Nothing ruins a vacation like a sudden toothache or some other type of dental injury. Unfortunately, dental emergencies can strike at any time. Whether they result from injury or develop in your mouth for a long time without your knowledge, you can be left in pain and in need of a dentist. Not to mention, if you are out of town, you probably won’t know where a reputable dental professional is if you haven’t prepared. Read on for some ways to be ready for a dental emergency on vacation.
How Can I Be Prepared?
Dental emergencies won’t resolve on their own without professional dental intervention, and you shouldn’t wait until you’re back home. You might want to ask your dentist at home if they can recommend any dentists at your destination. Otherwise, you can do your own research and find a dental office in the area. You might want to set up a line of communication between your local dentist and the one for your vacation so they can transfer documents if need be.
Since prevention is paramount, you might want to have a dental appointment before you leave for your trip. This way, if anything that can cause a toothache is developing, you can get it taken care of ahead of time and your vacation will go uninterrupted.
What If I Get a Toothache on Vacation?
Some air travelers report developing a toothache after the plane takes off only for it to go away when they get back on the ground. These cases are most likely caused by air pockets within cracks or gaps between the teeth. At higher elevations, this air expands and stresses the tooth structure. A pre-trip dental appointment fix this before it happens. If such a toothache persists after landing, use over-the-counter pain relievers or a cold compress. If it lasts for more than a day, see a dentist.
How Should I Deal with a Tooth Injury Out of Town?
If you have a tooth injury on vacation, you’ll be thrilled to have found an emergency dentist ahead of time. Upon finding yourself with a broken or cracked tooth, rinse your mouth out and apply a cold compress to treat any swelling. Then head straight to a dentist or an emergency room if a dental professional is not available. The emergency room can supply you with antibiotics and pain medication to last until you can see a dentist.
If a tooth is dislodged from your mouth, you have thirty minutes to get to a dentist before your chances of saving the tooth start dropping. Follow these steps to increase the likelihood of the tooth being saved:
- Handle the dislodged tooth by the crown. Touching the root with anything solid can damage its tissues, so never touch the root at all and do not wrap the tooth in a cloth.
- If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in a bowl of lukewarm water without scrubbing the tooth. Don’t use running, hot, or cold water as these could damage the root tissues.
- Keep the tooth moist. Try to place it back in the socket with your fingers or by biting down on it through gauze. If this doesn’t work, keep it in a cup of milk.
- Head to the dentist immediately.
Remember, just because you’re taking a vacation doesn’t mean that all the threats to your oral health will be taking a break too. If you stick to these guidelines, you can minimize the possibility of a dental emergency ruining your well-earned getaway.
About the Practice
The Dental Group at Polaris provides exceptional, caring, and personally tailored dentistry to the community of Lewis Center, OH. Led by Drs. Lewis Gunasekera and Eric Buck, the practice uses the latest technology to help patients achieve healthy and complete smiles for their lifetimes. Services include general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you’d like more information about how to be prepared for a dental emergency on vacation, contact the office online or dial (614) 888-3962.