Tips for Managing Dental Emergencies While Traveling

Experiencing a dental emergency, particularly when traveling or away from home, can be stressful and confusing. You might not know what to do, who to call, or any medication to soothe your discomfort. However, with some preparedness and first aid skills, you can effectively manage dental emergencies until you get professional care. In this article, let’s discuss some tips on handling dental emergencies on the road.

Planning for Dental Emergencies

Planning for an emergency is perhaps the best dental emergency preparedness for travelers. Before your trip, take some vital steps to prepare for potential emergencies, including:

• Travel insurance. It would be great if your travel insurance covers dental emergencies. If not, you can add cover or purchase separate dental insurance. This ensures your trip isn’t cut short due to huge dental bills.
• Pack a dental emergency kit. Essential dental and first aid items like painkillers, dental wax, gauze pad, and dental floss can help manage dental emergencies until professional help is available.
• Research local dental clinics. Having several dental clinics or emergency dental care near your travel destination can make it easier to find emergency dental care while on a trip. If possible, save their location and contact information, so you can easily reach them if necessary.

Managing Dental Emergencies during Travel

• Seek immediate dental care

Whether you have knocked out your tooth or experiencing severe oral discomfort, the first step should be to seek immediate dental care near you. The dental professional will help alleviate your discomfort and address the underlying issues to prevent further complications.

As you wait for professional help, below are effective tips for coping with dental issues while traveling:

• Toothache

Toothaches, when traveling, can be caused by numerous factors like untreated decay, dentin hypersensitivity, dental trauma, or something trapped between your teeth. Depending on the extent of discomfort, you can consider the following remedies:

• Saltwater rinses. Rinse with warm salt water to reduce swelling, alleviate pain, and minimize bacterial infections.
• Pain medications. Pain relievers can help minimize discomfort until you see a dentist.
• Cold therapy. Apply a cold compress against the painful or swollen area.
• Floss. Use a floss threader or other dental flossers to remove trapped food particles or other debris between teeth.
• Broken or chipped tooth

Trips allow you to explore new foods and activities, which can accidentally cause you to chip, crack, or break a tooth. If this happens, try the following remedies:

• Locate and save any broken pieces. If possible, take any broken pieces of your tooth and rinse them gently. Preserve them in a clean glass of milk or saliva and take them to the dentist.
• Rinse your mouth. Gently rinse with warm water to remove any debris.
• Temporary filling or dental wax. If there are sharp edges, use dental wax or temporary dental filling material to cover the edges to prevent soft tissue injuries.
• Knocked-out tooth

Tooth knock-outs are very common during travel. If your tooth is completely out, visit our emergency dentist near you immediately, preferably within an hour, to increase your chance of saving your tooth. In the meantime, follow the following steps:

• Retrieve the tooth. Take the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root.
• Rinse the tooth. Gently rinse the tooth (without scrubbing).
• Try to reinsert the tooth. If possible, try to insert the tooth into the socket and gently bite down.
• Preserve the tooth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, store it in milk or saliva. Do not store it in water.
• Soft tissue injuries

In case you’ve injured your oral soft tissues like gums, tongue, inner cheeks, and lips:

• Saltwater rinses. Rinse with warm saltwater to clean any debris and reduce inflammation and the risk of infections.
• Gauze pad. If you’re bleeding, apply gentle pressure on the area with a clean gauze to control bleeding.
• Dental abscess

A dental abscess is often characterized by a painful pus-filled pimple or bump on the gums or near a tooth’s root. Sometimes it can be accompanied by bad breath, swelling, and fever. An abscess often indicates an untreated infection that’s spreading. Immediate dental care is essential to address it to prevent further infections.

• Lost or damaged restorations

A lost or damaged filling, crown, or brace can cause mild to severe discomfort, bleeding, and other issues. Use the following remedies:

• Locate and preserve the restoration. Preserve the restoration and bring it to the dentist. They may be able to reinsert or reattach it.
• Dental wax and temporary adhesive. Use dental cement to temporarily reattach a filling or crown. Use wax on the sharp edges of your restoration to prevent soft tissue injuries.

Contact Our Emergency Dentist in Quincy, MA

Do you have a dental emergency? Or do you need more travel tips for dental emergencies? Contact Quincy Dental Associates to schedule an appointment right away.