It’s happened to me, and it can be a miserable flying with a toothache. 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: ”There are natural gases in your body that expand after take off (all gases expand), 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.”

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: Thank you Dr. Rosen for your insightful and helpful advice!

If you’re like many people these days, you’re finding that the need to connect online for banking, shopping and even social networking can increase when traveling. Not surprisingly, these are all welcome forums for cyber-thieves.

Just as we need to guard our money and our credit cards when we shop in brick-and-mortar stores, at home or abroad, we need to be equally vigilant when we enter cyberspace to make purchases and financial transactions.

Based upon information provided to me by the FBI’s Washington Field Office recently, there are a number of key things you can do to help keep your credit and your identity safe from a growing number of crafty cyber-interlopers—particularly when you’re traveling and not using your own home computer, or when you’re using your computer outside of your own home. Here are some of the top tips:

1.     Always be sure your antivirus software is up to date.

2.     Use long and strong passwords, and change them often.

3.     Never send any kind of personal or financial information via email, and be certain that any transaction site you’re using is secure and the information you provide is being encrypted. Be sure you’re viewing websites using https rather than http settings for maximum security.

4.     Don’t shop or do your banking when using public WiFi, such as in an airport, a hotel, or a coffee shop as these networks are often not secure.

5.     When possible, always use credit cards rather than debit cards when shopping online. Most credit cards limit your personal liability for fraudulent purchases, but once money is taken out of your checking account it can be difficult to get it back. Prepaid credit cards provide the highest online shopping security.

6.     As you get ready to make an online purchase or conduct a banking session, open a new browser window. When you’re finished, log out of the site; don’t just close the window. Doing this can help prevent you from being “followed” in or out of the session by a cybercriminal.

7.     Many credit card companies provide email alerts for purchases. I LOVE this benefit, and have it set up on my Platinum American Express and Visa credit cards! I receive an immediate email, literally within minutes of a transaction, specifying the cost, venue, and other important detail related to the purchase.  With these free alerts, you’ll be able to determine right away if there are fraudulent charges being billed to your card.

8.     Beware of e-mails offering deals that sound too good to be true. One-day-only or deep-discount deals offered on a social networking site or a web site you don’t recognize are often scams to access your personal and financial information.

9.     Don’t follow links provided by unknown senders. They can lead to fraudulent websites designed to harvest your financial information and/or identity.

10.  Particularly when you’re traveling, you may be using your smart phone or tablet instead of your computer. Remember that phones and tablets are also computers and need to be password-protected and updated, just like your computer. In addition, phones often use GPS to provide you with information. Be sure to disable the GPS function when it isn’t needed, and so that cyber-criminals can’t determine where you are.

11.  Be careful about downloading un-vetted “apps” as some are built to capture your personal and financial information.

12.  Social networking sites are a great way to stay in touch, but posting information about yourself and your family, including your whereabouts, can be dangerous. It’s safer to keep personal information private, or at least for “friends” only.

Editors’ Note: Carolyn Paddock writes about products and services that are beneficial for travelers. The products and services mentioned are neither commissioned by nor written in cooperation with the product company or manufacturers.

 Years ago I was working a flight out of Las Vegas when, as we were getting ready to land, I noticed that one of the passengers seemed to be unconscious. He wasn’t traveling with anyone (so no one could speak for him) and I had no idea what was wrong with him—it could have been anything. But as I and four other flight attendants gathered around trying to revive him, he woke up, totally confused and indignant—just as we were unbuttoning his shirt (to prepare for CPR).

Turns out he’d been partying hard for a couple of days (starring in his own version of “The Hangover” with his buddies) hadn’t eaten much, and had then taken some kind of prescribed stomach medication. The combination of alcohol, medication, and an empty stomach had caused him to pass out.

So if you’ve had too much (holiday) cheer and are not feeling great when you need to board a plane, here are a few things you can do to make it better.

• Even if you are not thirsty, buy a large bottle of water (and maybe some aspirin) after you go through security and drink A LOT! Not only will your body appreciate it, it will hydrate your brain.
• Even if you are not hungry, buy a snack to take aboard, but make it light (even if there is food onboard, it may take a while for the flight attendants to get to you). Food will help to absorb some of the alcohol, but anything too heavy, too spicy, or too rich will just make you feel worse.
• If you don’t feel well when you board, explain the situation to a flight attendant—especially if you’re traveling alone. At least if you do get sick, he or she will know what the problem is.
• Don’t think the “hair of the dog” will make you feel better—it won’t. Every drink you have in the air packs a double wallop because the air is thin and you brain is getting less oxygen.
• Don’t make the mistake of taking meds you happen to have with you because you think they’ll help. Meds and alcohol don’t mix. In fact the combination can be downright dangerous.
• Once you’re on board, try to take a nap. There’s a reason why people talk about “sleeping it off.” You’ll feel much better when you wake up.
• Sit as close to the front of the plane as possible. If there’s any turbulence it will be less bumpy up front. Ask the agent if there are any extra open seats, or you may be lucky enough to even get a row to yourself to relax. Being able to have a bit of space always makes the flight better.
• If you feel REALLY BAD, try to rebook on a later flight. No one wants to be up in the air when they’re feeling sick, with the thin air, turbulence, cabin pressure, and lack of oxygen… it could make you feel significantly worse.

