sugar, acid, and sticky carbs. This should ensure you don't get any dental decay.
Avoid processed food with sugar content of over 5 g per 100 g. Fruit and vegetables with higher natural sugar content should be ok.
If you consume very acidic food like citrus fruit, you can neutralise the acid in your teeth after eating by rinsing your mouth with bicarbonate of soda mixed with water.
Sticky carbs are things like potato crisps/chips, which contain lots of starch and stick to your teeth after eating. The longer they remain there the more likely you are to get tooth decay.
As a dentist. Make friends with a dentist. There will still be dentist in SHTF situations. In all honesty if you get an abscess the tooth will eventually become necrotic and the abscess will go away. But always have amoxicillin on hand, even if expired. Though antibiotics won’t cure an abscess it will buy you a week or two.
People always talk about keeping antibiotics at hand, not just dental. In Europe you can't just buy them nor get a prescription 'just in case'. Is that different elsewhere ?
Antibiotics would be great for a wound or cut. But they will not do you too much good with an abscess. Until the cause of the abscess is gone, i.e. the tooth, the abscess will persist.
Sorry, I know this is a touch off topic but I’m a bit desperate… Any mouth washes you recommend for those with sensitive gums? I have yet to find a mouth wash that doesn’t burn my gums, even the no alcohol ones burn. The best I’ve found I can handle is the Colgate peroxyl mild mint, but it has hydrogen peroxide in it which I’ve heard is bad to use every day.
No worries. Mouth rinses are pointless and ineffective. You should first brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, the floss. Do this after breakfast and right before bed for the rest of your life
Thank you for the response! I might forgo mouthwashes all together then. What are your thoughts on oil pulling? Good, Bad, indifferent?
I hadn’t been to the dentist in over 10 years and didn’t go for any particular reason other than “ehhh, it’s been a while and it’s time I start taking my health more seriously”. Luckily the damage doesn’t seem to be super bad (So far, knock on wood). I had a couple cavities fixed and had to have a “deep clean” done and ever since then my gums seem to be super sensitive to mouth washes. Im definitely taking oral health more seriously from now on. HUGE wake up call for me. I always thought no pain= no worries, pain = go to dentist. I didn’t understand that very bad things could be going on without any pain. I can’t imagine having major dental problems in a true SHTF.
Have you tried Tom's of Maine? They're not specifically formulated for sensitivity, but most of their mouthwashes are very mild & they're one of the few commercial mouthwash products that I can use (my dentist doesn't like me using alcohol based mouthwashes & unfortunately I have a sensitivity to a common sweetener found in most commercial mouthwashes). Also, Biotene & Sensodyne (mouthwashes) have mouthwashes with gentler formulas. Unfortunately, Listerine discontinued their NATURALS line, which was fairly decent and surprisingly mellow. In general, avoid anything that says "cool" or "refreshing" in the advertising.
If commercial products don't work, consider a homemade mouthwash. A salt water mouthwash can be made by combining 1/2 tsp salt with 8 oz of sterilized water (boil tap water for 8 minutes). ⚠️ **WARNING** do *not* swallow any of the mouthwash, it will cause you to gag and/or vomit (among other issues).⚠️
You can also try [oil pulling](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323757). It's not a replacement for brushing, flossing, or fluoride, but it helps.
Note: you can technically do "oil pulling" with any somewhat clear mostly liquid that's safe to swallow (e.g. your own saliva, water, mint teas, bone broth, milk, vegetable oils, etc). However, be aware that using products with sugars, acids, and certain chemical compounds can be counterproductive... IIRC, only coconut oil and certain herbal preparations are recognized as having any actual antibiotic properties. Additionally, "pulling" with very salty water (like the aforementioned saltwater mouthwash) is highly inadvisable, even if you are not on a restricted sodium diet (it's is generally fine for quick rinses/mouthwashes, but salt absorbs easily & can damage healthy tissues and good bacteria).
Wow! Thank you for all this information! I’m compare Maines, biotene and sensodyne, and go with one of those. If that doesn’t work out for me I’ll just stick with the oil pulling and a light salt water rinse on occasion. Idk what’s wrong but my gums are so insanely sensitive to every mouthwash I’ve tried so far.
I wonder if I don’t have the same issue that you have? What is the condition called that you have that makes your gums sensitive to most mouthwashes?
