A Houston Dentist’s Hurricane Season Checklist for Your Family’s Teeth

Hurricane season runs June through November, and our office on Almeda Road rides it out with the rest of Houston. Every summer the Museum District does the same drill. Fill the gas tank, check the pantry, charge the batteries. Teeth almost never make that list. They should. A toothache that starts the night a storm makes landfall is a miserable way to sit through the wind, and a knocked out tooth with flooded streets between you and a dentist is worse.

Here is the checklist Dr. Sharel Sly and our team share with our own families around Hermann Park, Third Ward, and Midtown. Most of it takes one afternoon, done well before the first named storm forms in the Gulf.

Get known problems fixed before the season peaks

A cracked filling or a tooth that twinges with cold does not improve while you wait. Storm stress, skipped brushing during an evacuation, and a pantry diet of crackers and sports drinks all push it in the wrong direction. June and early July are the quiet weeks. Book the exam then.

If something has been bothering you, or your last cleaning was more than six months back, look over the care we offer on our dental services page and handle it while the forecast is clear. We see patients Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 2pm. A filling placed in July beats an emergency visit in September every single time.

Add a dental kit to your storm box

• A soft toothbrush for each person, plus one spare
• Travel toothpaste and floss
• Bottled water set aside for brushing, in case a boil water notice follows the storm
• Orthodontic wax for braces, and a case for anyone wearing Invisalign aligners
• An over the counter pain reliever your family already tolerates
• A small container with a lid, in case a crown or a whole tooth comes out
• Our number, (713) 522-1717, written on paper in case phones go dead

Keep the kit with the flashlights so nobody hunts for it in the dark.

During the storm, keep the routine and watch the water

Houston tap water is fluoridated, and on a normal day it is exactly what your teeth want. After a major storm the city sometimes issues a boil water notice. While one is active, brush and rinse with bottled water or with water that has been boiled and cooled. Same rule for cleaning dentures and aligners.

Watch the snacks too. Storm pantries lean on dried fruit, granola bars, and soda, and all of that sugar sits on teeth for days when routines slip. Brush twice a day even in a shelter or a relative's guest room in Pearland. Two minutes with a flashlight still counts.

If a tooth breaks or gets knocked out

For a knocked out permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse it gently, then place it back in the socket if you can, or drop it in a container of milk. The faster it is seen, the better the odds of saving it. A chipped tooth or a lost crown is less urgent. Save the pieces, avoid chewing on that side, and rinse with warm salt water.

Once the roads through the Museum District and the Medical Center are passable, call us. We reserve time for emergency dental visits during office hours, and a phone call tells us how quickly you need a chair.

After the storm passes

Reschedule anything the weather canceled, especially extractions or oral surgery that were already planned. Delays let small problems grow. If surgery is on your calendar, ask us about medical-grade ozone therapy, a biological approach we use to support healing after oral surgery. And restock the storm kit before the next system spins up. The season does not end until November.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a dental emergency during hurricane season in Houston?

A knocked out tooth, a tooth pushed out of position, bleeding that will not stop, facial swelling, or pain that keeps you up at night. A lost crown or a small chip without pain can usually wait a day or two. When the roads are safe, call us at (713) 522-1717, describe what happened, and we will tell you how quickly you need to be seen.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water during a boil water notice?

Use bottled water or water that has been boiled and cooled. Houston tap water is fluoridated and fine on a normal day, but a boil water notice after a storm means the supply may be contaminated, and that applies to brushing, rinsing, and cleaning aligners or dentures. Once the city lifts the notice, go back to the tap.

Do you see dental emergencies on weekends or after hours?

No. Our office near Hermann Park is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 2pm. If you have severe swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or bleeding that will not stop outside those hours, go to an emergency room. For everything else, call when we open and we will work you in during office hours.

What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth during storm cleanup?

For a baby tooth, do not put it back in. Control the bleeding with clean gauze and call us. For a permanent tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse it gently, and place it back in the socket or in a container of milk, then call the office right away. We treat kids as part of our pediatric care, so bring the whole family.

My crown came out while the office was closed for a storm. What now?

Keep the crown in a clean container and avoid chewing on that side. Rinse with warm salt water and take an over the counter pain reliever if the tooth is sensitive. Skip very hot, cold, or sticky foods. Call (713) 522-1717 when we reopen and we will get you scheduled. Most crown repairs go quickly once you are in the chair.

Want the exam done before the next storm names itself? Call us at (713) 522-1717 or request a visit through our contact page. We are at 5927 Almeda Rd Suite J, in the 77004, a short trip from anywhere inside the Loop.