Is everyone watching the new glamorous and enticing Pan Am show on ABC? It certainly has stirred our fantasies about flying and travel… And more than that, I find that people are very curious about how it really is flying around the world as a crew member.

I’m asked all sorts of questions: What are my best insider tips and tricks? How do I stay safe when traveling and especially in hotels? What are my do’s and don’ts? What’s interesting is that when I give them my “hotel room to-do check list,” people act a bit surprised. That’s when I decided to ask a few of my frequent flyer friends and see what they do when they first get to their room.

My favorite response came from a worldly and savvy business woman. In a very matter of fact way, she said ”I go straight to my window and see what my view is like!” I bet most of you would agree that that’s as important as the quality of your room (I’m right there with you… I took this photo last month, an intoxicating view of Venice from my hotel room). So I let her in on what I was taught from day 1 as a crew member, and it is my routine to this day. I assured her that ”if you do these things (and it takes just a few minutes) you will have peace of mind that your room is clean, safe, and properly stocked”.

Check your room: This step is to ensure that no one is in your room, and that everything works. Start by checking the bathroom and looking behind the shower curtain, if there is one. Check under the bed to be sure the floor is clean and clear, behind the curtains and “pat” them to be certain there’s nothing behind them. Make sure any sliding glass doors and windows are functional and that the locks work. Check in the closet to be sure it’s empty. Look through your peephole in your door, is it installed correctly so that you can see out into the hallway?

You will also want to do this, and I mention this with a grimice on my face and with trepidation… because its a huge problem now, in even the most luxurious hotels. Check under your mattress (especially at the headboard) to see if there is evidence of bedbugs. It looks like ground black pepper is on the white cover over the box spring. If you see that, leave your room immediately!

Find your EXITS: Not sexy, but this is absolutely essential to your well being if there’s an emergency. If you have to evacuate the hotel, you need to know exactly where to find the exits. Granted, the chances of that happening are pretty slim, but emergencies do occur. In the course of my career, I was evacuated on three different occasions, once at 3 am in an old European hotel in Manchester, England. This hotel was a virtual maze in broad daylight, never mind in the dead of night. Fortunately, I knew the closest exit, and safely met my crew outside.

First, look at the inside of your door and you’ll find a map of your floor showing the emergency exits. Locate the exits, then go out into the hallway and count the doors between your room and that nearest exit. Now, close your eyes and walk the hall with your hand on the wall, counting doors as you go. If the electricity goes off you’ll have to do this without being able to see where you’re going, and distances can seem much farther away in the dark when you can’t see where you are going. Try it, you’ll be surprised.

Check and see if you have all your amenities: You don’t want to wait until you need something to discover that it isn’t there. Even the most deluxe hotel can slip up once in a while, so check to be sure you have an adequate supply of hangers and towels, wash cloths, as well as shampoo and soap, and a working hair dryer if you need one.

Locate the TV remote and make sure both it and the television are functioning properly. If there’s a mini bar, is it well stocked? Is there a clock? Is it showing the right time? Do you know how to work the alarm and is it already set? (I’ve had the dubious pleasure of being awakened at 4 am because the previous guest had needed to be up at that hour.) Is the heat or air conditioning working and can you change the temperature? Is the telephone working? Even if you’ll be using your cell phone, you might want to contact the desk or call for room service.

Call now for what you need: Now is the time to call housekeeping for extra pillows, blankets, towels, or anything else you think you might need. Do you have clothes that will require pressing before you wear them? If so, is there an iron in your room, and is it working properly? Some hotel irons seem to spit water for no apparent reason. I discovered this the hard way when I ruined a good blouse, so you might want to try ironing a towel before you iron your clothes.

Now you can relax and unpack now you’re sure you’ll be staying in that room. Again, it may be weird to do these things at first. But if you take a few minutes to check your room when you first arrive, the rest of your stay will be a lot safer, more relaxing, and more likely to be free from unpleasant surprises.

Having back pain (or injuries) and then having to fly… well its just not an easy endeavor. And so it is my pleasure to speak with Dr. Kyle Worell and get his advice for those who are flying post injury or surgery.

Dr. Worell is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic in New York, practicing both in Manhattan and Westchester. He specializes in spine and sports rehabilitation and is the team chiropractor for Team Continuum, an athletic based chartiy organization raising money for Cancer patients through participation in events such as marathons and triathlons.

In addition, Dr. Worell is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a provider and post-graduate instructor of the well known, highly effective manual therapy technique Active Release Technique (ART).

Carolyn: As you know, its very challenging for passengers to move around on most flights. What do you suggest for someone who has back pain (or stiffness from a surgery/injury) if they are going to be on a long flight?

Dr. Worell: Flight travel is certainly hard on the body.  More so if you have a history of lower back pain or surgery. The sitting position, which is proving to be the modern day occupational hazard for the body, is tough on the lumbar spine.  The posture that one ineveitably sits in, coupled with the design of most airplane seats, takes a toll on the lower back on even the shortest of flights.  It is the position that most people adopt while seated that hurts us most.