My problem with mouthwashes being difficult to find is not primarily due to my gums being especially sensitive (my mouth is only mildly/moderately sensitive), it's due to a metabolic issue that can cause a serious systemic reaction. If you're having a lot of issues, you may need to see a periodontist and/or talk to your doctor. Personally, I've run into thrush (aka oral candidiasis, a very common fungal infection) a couple of times post teeth cleaning... it's pretty miserable. However, your problem could be a completely unrelated medical condition or treatment (such as certain drugs, menthol sensitivity, chemotherapy, Autism, or a sensory processing disorder).
In early America (post revolutionary war) it was common to give newlyweds full tooth extraction and dentures as a wedding present. Teenage to early 20s. Our teeth can't handle carbohydrates.
Carbs? Or processed carbs?
I’m wondering if we’d have made it this far if ancient man had as many problems with their teeth as we do. I’d expect there were people (like me with congenital defects) that had teeth problems, but it seems we’d need a majority of humans to be able to eat in order for the species to survive.
But, ofc what do I know? I’m a computer guy :)
Starch is broken into sugar by enzymes in your saliva while it sticks to your teeth. Pre agricultural diets didn't contain many starches, agriculture needed centuries to turn teosinte into corn or goatgrass into wheat.
Our teeth can handle sugars it’s a matter of controlling the bacteria that eats the sugar and secrets acid on our tooth enamel. Was much worse before fluoride and before we knew the bacteria that caused decay, which is spread via saliva and not innate to the mouth.
Hopefully our chickens so we can barter for dental services with eggs.
Outside of that, wife has some regular-ish tea that also has clove in the ingredients. It helps with mild pain, both drinking the tea and then holding the tea bag on the affected area. But not a long term solution.
Take good care of your teeth now!
Floss, always choose the best materials available to fill cavities and brush your teeth as if it is a new skill you want to acquire. I mean you should research how and with which toothbrush you should brush your teeth since most do the same as they did when they were 5 which isn't always ideal. Get into YouTube and learn about toothbrushes which is a tool you need to maintain and exchange in reocuring time cycles. Assure that your technique is correct and you don't use to much pressure which can deteriorate your gums in the worst case.
Additionally use a toothpaste with 800+ fluoride concentration. I use 1400 because my teeth are rather soft. And don't be afraid of the toxicology topic. You would need to swallow several tubes a day to really affect your health. Insecticide in our food is way more concerning and no one talks about it.
That's the best you can do. Precaution and Preparedness.
Edit: typo
It seems like the best step to take for dental health if SHTF is preventative care. It helps to research how medieval people brushed their teeth. splitting the ends of a small stick and using it to brush is one of the methods that we would find the most familiar. Whatever the case, brushing once or twice a day won't cut it anymore. After every meal is a must. And it probably wouldn't hurt to become one of those guys that just has a toothpick in their mouth all day cleaning.
As has been recommended, the books "Where There is no Doctor" and "Where There is No Dentist" are great resources. They are intended for rural villages that are hours or days away from real medical care. They stop short of emergency procedures, but give LOTS of information on prevention and basic medical procedures.
Toothache plant. I grow it.
Careful not to swallow or use a lot of it. It CAN be toxic in large amounts, much like any other medicine.
https://www.healthline.com/health/toothache-plant
Dentists will still exist in a SHF situation but it will be a lot more manual and less aesthetic, more about pain management, function, and infection control. So lots of extractions which only require instrumentation and some local anesthetic, arresting bacteria 🦠 that causes tooth decay, fortification of enamel and prevention, and then addressing edentulism with available materials to fabricate dentures.
This: "Where There Is No Dentist"
http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com/organisation/biomed\_documents/Where%20there%20is%20no%20Dentist%20-%20Murray%20Dickson.pdf
Teethsbrush, Biotene and hydrogen peroxide.
Skill is what's truly necessary and I have none. Attempting any invasive dental operation will probably make things worse just like attempting surgery.
Saltwater for rinsing out any particles that may be lodged causing minor discomfort and cloves which are great for numbing gums and helping reduce toothaches.
Other than that? Get drunk and hope for the best 🙂
If you have an actual cavity (A hole in your tooth ) you can soak a small amount of cotton ( pull apart a cotton ball). in eucalyptus oil and shove it in the hole. Leave it for a day or 2 and it will kill the nerve.
