Traveling abroad and seeing the world can be a blast until disaster strikes. It could be sudden mouth pain, a chipped tooth, or even a lost dental device. This can be painful and scary, but knowing when it’s an emergency and what to do can help you find emergency care that can fix the problem promptly. This article explores some signs you need emergency dental care when traveling and how to deal with these emergencies effectively.
Signs you may need emergency dental care
Many people experience minor sensitivity every so often without cause for concern. However, the following are signs you potentially need emergency dental care while traveling:
- Persistent, severe, or sudden tooth pain
- One or more teeth feel loose or fall out
- A tooth is chipped or fractured
- Your mouth, gums, or palate suffer impact or trauma
- Mouth or gum swelling
- Any other sudden pain or similar problems related to your teeth, gums, and mouth
Coping with dental emergencies while traveling abroad
However, you may have to wait some time between when the symptoms occur and when you can see a dentist. Here’s how to cope with various dental emergencies while abroad:
Toohaches or mouth pain
Some travelers experience minor tooth pain when flying due to pressure changes. If the pain fades soon after landing, this is not necessarily cause for concern. However, if you have seemingly unexplained toothaches or mouth pain, or if the pain persists long after you deplane, there may be a deeper issue. For example, tooth infections can cause inflammation in the tooth. This pushes against interior sensitive structures, causing pain. Decay or damage can also cause pain by exposing sensitive inner layers of the tooth to external elements. If your pain persists, avoid hard and acidic foods to minimize discomfort. You can also try buying over-the-counter pain medications at a store to help relieve pain.
Tooth cracks or damage
Unlike toothaches or mouth pain, cracks and damage have more obvious causes and are always emergencies. Broken teeth make it easy for bacteria to get into the tooth and cause infection. It also makes eating and speaking harder in some cases. Damaged or cracked teeth can happen during more physically active travel activities, automobile accidents, and sometimes something as simple as eating hard foods.
If you experience a chipped or cracked tooth, rinse your mouth immediately to clean out bacteria and debris. Apply a cold compress to manage swelling and pain. Contact an emergency dentist or, if it’s especially urgent, visit the emergency room.
Loose or lost tooth or device
Lost teeth and devices require immediate attention. A lost tooth exposes the socket to debris and bacteria, leading to major issues. Similarly, lost devices can expose damaged or missing structures and can make eating and speaking harder.
If you lose a tooth, putting it back may be possible. Pick it up by the crown (to avoid getting the bottom dirty) and gently rinse it off with clean water if needed. Then, gingerly try to place it back in the socket without disturbing the root. Don’t use any more than the gentlest force, or you may cause damage.
Don’t wrap the tooth in anything if you can’t put it back, and remember that it must stay moist at all times. The American Association of Endodontists recommends placing it in a glass of milk since it can preserve the tooth.1 An emergency tooth preservation kit is even better.
The exact action for lost devices varies by device. In general, contact an emergency dentist immediately and keep the device clean in the meantime.
How to prepare for potential dental emergencies
Preparing for dental emergencies ahead of time makes it easier to stay calm and address any problems that arise. Here are some tips for dental emergency prep:
- Review your insurance: Review your insurance policies. If you don’t have dental insurance, consider purchasing a travel-related medical policy.
- Know who to contact: Good parties to contact include your hotel concierge, the local American embassy, and The International Association For Medical Assistance To Travelers. Gather contact information for some of these parties, just in case.
- Bring emergency supplies if possible: Supplies like emergency tooth preservation kits can help you reduce the damage and other issues in a dental emergency.
- Research local facilities: Make a list of facilities ahead of time and ensure they offer the services you may need. If you have dentures, for instance, find some places specializing in denture repair.
- Visit your dentist beforehand: For example, if you have tooth decay, your dentist may recommend some restorative dentistry work before you travel.
- Avoid hard foods: Be careful about eating excessively hard foods. Eating too many can potentially chip teeth or damage devices.
- Wear a mouthguard when needed: Wear a mouthguard when participating in physical activity to protect your teeth and mouth from trauma. Consider a nightguard to minimize bruxism as well.
The bottom line
You never know what might happen when you’re traveling. A dental emergency could occur when you least expect it. This can be scary, but prompt action can prevent the worst consequences from happening. The key is to prepare by getting a dental checkup, researching local facilities, and bringing emergency supplies. Even if you have never experienced a dental emergency, simply preparing for the possibility of one can help you enjoy your travels with less stress.
Source:
1 American Association of Endodontists (AAE) – Knocked Out Teeth.
