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During air travel, your body undergoes significant changes. Sometimes, your teeth are affected. Toothaches can make even short flights grueling to endure. To understand how air travel causes discomfort, speak with your dentist about ways you can manage it, and use the following guide to prevent pain if you have an upcoming trip.

Understanding Air Travel & Toothaches

Ways Flying Causes Pain

As altitude increases, air trapped between a tooth and filling can cause pain. This applies to chips, cracks, and gaps beneath crowns and in untreated cavities where air can be trapped and impacted by pressure changes. Changes in cabin pressure place stress on sensitive teeth, too.

How to Manage Pain

dentistIf you have outstanding oral health needs and can’t see a dentist before your trip, take an over-the-counter pain-relief medication an hour before takeoff. Before and during the flight, avoid hot and cold foods that may aggravate sensitive teeth. Although not guaranteed to combat air pressure-related tooth pain, chewing gum may create enough positive return force in your mouth to provide some degree of relief.

The Importance of Seeing a Dentist

Whenever possible, see your dentist immediately after experiencing tooth pain. They can look into potential causes and create a care plan before your next flight. If your mouth is otherwise healthy, fixing a filling may be all the treatment needed to end in-flight pain.

Cavities and other symptoms of decay should be treated with a filling. A dentist can apply a dental bond, veneer, or crown over chipped and broken teeth and provide a toothpaste that’ll remineralize enamel and numb pain if you’re suffering from sensitivity.

Because you may experience discomfort if you fly immediately after a dental procedure, do your best to handle dental care needs well before your next flight.

 

If you’re overdue for a trip to the dentist, contact Mark Adler, DDS, of Northfield, OH. Dr. Adler offers a range of services backed by over 30 years of experience. He takes a personalized approach to care and provides cosmetic and general dentistry solutions. Call (330) 468-3511 to schedule an exam, and visit his website to learn more about the practice.

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