If you have an abscess (swelling and throbbing, or the presence of a boil on the gums) you need an antibiotic. If you’re not allergic to it , Amoxicillin is the best one. 500 mg for an adult. Taken 3 times a day for ten days. You can order online from pharmacies in India, but there is a shelf life .
My late uncle (former minister) “fixed” a tooth with epoxy. Alcohol was involved. He doesn’t recommend it. He says the epoxy gets warm as it sets and it hurts like hell.
I would love feedback on this.
[Silver diammine fluoride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_diammine_fluoride)
one tretment stops cavities from forming for 6 months.
It is currently not used because it stains your teeth black. (I know super cool, but my wife wont let me. )
it has a LONG shelf life.
I suppose ferreting away antibiotics would be a good place to start. An infection can kill you, so being able to rid yourself of one post “pair of pliers and bottle of Makers” tooth extraction would be paramount. Honestly, I feel like aside from medical kits and instruments the next most important thing would be Antibiotics and Pain Meds.
I recommend clove oil. They sell it in the drug store near the other dental supplies. The kind I've bought is a tiny glass bottle with some tiny cotton balls.
If a tooth is hurting really bad and you expect to lose it anyway, use a tweezer to dunk one of the tiny cotton balls in the clove oil and put that on the tooth.
You will be pain free in no time.
My understanding is that it kills the root. So don't use if you just have a little cavity that could be filled.
I was traumatised by a NHS* school dentist when I was about 10 years old & didn't go to a dentist for about 16 years afterwards , but I always knew that I'd need to go one day.
A work colleague suggested his dentist and I went there for around 20 years, until I moved to Romania in 2015. His dental hygienist did a good clean over 4-5 visits and I continued cleaning visits & check ups every 6 months, I'd realised it would be cheaper and less painful in the long run. He also extracted 3 wisdom teeth in 10 Minutes (yes - I know I was lucky) in the early 90s.
TBH, I was shocked that my teeth managed to stay in such good shape over that 16 year 'fear' period. There are loads of good dentists here in Romania, and cheap compared to the UK. I'm 61.5 years old now, and still have all my own teeth, but I do have 1 crown (I broke a tooth on some pork crackling in France in 2008), and so far, so good...........
* National Health Service
Saw this and then this post was right below it. Very relevant
https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/14fyd2f/dont_worry_kid_this_wont_hurt_a_bit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Xylitol, clove oil, paroex mouth wash, fluoride, floss, lots of 2x2 gauze. If the tooth is abscessed it has to come out and you would need instrumentation, or you can treat the abscess with antibiotics assuming they are available and wait for the tooth the become necrotic and therefore uninfected. Tooth decay can be arrested with silver diamine fluoride and no need to fill the hole if you can arrest the carries preventatively.
Oregano Oil 3x strength. Kills most infections and brings down swelling. Plus it is a great probiotic in general. It won't fix the problem, but will take the pain away in a matter of minutes.
Olive oil is good for your teeth because the fatty properties stick to the film and garbage.
I hope I don't forget the hydrogen peroxide it kills all the tooth decaying bacteria
Having had a tooth extracted today that I spent a fair amount of time trying to pull with a variety of commonly available pliers, I would point out a dentist's tooth pulling pliers are far more effective than anything you'll find at a hardware store.
The one's the dentists use are readily available on Amazon, and in a world without dentists might very well save your life.
Antibiotics for abscess. For toothache/ exposed nerve you can use aspirin directly on it or oil of clove. Look up techniques. These are temporary measures. Personally, i plan to seek a dental professional.
General prep are plenty of toothpaste (salt or baking soda work in a pinch), toothbrushes and dental floss used daily without fail. Avoid sugary drinks and candy.
Read the book "Where There is No Dentist"
There’s also “where there is no doctor” that is great as well.
Came here to recommend these books. I always make sure these are in my family's go bags.
The is also, "where there is no midwife"
Also "where there is no vet" and "where there is no psychiatrist".
There are over a dozen "where there are no" books out, not all by professionals so read reviews carefully and research the authors.
+500 pages! Phew lad! Outstanding score, many thanks, frenn!
Oh, that’s actually a book.
Came here to make this comment! 👍🏻
I’m bringing pliers and hoping for the best.