The sitting position increases pressure on the lumbar spine discs greatly.  Depending on the posture during sitting (more forward bending, slumping or slouching) it can be as much as (approximately) 3 times that of standing pressure on the lumbar discs.  Stiffness is a function of compression on the lumbar spine and the response of the muscular and soft tissues in this region.

As with any repetitive injury, the number of times that we perform a motion/position increases the likelihood that it will lead to injury.  Because travel is such an integral part of everyday life and particularly in business, not flying is rarely an option.

What can a traveler do when flying to minimize back pain that will alleviate (not aggravate) the injury?

1. Limit the time in a seated position. It is a must that people with a lower back condition stand up every 20 minutes or so.  Move around the cabin if possible, especially on the long flights.

2. Alter your seated position by shifting your pelvis from a flexed position to one of neutral to extension position.

3. Lastly, one can learn a set of exercises and stretches that can be accomplished in the simplest of positions and space, in the terminal or on the plane.

Those that have a back condition would be best to consider their lower back exercise regimen as important as brushing your teeth!  The simplest of exercises and stretches can go a long way when done regularly daily.  They usually include  exercises that emphasize movement of the small intrinsic lower back muscles.  Movement towards extension, or arching is most commonly preferred. Additionally exercises that promote contraction of the deep abdominals area necessary progression.  Stretching of the Hamstrings and Hip flexors is always a must when dealing with any lower back dysfunction or condition.

Carolyn: Dr. Worell, it was a pleasure to speak with you and I appreciate your great advice. Sometimes the things that you hear all the time really do work, like daily stretching (and exercise of course) help with back pain tremendously.

Dr. Worell: Not at all, this is what I love to do. Happy to speak with you today!

As my go-to doctor for advice related to skin care or cosmetic surgery, I turn to well-known holistic plastic surgeon Dr. Shirley Madhère.

Dr. Madhère is a New York City-based plastic surgeon with a discerning and devoted following. She has recently been on The Dr. OZ Show, ABC-TV news, CBS-TV, Extra! and has been featured in magazines including Town and Country, O Magazine, and Essence, where she described one of the basic tenets of plastic surgery as adhering to the basic principles of maintaining “form and function.”

What makes Dr. Shirley (as she is most often called) so unique is that she approaches her treatment from a holistic perspective that integrates cutting-edge Western medicine with a variety of complementary modalities in order ensure the best possible care and outcomes for her patient.

This concept is very similar to one of the many the criteria I use to select the products and services I use and like to recommend.  I find Dr. Shirley’s advice so trustworthy that I’ve already done two Q & A sessions with her for In-Flight Insider where she answers important questions about precautions we need to take when traveling post-plastic surgery and her top tips on sunscreen and post-sun skin care.

One of Dr. Madhère’s special services is her modern version of the doctor’s house call, “Jet Set Beauty Rx.” Like concierge medicine, the surgeon is available by appointment only to provide select services in the privacy of your home, office, or jet, with or without her glam team– an aesthetician, acupuncturist, hair stylist, nail technician, and other beauty and wellness professionals. This holistic team will tend to clients’ every beauty need, whether it be to give them that radiant pre-gala glow or rejuvenate them pre or post-travel. (I will admit, I’ve been lucky enough to have indulged in Dr. Madhère’s Vitaglow treatments, and I can attest to the fact that the results are truly amazing!)

After many requests, Dr. Madhère has created a new service that is perfect for travelers…Click-Lift! For those of you who have a few questions (no matter where you are) you can simply log onto Click-Lift, fill out a simple questionnaire, ask your question, and, for a reasonable fee, receive an expert response from Dr. Madhère or a member of her team. Traditionally, the only way to receive her services has been to make an office visit or sign up for a Jet Set Beauty Rx house call!

Even though its still a bit chilly here in New York, it’s time for spring vacations. So I asked Dr. Shirley Madhere for a few tips on how best we can both enjoy the balmy warmth of our vacations and protect ourselves from the sun.

A well-known and highly respected plastic surgeon, Dr. Shirley (as she is most often called) approaches treatment from a holistic perspective that integrates cutting-edge Western medicine with a variety of complementary modalities in order to ensure the best possible care and outcomes for her patients.

Carolyn: “With everybody headed toward the sun, which sunscreen do you like best?”
Dr. Madhere: “In general, a broad –spectrum sunscreen that covers both UVA and UVB rays is best. I recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sx.”

Carolyn: “How soon do you need to throw out sunscreen?”
Dr. Madhere: “This will vary by product; however, in general, sunscreens have up to a six (6) month shelf life. Check the expiration date before purchase.”

Carolyn: “What is the ideal post-sun exposure (non-burn) treatment?”
Dr. Madhere: “To help slough away dull or damaged superficial skin cells, a gentle cleansing facial with microdermabrasion is recommended several days after sun exposure. This should be followed up with a Vitaglow treatment within a few days to take advantage of the skin’s receptivity to absorb the multivitamin mixture. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office 212.941.1571.”