If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s likely you’ll experience the occasional medical or dental issue while away from home. While this can definitely be an inconvenience, handling it doesn’t have to be. Figuring out what’s wrong is the first step: if it’s serious enough to need professional care, you may need to find a medical provider during your trip. For more minor medical concerns, you may be able to find a temporary solution until you’re back home.
How Do I Find Dental Care While Traveling?
There are several ways to find dental care while you’re away from home. Remember that for medical emergencies, like severe bleeding or mouth trauma, you may need to visit a local emergency room. But for less severe issues, the following tips can help you find a qualified dental provider whether you’re at the beach, the slopes or just on a run-of-the-mill work trip.
Contact Your Dental Insurance Provider
If you have dental insurance, contact your provider: they’ll let you know what’s covered while you’re out of network, and can help you find a qualified provider wherever you’re located.
If you’re traveling internationally and have travel insurance, your insurer may be a good resource for understanding dental care in another country and may even cover some of the costs.
Ask Your Hotel Concierge
Concierges do much more than take room service orders. They serve as the expert resource for all hotel guests and are usually very knowledgeable about nearby professional services, including dental care.
If you’re a hotel guest and dealing with an inconvenient toothache or other issues, your hotel’s concierge can point you in the direction of emergency services or a general dentist.
Search for Dental Care Online
While an online search may give you more information than you need, it’s a great way to understand what’s nearby, compare reviews and see which dental insurance plans are accepted.
To help refine your search, try using specific terms for the issue you’re experiencing. For instance, searching “help for gum inflammation” may provide a more detailed list of providers in your area who can provide treatment. Search engines are usually geo-targeted to your location already, but you can add the town or city to your search terms to find hyper-local results.
If you’ll be away from home for a few weeks or more, it might be a good idea to research medical and dental offices near your new location before you leave. Finding a dentist you trust ahead of time can alleviate any anxiety when an issue arises.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
One issue you may face while handling dental pain or discomfort on the road is asking yourself, “Is this an emergency?” Figuring out the severity of a dental issue is an important step to determining what to do next.
Here are some handy tips for identifying some common dental emergencies, how to handle them and when it’s time to see a general dentist or an emergency provider.
Lost or Loose Tooth
Losing a tooth spontaneously as an adult is a dental emergency. If treated quickly enough, it’s possible for the dentist to save a lost tooth, but the window is short, generally within two hours after the tooth falls out. Here’s what to do if you lose a tooth while traveling.
- Save the tooth, only touching it by the crown (the part you bite down on), not the exposed root. If it’s dirty, don’t scrape it with your fingers, which can damage the root: rinse very briefly in a bowl of warm water.
- Try placing the tooth back in the socket, by shifting it into place and very gently biting down. Hold it down with your finger until you see a dentist. If it doesn’t want to go back, don’t force it.
- If you can’t fit it back into the socket, immediately place the tooth inside your mouth, wedged between your gum and cheek. You can also place it in a glass of milk or soak it in your own saliva.
- Don’t eat or drink anything.
- Head to an emergency dental clinic or emergency room.
If the tooth is loose but still in the socket, it’s very important to keep it from falling out completely, as a dentist may be able to secure it. Don’t eat or drink anything, and avoid touching or wiggling the tooth with your fingers or tongue. Visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Broken Tooth
If you’re on a trip that involves some adventure – such as skiing, cycling, rock climbing, or maybe even power-walking through a bustling city – there’s always the possibility of an accident that could break or crack a tooth. Underlying issues like teeth grinding or advanced age can further weaken the dental structure, making it easier for teeth to crack or break.
A broken tooth is a dental emergency. If you break a tooth, gently cleanse the area with clean, warm water (avoid mouthwash, which can sting when it touches the broken tooth). Cover the exposed part of the tooth with sterile gauze, to keep it protected. If the tooth broke because of an injury to your face, reduce swelling by applying a cold compress, like a washcloth. Then seek treatment at an urgent care center or emergency room near where you’re staying.
Severe Dental Pain
There can be several explanations for severe dental pain, and if you’re traveling, it’s important to figure out what’s going on to decide whether you can wait to get home before seeking treatment. The level of pain and the underlying cause will help you determine if this is a dental emergency that needs to be treated immediately.
A toothache can mean anything from gum disease to oral abscess, worn enamel or a cracked tooth. In some cases, it may be a symptom connected to jaw pain. Your dentist will determine a full treatment once they diagnose the underlying cause. For dental pain that doesn’t go away after a day or two, you should see a dental provider to assess what’s wrong. If the pain starts while you’re traveling, you may be able to apply basic treatment until you return with the following:
- over-the-counter pain medication
- cold compresses
- eating soft foods
- abstaining from very hot or cold beverages and food
If dental pain becomes unbearable, is causing swelling in your face and jaw or is accompanied by a fever, it’s time to see a dental provider: these can all be signs of infection, which if left untreated can be very dangerous to your health.
Preventative Care
While there are many handy solutions for on-the-move dental care, the best solution is to take good care of your teeth, at home and while traveling. This will help you prevent dental issues from cropping up anytime.
Keep up your dental routine while traveling
Traveling is an excuse to try new foods and wear comfy footwear – but it isn’t a reason to neglect your dental hygiene! Be sure to always pack a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. If you forget them, no sweat: your hotel will often have complimentary items downstairs, or have them for sale.
If you’re taking a long flight, packing a toothbrush in your carry-on bag can be a game-changer for keeping your mouth fresh and healthy while traveling.
Stick to healthy, low-sugar snacks
Traveling disrupts routine, which makes it a prime time for snacking, larger-than-normal meals or a sampling of exotic desserts. While it’s fine to indulge a little while traveling, too much sugar is a prime cause of tooth decay.
While you’re on the go, snacking on healthy, low-sugar items will keep you from feeling hungry, while the low sugar content will keep your teeth healthy and enamel strong. Plus, there are lots of healthy snacks that still indulge your sweet tooth – a perfect pairing for a long road trip.
Visit the dentist regularly and schedule visits before traveling
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up. If you’re embarking on a lengthy trip, schedule your dentist visit before you go, so you can stay ahead of any potential dental issues and get treatment if necessary.
You may also want to discuss your trip with your dentist, to make a plan in case a dental issue arises during your visit. This will help you prepare for any dental emergency while traveling.