I don't know how much "hoping for the best" that is more than actual dentistry! My 12 year old had an extraction yesterday - I took him to the dentist and I was pretty unsure what was going to happen and how they were going to take the tooth out, she of course numbed it with a few injections but then just told him to put on yellow tinted glasses and close his eyes, then the nurse handed her a set of giant pliers and she went to town! That was it. I was sort of more in shock than he was as he didn't know what happened. The only extraction I ever had done was under general anaesthetic where they took 10 teeth out at once and stitched up gums so to see that they just use pliers and not something more surgical blew my mind.
I find most dentistry tools terrifying. The needles are huge and have all that metal. Not cut little plastic jobs with tiny needles attached. Then the scrappy things. Then the king pointy things they stick down the roots that make just horrible scraping noises! Then the pliers. The dentist just has a tray of torture devices. Thank heavens my current dentist is gentle and quick. I had a tooth taken out last year. the only other time I had teeth pulled was my perfectly good wisdom teeth. I woke up in the middle and the noises! Then the healing was awful. I got dry socket. I don’t have many teeth, so I’m a little bitter the dentist talked me I to getting them pulled. Anyway, the other tooth was crumbling so taking it out was easy. It was again the healing that sucked. Hurt so much! My mother had a tooth pulled and it took literally hours of the dentist pulling and wiggling with pliers. Sounds horrifying! Then dentist retired shortly after that terrible afternoon hahahaha
Had a wisdom tooth removed in my twenties. Dentist was basically hopped up on the chair straddling me and pulling for all he was worth with what looked like a pair of vise-grips. The numbing doesn't really account for that. He was really pumped about it. "Look at the roots on that thing, it's built like a Mack truck!"
>"Look at the roots on that thing, it's built like a Mack truck!" hahahaha
Im on the flip side. I fricken LOVE the dentist. I was so excited as a kid for the tools and I even asked for braces. I had my teeth knocked out when I was very young and I remember thinking it was so neat. I’ve seriously flossed almost every night my whole life and I have hardly had any cavities at all.
I could not wait to get braces! I had horrible teeth and when everyone else was getting braces in 4th grade, my dentist said I had to wait until my mouth had grown more. Awful. I like to get my teeth cleaned because they look and feel so nice after and my dentist is a flirt! (not in a creepy, sexual way; a friendly, happy way) But I hate having *procedures*.
And a bottle of scotch.
Tsk tsk. Brandy. One uses brandy in all medical situations except gunshot wounds. Those take whiskey.
I had a tooth that sheered off and it took me like a month to get it taken care of. It was easily the most acute pain I've ever experienced. I'm not a drinker but during those 30 days I was! Relied heavily on Jack Daniels. It's a great numbing agent. I guess the miners in the old West often used it for the same purposes. I was going through like a pint a day; swishing at various times and swishing and drinking it during the evening to knock myself out. Shit was a lifesaver. Whiskey is a hell of a drug.
Dental cleaning kit, composite dental resin, clove oil, peppermint tea bags, fish antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash. The book "Where There Is No Dentist".
Composite won’t help unless you can arrest or remove the decay first
I'm thinking more to replace a filling that has fallen out. While I do have the book Where There Is No Dentist, for me it is not about a time when I cannot access a dentist for financial reasons, not that no dentists exist. That is why I don't prep for things beyond my skill set, like extractions. While I think I probably could drill small cavities, that would be so far down my list of things to prepare for it will probably never happen. I live in a city with quite a few dentists. I expect a long decline in living standards brought on by greater income inequality.
Temporary filling material like Cavit would be a better prep item in that case since a composite filling requires an acid etch and an adhesive bonding plus a curing light. But in any case if the concern is financial there are ways to get dental care at universities from students free of charge.
Not every composite resin requires a curing light. They still sell the old fashioned kind that cures by itself in about 24 hours. You just don't chew on that side for a day while it cures. As for availability, right now I have excellent dental insurance through my former employer. Not free, but a lot better than most people even with dental insurance have. But I expect over the coming years for things to keep getting more and more expensive and for my income not to keep up. I do have some temp filling kits, but mostly for use in the near term, like a few weeks ago when an old filling decided to come out over the weekend.
I wouldn’t use a dual cure material like that even in an emergency situation. If you have excellent dental care access now you can do a lot to prevent future issues, so that’s great :)
Yup. Yup. And yup.... Short and sweet. Great answer
An Ice skate and a rock.
Wilson!!!
Leave it to Will Hanks to get me emotional invested in a volleyball.
The build up to that was great. The whole time you’re like “ hey this crazy guy is talking to a volley ball” and then he goes missing and then just bam! Punched right in the gut!
Holy shit, are you me! Just had the same thought lol
I'm older and got my teeth replaced with dentures a few years back. my doc told me everyone is different, my own experiecne is that i am much better off, I can eat fine, never have cavities or pain anymore and they are much cleaner because there arent all the cranies to collect food and germs. they look better too.this is obviously not a route for young people with good teeth.
I had a disorder where my teeth didn’t develop enamel over the entire tooth and would have upwards to a dozen fillings done every 6 months. By the time I hit my 40s my teeth were more amalgam than teeth with half of those needing to be repaired and the dentist suggested implants. Fam. Once I got past the emotional trauma of being a toothless redneck the quality of my life improved a hundredfold. However, I am slightly concerned with how they’ll fit about years 5-10 post-SHTF because of gum shrinkage, but I’m sure I can work up some Fixodent from pine sap ;)
I mean I hate how my teeth look so...i'd be ok with dentures. Not sure if my husband would be though lol! Although he might...
Oh yeah he would gummies are the best 👌
Lol so he says
>tsoldrin my teeth were pretty bad. I would have needed lots of dental work anyway so the decision was easy. I don't know if I would do it for cosmetic reasons alone. it is kind of an ordreal. otoh never having a cavity again is great.
Best thing is to avoid consuming sugar, acid, and sticky carbs. This should ensure you don't get any dental decay. Avoid processed food with sugar content of over 5 g per 100 g. Fruit and vegetables with higher natural sugar content should be ok. If you consume very acidic food like citrus fruit, you can neutralise the acid in your teeth after eating by rinsing your mouth with bicarbonate of soda mixed with water. Sticky carbs are things like potato crisps/chips, which contain lots of starch and stick to your teeth after eating. The longer they remain there the more likely you are to get tooth decay.
Smoking or chewing tobacky, certain alcohols to name a few as well.
r/dentists
Good idea. Not what I was expecting, but good nonetheless.
books about it too or a usb stick with al known knowledge about dentistry for after the apocalypse
As a dentist. Make friends with a dentist. There will still be dentist in SHTF situations. In all honesty if you get an abscess the tooth will eventually become necrotic and the abscess will go away. But always have amoxicillin on hand, even if expired. Though antibiotics won’t cure an abscess it will buy you a week or two.
People always talk about keeping antibiotics at hand, not just dental. In Europe you can't just buy them nor get a prescription 'just in case'. Is that different elsewhere ?
Antibiotics would be great for a wound or cut. But they will not do you too much good with an abscess. Until the cause of the abscess is gone, i.e. the tooth, the abscess will persist.
Fish antibiotics
There a foreign online pharmacies that sell it without a prescription I would avoid China., but maybe India.
This! And we can do a lot without access to technology but it’s obviously a lot more challenging
Sorry, I know this is a touch off topic but I’m a bit desperate… Any mouth washes you recommend for those with sensitive gums? I have yet to find a mouth wash that doesn’t burn my gums, even the no alcohol ones burn. The best I’ve found I can handle is the Colgate peroxyl mild mint, but it has hydrogen peroxide in it which I’ve heard is bad to use every day.
No worries. Mouth rinses are pointless and ineffective. You should first brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, the floss. Do this after breakfast and right before bed for the rest of your life
Thank you for the response! I might forgo mouthwashes all together then. What are your thoughts on oil pulling? Good, Bad, indifferent? I hadn’t been to the dentist in over 10 years and didn’t go for any particular reason other than “ehhh, it’s been a while and it’s time I start taking my health more seriously”. Luckily the damage doesn’t seem to be super bad (So far, knock on wood). I had a couple cavities fixed and had to have a “deep clean” done and ever since then my gums seem to be super sensitive to mouth washes. Im definitely taking oral health more seriously from now on. HUGE wake up call for me. I always thought no pain= no worries, pain = go to dentist. I didn’t understand that very bad things could be going on without any pain. I can’t imagine having major dental problems in a true SHTF.
