I agree that going to see the dentist or a doctor is the best remedy for injury. I agree that your best bet is to stabilize a wound and get help as soon as possible.

Now I have an abcess on a tooth. I'm on a desert island with only my huge survival kit minus the signaling gear. I have no hope of immediate rescue. I do have anything in my kit I want besides signaling gear.

How would I treat the infection?

Ummm, what would a dentist do? Pull it out?

I guess if the pain was so bad, that I couldn't eat/sleep even after takning painkillers, then the only option would be to pull it out.

Take some pain killers an hour or so before. Maybe wrap some fishing line around it and pull it. If it is too saw to pull it yourself, then tie a rock to it, and drop the rock.

I am no dentist, so this is as a worst-case-scenario. This is also a life-saving thing i am doing (so that I can eat/sleep). It is not cosmetic.

My research, thus far, tells me that an abcess is not supposed to be pierced otherwise the pus will get in the blood and kill you.

My only solution so far is to take an anti-biotic to kill the germs.

See this site http://www.tpub.com/dental1/46.htm for good advice. You'll want to brush your teeth just reading about some of the stuff on there. Trenchmouth, yuk

As an initial step, I would recommend boiling some sea water, allowing it to cool to very warm and then using the warmed/boiled sea water as a mouth wash. If one had some clean cloth, I would also use the warmed/boiled seawater as a poultice. Pete

Is there something other than salt in the sea water that helps? If I were in Misourri could I use salt water made with table salt? Sea water is not always available. (though this scenario is Desert Island where sea water is abundantly available.)

It is the salt in the seawater I was referring to, since the scenario in taking place on an island, I was thinking of what was readily available. Pete

Ummm, as I said I am no dentist <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I suppose it also depends on the surrounding circumstances, and other information. Antibiotics would be the first choice, bu I don't carry them (can't get a prescription). I'll ask my dentist next time I see him.

Surely this forum has a resident dentisit?

Calling all dentisits present.

-james

PRAY !!! If you're fortunate, the abscess will form a fistula (tract) to the surface of the gum, allowing drainage and some relief. Without question, antibiotics would help, but I assumed they were unavailable. The hot salt water rinses might help the fistula form, but in my experience it is more psychological in effect - at least you're trying something.

Re-reading my earlier post, it almost sounds insensitive. I apologize for that. During the summer my time for internet activity is quite curtailled so I responded in haste. At least the desperation represented by serious dental problems in the back country was evident. The thought of unskilled individuals performing surgery (Tooth removal, incision and drainage,etc.) in such a setting is frightening. Not only is the victum already at risk for septicemia (blood poisoning) from the untreated abcess, but the likelyhood of spreading the infection and introducing other pathogens is significant. Jaw fracture from such backwoods surgery is a very real threat. "Whatever you do, do no harm" is an old medical axiom that is especially appropriate here. I suppose if the intensity of the pain is unbearable, then anything is justified (I understand there were mountain men who committed suicide under such circumstances). One poster qualified his question with a comment to the effect, "I know prevention is the best....,but.." This should not be glossed over so lightly. The importance of prevention in good dental health can NOT be overstated !!! In addition to regular professional care it would be wise to mention to your dentist the potential for being unable to quickly access dental care so that perhaps he/she might adopt a more agressive approach to treatment. Lastly, oral hygiene must be exemplary. If people would realize the incredible amount of suffering and expense proper home care saves, dental floss and a toothbush would be carried 24/7 and used effectively many times daily. I wish I could provide some earth shaking revelation regarding treatment, but as far as I know, there is none. Regards, Lou

So you're our resident dentist?

I knew there would be one lurking about in the survival foliage somewhere.

In reguards to your comment about carrying toothbrushes etc, I have wanted to make a toothbrush part of my every day bag carry for a while. Recent gum problems have made it even more urgent that I pay more attention to it.

One problem has been finding a sutible way of carrying a toothbrush, since cast loose in a bag (even a washbag) it will qyuickly gather dirt. Since it needs to be clean and put away wet, I'll need to find a way of carrying it neatly.

-james

What about a dedicated toothbrush holder? I use one to carry my toothbrush in when I travel. Not when i'm camping though because I use a cutdown toothbrush. I havn't yet found a satisfactory way of carrying that though?

i have seen special travel toothbrushes that do not require water or toothpaste to use properly, the brush is stored upside down in a small container filled with some liquid. wenn you use it you take out the brush and put in upside down on the container, so you will end up using it as handle. they come in diffrent colors 2, if i rememeber correctly <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> what else can you ask from a toothbrush ?

btw the liquid stuff is only enough for 10 brushes....

A picture of your favourite disney character?

Ziplock Baggies

Firts, the disclaimer: I'm no dentist. However, I have had three abscessed teeth and I guess three (maybe 4?) root canals on those teeth.

