What Should I Do for a Dental Emergency While on Vacation?

What Should I Do for a Dental Emergency While on Vacation?

Often painful and sometimes scary, a dental emergency will never come at the right time, but when one happens while you’re traveling, it just feels worse.

When you are miles away from your trusted dentist and experiencing a dental emergency, don’t worry! Your dental emergency may be an unforeseen bump in the road, but when you know what to do, it won’t ruin your entire vacation. 

Are You Experiencing Tooth Pain?

Toothaches are often dismissed as nothing to worry about. While this is usually true, tooth pain should never be ignored as it could signal a deeper issue.

Did You Travel by Plane?

Constant imbalances and changes in air pressure commonly result in dental pain for flying passengers. For people with cracks or cavities embedded in their teeth, the pain can sometimes be amplified as the air that enters their teeth responds to fluctuations in air pressure. 

Though the discomfort can catch you off guard and feel like an emergency, it typically isn’t, and should subside shortly after landing. 

Did You Wake Up with a Toothache?

Starting the day with throbbing tooth pain doesn’t feel good, but it can be managed easily and conveniently. First, rinse your mouth using warm water – this will wash away any food debris surrounding the aching tooth. Next, use floss to gently remove any food trapped between your teeth. 

If the pain persists, head to the drug store for the pain reliever of your choice, being sure to take it as instructed by the bottle’s directions. 

Tooth still throbbing? You may want to search for a local dentist to check out the aching tooth to keep your vacation focused on fun. 

Did Your Dental Filling Crack or Break?

Cracking or breaking a filling may or may not be an emergency, so the first thing you should do is evaluate the situation. Clean the tooth out first, take a look around and answer the following questions: 

If yes, head to the emergency room or an emergency dentist near you immediately. 

For those who answer no, you can purchase temporary filling material from the dental aisle of a drugstore or pharmacy and use it as directed. It should hold you over for a few days until you can return home and can see your dentist. 

If you aren’t returning home for more than a few days, keep an eye on the temporary filling and replace it as necessary until you return home and see your dentist. 

Have You Lost a Dental Crown?

Losing a dental crown on vacation is normally nothing to be concerned about and shouldn’t cause pain if a root canal was also performed. Schedule an appointment with your dentist and receive treatment when your trip is done. 

To continue enjoying your vacation, you can reattach the crown with dental adhesive from a nearby pharmacy or drugstore or you can simply leave the crown off. Just make sure you see your dentist as soon as possible so they can replace it and repair your smile. 

Did Your Tooth Crack or Break?

Immediately use warm water to rinse your mouth to clear debris and apply a cold compress, this should reduce swelling and control inflammation.

Go to an ER or emergency dentist near you. 

Was Your Tooth Knocked Out? 

Be aware that losing a tooth is an emergency which requires immediate attention in order to preserve your tooth. Here’s what to do, quickly: 

  1. Locate the tooth and rinse it using cool water
  2. Gently attempt to place it back in the socket it fell from, being very careful not to disturb the tooth root. Do not force the tooth into the socket or damage your tooth’s delicate root. 
  3. If the tooth does not easily return to its socket, submerge it in a glass of milk or between your gums and cheek (it’s a safe place with lots of saliva). 
  4. Go to the nearest emergency dentist in the area straightaway.

Time is of the essence when you lose a tooth – the chances of a dentist saving your tooth dramatically decreases after only 30 minutes.

Is Your Jaw Swollen?

A dental abscess could be the cause of your swollen jaw and things can get bad quickly if nothing is done. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, a fever or a hard time swallowing or breathing, seek urgent dental care (or the ER if you have no other option). 

How Can You Plan for a Dental Emergency? 

There is nothing you can do to keep a dental emergency from occurring, but there are a few things you can do to prepare for one. 

Are You Familiar with Your Dental Plan? 

If you are staying within the country, look for in-network dental providers in the area that you will be vacationing before you head out. If there are none in the area, set some time aside to get acquainted with your plan’s out-of-network benefits. 

 For those traveling internationally, it’s uncommon for dental insurance policies to cover overseas providers; you may want to buy additional dental coverage. If you decide to purchase additional insurance. 

By gaining a firm understanding of your dental plan, you will be able to take decisive action if a dental emergency does become part of your trip. 

What Should You Pack in a Dental Emergency Kit?

Everyone knows that they should pack the essentials (toothpaste, toothbrush, floss and mouthwash), but be sure to also include:

Do You Have Unresolved Dental Issues?

Make a dentist appointment before you leave for your trip. Your dentist will examine your teeth, identifying and treating any issues they find. An issue, such as a dental abscess, can ruin your hard-earned break, but if a dentist catches it, they can treat the infection and give you peace of mind. 

Receiving a clean dental bill of health from your dentist is a great way to ensure preventable issues aren’t the cause of your dental emergency while you’re away. 

Don’t Let a Dental Emergency Ruin Your Vacation!

Away from home and need dental emergency assistance in the Southern California area? Contact us at (424) 321-7470 today and speak with a dentist who can help. Don’t wait any longer to receive care!