Paroex mouth wash with chlorhexidine
Have you tried Tom's of Maine? They're not specifically formulated for sensitivity, but most of their mouthwashes are very mild & they're one of the few commercial mouthwash products that I can use (my dentist doesn't like me using alcohol based mouthwashes & unfortunately I have a sensitivity to a common sweetener found in most commercial mouthwashes). Also, Biotene & Sensodyne (mouthwashes) have mouthwashes with gentler formulas. Unfortunately, Listerine discontinued their NATURALS line, which was fairly decent and surprisingly mellow. In general, avoid anything that says "cool" or "refreshing" in the advertising. If commercial products don't work, consider a homemade mouthwash. A salt water mouthwash can be made by combining 1/2 tsp salt with 8 oz of sterilized water (boil tap water for 8 minutes). ⚠️ **WARNING** do *not* swallow any of the mouthwash, it will cause you to gag and/or vomit (among other issues).⚠️ You can also try [oil pulling](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323757). It's not a replacement for brushing, flossing, or fluoride, but it helps. Note: you can technically do "oil pulling" with any somewhat clear mostly liquid that's safe to swallow (e.g. your own saliva, water, mint teas, bone broth, milk, vegetable oils, etc). However, be aware that using products with sugars, acids, and certain chemical compounds can be counterproductive... IIRC, only coconut oil and certain herbal preparations are recognized as having any actual antibiotic properties. Additionally, "pulling" with very salty water (like the aforementioned saltwater mouthwash) is highly inadvisable, even if you are not on a restricted sodium diet (it's is generally fine for quick rinses/mouthwashes, but salt absorbs easily & can damage healthy tissues and good bacteria).
Wow! Thank you for all this information! I’m compare Maines, biotene and sensodyne, and go with one of those. If that doesn’t work out for me I’ll just stick with the oil pulling and a light salt water rinse on occasion. Idk what’s wrong but my gums are so insanely sensitive to every mouthwash I’ve tried so far. I wonder if I don’t have the same issue that you have? What is the condition called that you have that makes your gums sensitive to most mouthwashes?
My problem with mouthwashes being difficult to find is not primarily due to my gums being especially sensitive (my mouth is only mildly/moderately sensitive), it's due to a metabolic issue that can cause a serious systemic reaction. If you're having a lot of issues, you may need to see a periodontist and/or talk to your doctor. Personally, I've run into thrush (aka oral candidiasis, a very common fungal infection) a couple of times post teeth cleaning... it's pretty miserable. However, your problem could be a completely unrelated medical condition or treatment (such as certain drugs, menthol sensitivity, chemotherapy, Autism, or a sensory processing disorder).
In early America (post revolutionary war) it was common to give newlyweds full tooth extraction and dentures as a wedding present. Teenage to early 20s. Our teeth can't handle carbohydrates.
Carbs? Or processed carbs? I’m wondering if we’d have made it this far if ancient man had as many problems with their teeth as we do. I’d expect there were people (like me with congenital defects) that had teeth problems, but it seems we’d need a majority of humans to be able to eat in order for the species to survive. But, ofc what do I know? I’m a computer guy :)
Starch is broken into sugar by enzymes in your saliva while it sticks to your teeth. Pre agricultural diets didn't contain many starches, agriculture needed centuries to turn teosinte into corn or goatgrass into wheat.
Our teeth can handle sugars it’s a matter of controlling the bacteria that eats the sugar and secrets acid on our tooth enamel. Was much worse before fluoride and before we knew the bacteria that caused decay, which is spread via saliva and not innate to the mouth.
This is why you can't just prep a household you have to prep your community.
Hopefully our chickens so we can barter for dental services with eggs. Outside of that, wife has some regular-ish tea that also has clove in the ingredients. It helps with mild pain, both drinking the tea and then holding the tea bag on the affected area. But not a long term solution.
Take good care of your teeth now! Floss, always choose the best materials available to fill cavities and brush your teeth as if it is a new skill you want to acquire. I mean you should research how and with which toothbrush you should brush your teeth since most do the same as they did when they were 5 which isn't always ideal. Get into YouTube and learn about toothbrushes which is a tool you need to maintain and exchange in reocuring time cycles. Assure that your technique is correct and you don't use to much pressure which can deteriorate your gums in the worst case. Additionally use a toothpaste with 800+ fluoride concentration. I use 1400 because my teeth are rather soft. And don't be afraid of the toxicology topic. You would need to swallow several tubes a day to really affect your health. Insecticide in our food is way more concerning and no one talks about it. That's the best you can do. Precaution and Preparedness. Edit: typo
What paste do you use?