Before you start thinking that I'm a walking trenchmouth, let me tell you that my household nickname is the Dental Floss Nazi. I am a psycho about dental hygiene. My children went to a pediatric dentist when they were 6 months old.

However, my genes are such that I got my dad's crummy teeth.

My first abscess was so bad that it went into my jawbone and made my face swell up like in the cartoons. The infection was hard to get rid of -- the dentist was afraid that it would indeed get into my bloodstream (?) and be really bad. I was on an antibiotic that is routinely used in inner-city emergency rooms to treat victims of belly gunshot wounds. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The next two abscesses were probably caused by my habit of teeth grinding (bruxism) at night. I never knew I did it. I'll spare you the mechanics of how that causes an abscess, but....

...the bottom line, as I understand it, is once you have an infection within the tooth, it rarely gets better unless the cause is treated. Antibiotics are routinely prescribed for an abscess, but that's just to whip back the infection so an endodontist can get in there and do root canal therapy (pull the tooth, dig out the root from it and your jaw, pack it with special materials like tiny toothpicks, then replace & cement the tooth in its original spot). For this they are usually extremely well-paid, and worth every penny. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My personal horror story would be the situation you described. And I would probably try to pull the darn thing.

Ewww, I just don't even want to think about it!

I knew as soon as I posted that I had messed up some specifics...

(1) your tooth isn't pulled in a normal root canal - the dentist/endodontist drills a hole through the crown and works that way.

(2) It's the pulp that is infected and causes problems, not usually the roots although they can subsequently get diseased, too.

Best to take a look at the American Dental Association's website:

http://www.ada.org/public/faq/root.html

Sorry for my bad gouge.

As I understand it, simply brushing without toothpaste, goes a long way towards cleaning teeth sufficiently to avoid decay. I'd love to hear Neanderthal's comments on that approach.

Incidentally, what self-respecting survivalist is going to be caught in an emergency without his dental floss?

John

well the liquid the brush is stored in is some kind of toothpaste replasement.....

I picked up a nice travel toothbrush at the local drug store that stores the brush dry in the hollow handle. I am thinking of using it with baking soda or salt, probbly at least as effective as most commercial products.

REI used to sell a nice toothbrush that stored the toothpaste in the handle - the whole thing was a handy cylinder about six inches long.

campmor has these Is that what you were thinking of?

Absolutely, John. The amount of abrasive in toothpaste is nearly non existant. There was some lawsuit inspired controversy years ago regarding damage to enamel from the addition of abrasives to dentifrice. The levels were found to be totally insignificant. In fact I believe the FDA limits it. Also quite some time ago, a small tribe in Africa was studied since they were almost completely free of dental disease, both decay and periodontal conditions. Their dental health was found to be the result of the practice of using a "chewing stick" all day long. I don't recall the fibrous wood that was used, but as they chewed it, it became a mass of small "bristles" which cleansed the teeth. Occasionally they would grasp the "brush" and supplement the chewing with deliberate brushing. BTW, the toothbrush containers should be soaked weekly in Chlorox solution as done with your brush. Also BTW, salt/baking soda is excellent as a tooth paste substitute. In the long run though, it's the physical action of the bristles that does the job. Regards, Lou I definitely would not advise the use of a chewing stick, however, as, without the proper wood, small fibers could come loose potentially causing damage to the gums.

Lou,

Thanks a lot for validating my technique. Most of my toothbrushing on camping trips is without toothpaste. A toothbrush frequently dunked in a cup of water seems to leave my teeth feeling fairly clean. That's also a technique I've used extensively at the office after lunch. Toothpaste complicates things enough after lunch in a business environment that it has not seemed to be a viable alternative. On the other hand, using a wet toothbrush is pretty simple, even in a business environment.

Regards,

John

Oral-B sells a travel toothbrush - it comes in two parts, the brush sticks inside a holder. Pull the brush out, reverse it, stick the base in the holder, and you have a full length toothbrush.

I also own a camping toothbrush called a "Toob". It is a full-length toothbrush with a protective cover for the brush. The handle of the brush comes off and is a squeezable toothpaste tube. You can refill it - it has an opening in the base that screws onto a standard toothpaste tube, you just squeeze the toothpaste into the "Toob" and you have a toothbrush with toothpaste stored in the handle.

>>I do have anything in my kit I want besides signaling gear.

In that case, take out your copy of Wayne Merry's "The Official Wilderness First Aid Guide" (ISBN 0771082509).

It's probably covered in any good book on Wilderness First Aid.

Fortunately, an abscess is one of those medical emergencies where you DO have the luxury of being able to sit down and read about it before you have to treat it - unlike, say, CPR <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Well, you would take your ice skate, (the one you found in the packages washed up on the beach) place ithe blade against your tooth, a strike the opposite end sharply with a rock.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />