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Toothaches and other dental problems are bad enough when they happen at home. They are even worse when you are on vacation! If you do not act quickly, an urgent oral health problem could ruin your trip! What steps can you take to prevent and/or manage a dental emergency while you are traveling this summer? This blog post contains some practical advice.
Reduce Your Risk of an Emergency
The best way to handle a dental emergency is to prevent it from happening. Before you take off on vacation, consider visiting your dentist for a thorough checkup. If you have any developing issues that could progress into an emergency, your dentist can let you know. You might even have enough time to get the problem treated prior to your vacation.
If you cannot get treatment until after your trip, be sure to take extra precautions to care for your teeth while you are away from home. For example, you should keep up with your oral hygiene. You should also make wise food choices. It can be easy to overindulge in sweets and acidic beverages during summer vacation, but it is better to stick to mostly nutrient-rich foods that support oral health.
Handling a Dental Emergency
If a dental emergency occurs despite your efforts to prevent it, you can minimize the impact of the situation by taking some practical steps:
Find a Trustworthy Dentist
If you are traveling in the U.S., Canada, or Europe, it will probably be easy to find a high-quality dentist via a simple online search. If you are in a less-developed country, contact your travel insurance to find out if they can point you toward a reputable care provider.
At your appointment, a dentist can provide pain relief and recommend a treatment plan. If you will not have time to complete treatment before you head home (some services require multiple appointments), ask the emergency dentist for some notes that you can pass along to your regular dentist when you get home.
Care for Your Tooth
Depending on the nature of your dental problem, you might need to avoid hard, crunchy and acidic foods. You may also need to use a cold compress to minimize swelling. It is fine to take pain relievers in appropriate doses.
Be Cautious When Going Home
If you are taking a plane to get home, be aware that air pressure changes during flights can increase dental discomfort. You may need to delay your flight for a few days to minimize your pain. If that is not possible, be sure to pack some pain relievers. You can also bring a resealable plastic bag so you can ask the flight attendant for some ice that you can use to reduce your pain.
Follow-Up with Your Regular Dentist
Regardless of what type of dental emergency you suffer while on vacation, it is always good to follow-up with your regular dentist when you get home. Their advice and treatment can help your recovery go as smoothly as possible.
Hopefully, a dental emergency will not disrupt your summer vacation. If it does, follow the tips in this article to minimize the stress of the situation.
Meet the Practice
Marvel Dental in Midlothian provides comprehensive care for patients in our community. We are often able to accept same-day emergency cases; we even welcome walk-ins! If you have questions or concerns about your dental health, we are ready to provide prompt assistance. To learn more about how our talented team may be able to serve you, contact our office at 682-772-3072.