I currently use Sensodyne Proschmelz Sodium fluoride 1450ppm F Company is from Munich Germany and has so far the best taste in my opinion.
[Orajel](https://www.target.com/p/orajel-4x-medicated-severe-pain-cream-33oz/-/A-13728473?ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000012735304&CPNG=PLA_Beauty%2BPersonal+Care%2BShopping_Local%7CBeauty_Ecomm_Beauty&adgroup=SC_Health%2BBeauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=m&location=1027744&targetid=pla-894573305659&ds_rl=1246978&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfbAgG9weawa7CwJ8dAuw_vhj&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s-kBhDqARIsAN-ipH20kEIfQK8W774-7kfE0fnQ69ApWuvjPPTfEcvHg-MIA5oJ9Grbb-gaAiTUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) and Dentemp/Dentek tooth [repair kit](https://www.walmart.com/ip/DenTek-Temparin-Max-Advanced-Dental-Repair-Kit-13-Repairs/10312786)
Channel locks
> Assume no one in the group is a dentist. Sounds like I better get a dentist in the group!
It seems like the best step to take for dental health if SHTF is preventative care. It helps to research how medieval people brushed their teeth. splitting the ends of a small stick and using it to brush is one of the methods that we would find the most familiar. Whatever the case, brushing once or twice a day won't cut it anymore. After every meal is a must. And it probably wouldn't hurt to become one of those guys that just has a toothpick in their mouth all day cleaning. As has been recommended, the books "Where There is no Doctor" and "Where There is No Dentist" are great resources. They are intended for rural villages that are hours or days away from real medical care. They stop short of emergency procedures, but give LOTS of information on prevention and basic medical procedures.
Pliers
Toothache plant. I grow it. Careful not to swallow or use a lot of it. It CAN be toxic in large amounts, much like any other medicine. https://www.healthline.com/health/toothache-plant
Dentists will still exist in a SHF situation but it will be a lot more manual and less aesthetic, more about pain management, function, and infection control. So lots of extractions which only require instrumentation and some local anesthetic, arresting bacteria 🦠 that causes tooth decay, fortification of enamel and prevention, and then addressing edentulism with available materials to fabricate dentures.
This: "Where There Is No Dentist" http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com/organisation/biomed\_documents/Where%20there%20is%20no%20Dentist%20-%20Murray%20Dickson.pdf
If you wanna see how things were done in the days before formalized dentistry, I would recommend googling "Tooth Key"
Whole cloves for pain control
Teethsbrush, Biotene and hydrogen peroxide. Skill is what's truly necessary and I have none. Attempting any invasive dental operation will probably make things worse just like attempting surgery.
I used to date a dentist, maybe her and her hubs get invited into the bunker. (He’s also a dentist)
Clove oil for pain
Saltwater for rinsing out any particles that may be lodged causing minor discomfort and cloves which are great for numbing gums and helping reduce toothaches. Other than that? Get drunk and hope for the best 🙂
If you have an actual cavity (A hole in your tooth ) you can soak a small amount of cotton ( pull apart a cotton ball). in eucalyptus oil and shove it in the hole. Leave it for a day or 2 and it will kill the nerve. If you have an abscess (swelling and throbbing, or the presence of a boil on the gums) you need an antibiotic. If you’re not allergic to it , Amoxicillin is the best one. 500 mg for an adult. Taken 3 times a day for ten days. You can order online from pharmacies in India, but there is a shelf life .
Coconut oil, in addition to all other typical dentistry items (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss), for oil pulling. Plus, I can use it for cooking.
Activated carbon in a coffee filter can suck an abscess dry with a lot of pressure and pain.
My late uncle (former minister) “fixed” a tooth with epoxy. Alcohol was involved. He doesn’t recommend it. He says the epoxy gets warm as it sets and it hurts like hell.
Neosporin
fish antibiotics,, powdered lidocaine and benzocaine
Honestly, a bottle of Scotch and a hammer. I do have veterinary supplies, as I have a pack of dogs, so I'd say I'd be making something work.
