While vacations are exciting, there’s no doubt that traveling can be stressful. As you pack and double-check your flight details, you might overlook your dental needs. It’s important to make sure to pack your toothbrush, but it’s just as necessary to know what to do if you suffer a dental injury while abroad. In this post, your emergency dentist explains how to handle toothaches and other common dental issues during your travels.
How Should I Handle Dental Problems Abroad?
Immediately after your injury, complete the following. Then visit a nearby dentist or emergency room.
Toothache
Toothaches can be common occurrences when flying in an airplane. Air can enter your teeth through cracks, cavities or spaces in your fillings and expand. This is due to an air pressure imbalance and any discomfort you experience should end soon after you land. If your tooth pain doesn’t go away after arriving at your destination, rinse out your mouth and use floss to dislodge anything that might be stuck in your teeth. Apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling and take over-the-counter painkillers if necessary.
Chipped or Cracked Tooth
Chipping or cracking your tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. Rinse your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Take over-the-counter painkillers if you experience any discomfort. If possible, locate any missing teeth fragments and bring them with you to the dental office or hospital.
Dislodged Tooth
If you knock out a tooth, hold it by the crown (not the root) and carefully rinse it with nothing but water. Gently place the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place with gauze or a clean washcloth. If returning your tooth to the socket hurts, keep the tooth in a clean container with milk or your saliva to maintain moisture. Reimplantation is possible, especially in the first 30 minutes following the trauma, so see a medical professional as quickly as possible.
How Can I Travel Prepared?
One of the best ways to avoid a dental emergency while traveling is to start your preparations before you leave. If you’re experiencing any dental pain, visit your dentist a couple weeks before your trip. They can check for any serious issues and give you tips on caring for your teeth abroad.
On your trip, make sure to keep up with your oral hygiene routine. Pack the necessary toiletries and don’t skip brushing or flossing. You can also decrease your likelihood of an oral emergency by minding your diet. Avoid chewing on hard candies or other tough snacks.
A dental emergency can be a scary experience, especially while traveling. With the help of some pre-planning, you can care for your teeth before you leave and protect them while you’re away. Reach out to your dentist for more oral health tips to follow while traveling.
About the Author
Dr. Steven Crovatto has worked in the dental field since high school, when he lent a hand at his father’s practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Florida with honors. If you have further questions about oral hygiene, he can be reached through his website or at 904-272-0800.