How To Handle A Dental Emergency While Traveling
When traveling, you must make every effort to be prepared for any eventuality. On the other hand, managing a toothache overseas can provide some difficulties. What is a dental emergency, anyway? When and which dentist's office should you visit when you need to call one? In the event of a dental emergency while traveling, follow these steps.
Your Initial Reaction in Case of Dental Emergencies Abroad
Dental crises are unavoidable when traveling, no matter how well-prepared one is. All you can do is prepare for your vacation by doing some research and becoming familiar with emergency procedures. To deal with an urgent emergency, you should do the following in addition to locating a nearby dentist.
Toothache
Due to air pressure imbalances, tooth pain is likely to occur when you're flying. When air gets into your teeth through a cavity, crack, or void in your filling, it expands as a result of pressure changes while in flight. Although this kind of toothache is typical, it should simply aggravate pre-existing issues and disappear once you land.
To remove any potential debris from your teeth, rinse your mouth after landing and use floss if you get a toothache while flying that does not go away. To ease the pain, you can use medicines. However, you might need to visit a dentist if the pain persists and you can't wait to get well till you get back home.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
In the event of a dental emergency, breaking or cracking a tooth calls for quick attention. To relieve any swelling, rinse your mouth and use a cool compress on the outer part of your cheek. Next, locate a nearby dentist or emergency room and make an immediate appointment.
Dislodged Tooth
If an emergency completely removes a tooth, do the following:
- Take hold of the tooth’s crown.
- If the root becomes dirty, rinse it off, but avoid touching the pieces of tissue or wrapping it in a cloth.
- If at all possible, keep the tooth in its socket or carry it in a cup of milk, and visit the dentist right away. It is important to act soon since after roughly half an hour, there is less chance of salvaging the tooth.
Finding a Dentist Abroad
Please contact our 123Dentist emergency line at 604-805-2500 if you have a dental emergency in British Columbia. You may be confident that there is a licensed dentist nearby who can take care of the issue if you are traveling outside of Canada, the United States, and many other nations. You should have no trouble finding a dentist who can treat you because European nations share the same dental standards and capabilities as the United States and Canada.
Call your travel insurance provider and request a recommendation for a nearby dentist who will take your policy as soon as possible, if you purchased it. You can also look up the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, contact the Embassy or Consulate of your country, or talk to the hotel concierge.
Advice for Planning an Organized Trip
Being organized is one of the best strategies to prevent a dental emergency. It's best to take the following measures for your trip, particularly if you have dental pain before you leave:
- See your dentist for a checkup and let them know you’re heading out on vacation if you have a history of cavities or gum disease. The dentist may check for issues that you should keep an eye out for when traveling and can also provide you with advice on how to take care of your teeth and handle emergencies. It is advised to have any major treatments, such as a root canal, done well in advance of your departure from the nation.
- Obtain dental insurance: International travel is not covered by many insurance policies. To keep you safe when traveling, you might need to get an additional temporary dental plan.
- Be ready for anything: Bring everything you’ll need to maintain good dental hygiene when you’re not seeing your dentist. If you’ve been experiencing discomfort, take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen on your trip in addition to visiting your dentist before you depart. To take care of your mouth when traveling, pack a enough supply of items such as mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss.
- Be ready for anything: Bring everything you’ll need to maintain good dental hygiene when you’re not seeing your dentist. If you’ve been experiencing discomfort, take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen on your trip in addition to visiting your dentist before you depart. To take care of your mouth when traveling, pack a enough supply of items such as mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss.
Experiencing a dental emergency can be frightening, particularly when traveling. However, with a little forethought and preparation, you may take care of your teeth before you depart and be prepared in case of need. Before you leave, make an appointment for a checkup, and inquire about any additional oral health advice from your dentist for the trip.