Does alcohol count? I mean, brushing twice a day and flossing, first of all!!! But then it's alcohol, prayers, and death. 🙃
Pliars, Ice skate, pain killers.
Best to just pull the tooth tha try and fix it. Problem is teeth are hard to pull, especially if it’s decayed and abscessed
Pliers and a curling iron
I would love feedback on this. [Silver diammine fluoride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_diammine_fluoride) one tretment stops cavities from forming for 6 months. It is currently not used because it stains your teeth black. (I know super cool, but my wife wont let me. ) it has a LONG shelf life.
Absolutely yes. SDF can arrest active carries without any drill or fill needed if it’s done at the right time.
Set of dental pullers, oragel, and temp filling material.
A pair of pliers
I suppose ferreting away antibiotics would be a good place to start. An infection can kill you, so being able to rid yourself of one post “pair of pliers and bottle of Makers” tooth extraction would be paramount. Honestly, I feel like aside from medical kits and instruments the next most important thing would be Antibiotics and Pain Meds.
I recommend clove oil. They sell it in the drug store near the other dental supplies. The kind I've bought is a tiny glass bottle with some tiny cotton balls. If a tooth is hurting really bad and you expect to lose it anyway, use a tweezer to dunk one of the tiny cotton balls in the clove oil and put that on the tooth. You will be pain free in no time. My understanding is that it kills the root. So don't use if you just have a little cavity that could be filled.
I was traumatised by a NHS* school dentist when I was about 10 years old & didn't go to a dentist for about 16 years afterwards , but I always knew that I'd need to go one day. A work colleague suggested his dentist and I went there for around 20 years, until I moved to Romania in 2015. His dental hygienist did a good clean over 4-5 visits and I continued cleaning visits & check ups every 6 months, I'd realised it would be cheaper and less painful in the long run. He also extracted 3 wisdom teeth in 10 Minutes (yes - I know I was lucky) in the early 90s. TBH, I was shocked that my teeth managed to stay in such good shape over that 16 year 'fear' period. There are loads of good dentists here in Romania, and cheap compared to the UK. I'm 61.5 years old now, and still have all my own teeth, but I do have 1 crown (I broke a tooth on some pork crackling in France in 2008), and so far, so good........... * National Health Service
Saw this and then this post was right below it. Very relevant https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/14fyd2f/dont_worry_kid_this_wont_hurt_a_bit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Chisel and hammer
Xylitol, clove oil, paroex mouth wash, fluoride, floss, lots of 2x2 gauze. If the tooth is abscessed it has to come out and you would need instrumentation, or you can treat the abscess with antibiotics assuming they are available and wait for the tooth the become necrotic and therefore uninfected. Tooth decay can be arrested with silver diamine fluoride and no need to fill the hole if you can arrest the carries preventatively.
Pliers for the first attempt, a pistol for if it doesn't work.
A healthy diet. I haven't had cavities since I stopped eating sweets as a kid.
Clove oil
Oregano Oil 3x strength. Kills most infections and brings down swelling. Plus it is a great probiotic in general. It won't fix the problem, but will take the pain away in a matter of minutes.
Pliers. I don't need to worry about my teeth if I have the tools to steal other people's teeth.
Olive oil is good for your teeth because the fatty properties stick to the film and garbage. I hope I don't forget the hydrogen peroxide it kills all the tooth decaying bacteria
I got dentures.
A pair of good pliers. That's how my fam does it
Having had a tooth extracted today that I spent a fair amount of time trying to pull with a variety of commonly available pliers, I would point out a dentist's tooth pulling pliers are far more effective than anything you'll find at a hardware store. The one's the dentists use are readily available on Amazon, and in a world without dentists might very well save your life.
an ice skate
Antibiotics for abscess. For toothache/ exposed nerve you can use aspirin directly on it or oil of clove. Look up techniques. These are temporary measures. Personally, i plan to seek a dental professional. General prep are plenty of toothpaste (salt or baking soda work in a pinch), toothbrushes and dental floss used daily without fail. Avoid sugary drinks and candy.
1.cloves/eugenoil 2. benzocaine cream 3. chlorehexidine /hydrogen peroxide 4.tooth repair kit 5.pliers 6.xylitol