Dr. Nancy Rosen’s Top 3 Tips for Treating Toothaches When Traveling

If a tooth is throbbing or sensitive when you’re traveling, what can you do to make yourself more comfortable until you can get to the dentist?

Dr. Nancy Rosen is one of New York City’s leading practitioners of cosmetic and restorative dentistry and appears as a frequent guest expert on national television as well as in magazines and newspapers. Once again, I knew she had the answers.

Carolyn: “How long do you typically have to wait before flying if you have had any dental work done?”
Dr. Rosen: “If you have had fillings, crowns, veneers, cleanings done- you can fly right away. If you had an extraction or a root canal done, you should ask the specialist that did the work. He/She may want you to wait a couple of days to make sure there are no complications from the procedure that was done.”

Carolyn: “What’s the best way to nurse a dental problem until you get back to your dentist?”
Dr. Rosen: “Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen are the best medications you can take for discomfort. If a filling has come out of a tooth- you can keep the area very clean by brushing and flossing or you can try to go to a drug store and purchase dental temporary paste. Flollow the instructions and contact your dentist once you get home.”

Carolyn: “There are natural gases in your body that expand after take off, and contract on landing that cause tooth pain? What does it mean and what should you do about it?”
Dr. Rosen: “Toothaches may occur at altitude due to abcesses, broken filiings, inadequately filled root canals. Anyone that suffers from a toothache during a flight should see his/her dentist. However the pain caused by a sinus block can be mistaken for a toothache. If you are in flight and this happens you can try to clear your ears and see if the pain goes away. If it doesn’t, take some Advil and see your dentist when you arrive at your destination.”