Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

4 Dental Problems You Might Have While On Vacation, And What To Do About Them

26 October 2014 by For Content

Going on vacation should be a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but sometimes, things can go wrong. If you have a problem with your teeth while you are on vacation, you don't have access to your regular dentist, and it can be hard to receive dental care where you are. However, there are a few things you can do to make yourself more comfortable until you can get yourself to a dentist. Here are four common problems you might experience while vacationing, and some tips about what you can do.

Lost Fillings

If you lose a filling, that can lead to discomfort while eating and a general feeling of pain. Head to the local drugstore and see if you can find dental cement. If not, take a small piece of sugarless gum, chew it for a few minutes so it becomes soft, and then use it as a temporary filling of sorts. Make sure that you don't use gum that contains sugar, because that can further degrade your tooth.

Gum Injuries 

If you happen to get hit in the mouth, your mouth may start bleeding and you may start to worry that you have a serious situation on your hands. However, you may only have an issue affecting your gums. First, rinse your mouth with salt water so that you can clean out your mouth and get a better idea of where the injury is. Next, attempt to stop the bleeding by using paper towels or gauze on the area where the wound is. The bleeding should subside after an hour or so. On the outside of your mouth, a cold washcloth or ice pack may help the pain if you apply it to the side of your mouth where the injury is.

Broken Teeth

If you get your tooth broken and you're on vacation, that is one time when it's best to locate a local dentist within the hour, so that there is a higher chance of having the tooth successfully reinserted. Take the tooth that was knocked out, put it into a glass of milk to protect the tooth and its roots, and get yourself to a teeth professional right away.

Chipped Teeth

Even if your teeth aren't knocked out completely, one of the things that happens to many vacationers is that they chip their teeth on a hard surface of some kind. In that case, use a cold washcloth or rag on the outside of your mouth for any pain, and see a dentist when you are back home. If you can find bits of your tooth that chipped off, rinse them and keep them in a ziploc bag so you can take them to the dentist. The dentist might be able to reattach the fragments.

Now that you know how to deal with some dental problems you might experience during your vacation, make sure to use the tips above to help you deal with them. Be sure to see your dentist as soon as you can, so that you can get any follow-up care that you need.

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