Vacation down the drain: what to do with a toothache while traveling

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A toothache is always inappropriate, especially if you are on vacation. How to go on vacation and not overshadow it by looking for a dentist? By Julia Klouda, head of a resource about dentistry.

How many times have they told the world that you have to go to the dentist every six months. Even if nothing hurts. As a rule, good hygiene - brushes and toothpaste twice a day and dental floss before bedtime - is quite enough for daily care, and twice a year - a professional examination and occupational hygiene. Compliance with this postulate has already saved many teeth. The introduction of such a practice in many Western countries has led to the fact that caries is incredibly rare there, while in Russia it is difficult to find a person who has not experienced this problem on himself.

This rule will save you from a sudden toothache, which always sneaks up at the wrong time: either on an important date, or even on vacation. If you still ignore the recommendation mentioned above, here's how to go on vacation and not overshadow it by looking for a dentist.

Until departure

Even if you don't usually visit your dentist regularly, take some time to see your doctor before you go on vacation. You may not have to do anything: it is better to postpone long and serious treatment until you return, but it is useful to hear the diagnosis.

Alexandra Lazarenko Dentist-therapist, Startsmile.ru expert

If you are prescribed an X-ray of the jaw and recommend professional hygiene, agree.

Having guided in your situation, the doctor will be able to advise you on certain medications that will come in handy if a toothache suddenly overtakes you on vacation.

Marina Kolesnichenko, a dentist-therapist, an expert at Startsmile.ru, advises putting an analgesic (for example, nurofen, ketorol, nemesil) in a travel medicine cabinet, as well as ciprofloxacin, tsiprobai - these antibiotics act on a number of bacteria. Do not be lazy to go to the pharmacy in your home country, as in most countries you will need a prescription to buy an antibiotic. If you need pain medications, ask for the main active ingredient, ibuprofen. And remember: all medications have contraindications, which you should definitely familiarize yourself with before using.

Marina Kolesnichenko Dentist-therapist, Startsmile.ru expert

From the oral cavity, the infection can enter the bloodstream, which is fraught with serious consequences. Therefore, if within two or three days you experience pain, then run to the doctor. Especially if the swelling increases and the temperature rises.

In addition to these funds, the traveler's first-aid kit must contain a strong antiseptic, antiviral ointment, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, as well as agents that promote the healing of mucous membranes, tableted furacilin.

What you can do yourself

To cope with a toothache, you can rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda or salt (one teaspoon per glass of water), you can also add five drops of iodine to it, or you can even take pure sea water. Marina Kolesnichenko recommends rinsing your teeth with this solution four times a day or more often.

What not to do

Never warm up the site of inflammation. It is also not recommended to use alcohol as an analgesic. Alcohol distorts reactions to other drugs, and therefore dental anesthesia may not work at all or cause a severe allergic reaction. Cardiac arrest is also likely.

Tips to rinse a sore tooth with alcohol or apply an appropriate compress on it are fraught with burns to the mucous membrane and other serious consequences. Don't follow these guidelines.

Doctor on vacation

You can relieve pain and start treating a diseased tooth in dentistry abroad. To do this, you should prepare in advance. First, read the insurance terms and conditions carefully and make sure that your insurance policy includes dental care. Secondly, in the event of a toothache, first of all, contact your insurance company, whose representatives will negotiate with the clinic about the prices for treatment and invoicing. This is important, because in some countries, for example in Thailand, Egypt, Turkey or Cyprus, you can get a sky-high invoice for services that are far from reality.

It is worth emphasizing once again: carefully read the contract with the insurance company. It describes the type of assistance you can get in a given country. And here the recommendations are standard: the larger the insurance company, the more clinics it cooperates with, the easier it will be for you to find a suitable one in the place of your vacation.

Many companies today offer compensation insurance programs. This means that you pay for the treatment yourself and then submit the bills from the clinic. These policies are cheaper, but you need to be sure that you can pay for the treatment. And do not forget to take the necessary documents at the clinic in order to return the money spent on treatment.

You can save on treatment, even if the tooth is complex. Alexandra Lazarenko recommends asking the doctor to put a healing paste and close the tooth with a temporary filling, and leave the canal treatment for later. On your return, go to your dentist immediately to complete your treatment.

In order not to get into a situation when you suddenly need a dentist on vacation (of course, if we are not talking about injury or other force majeure), visit the dentist regularly. This, among other things, will help save a lot of money for the treatment of difficult cases. After all, prevention is always easier and cheaper than treatment.