If you are planning on hitting the road this summer, traveling out of state or out of the country, you’ve probably got a lot on your mind. Plenty can happen when you’re on the road. What happens if you have a dental concern while traveling? Here are a few things to know.
See Your Dentist Before You Leave
If you haven’t seen your dentist this year and you’re about to embark on some major travel that will take you far away, now is the time to make an appointment. This is especially important if you have had tooth pain and have been putting things off, or if you have any sort of concern that you don’t want to think about while you’re away. Loose or lost fillings should be replaced before heading out of town. Lost temporaries should be recemented. The point is, it’s better to be safe than sorry: you don’t know what you’re going to encounter once you leave your area. Make an appointment, see your dentist, and make sure that you leave with a treatment plan that is sustainable while you are traveling.
Put Your Dentist’s Number in Your Phone
It’s really our hope that you don’t encounter any dental emergencies while you are away. But just in case, it’s good to have the number of your primary dentist (and possibly your specialist if you see one) handy so that way you can make a call should an emergency arise. If there is a significant emergency, a local hospital is your best bet to be seen and treated right away. However, a follow-up with your regular dental practitioner once you get back home might be a good idea. Make sure you have their number so you can give them a call, let them know what’s going on, and make an appointment to see them when you return. In some cases, your dentist might be able to refer you to professional in the area where you’ve traveled, helping you get care faster.
Pack Light, but Well
If you’re wondering about what dental equipment you should pack and take with you on your trip, we suggest packing light, but packing well. You don’t need all of your regular at-home set-up. All you need is a small manual toothbrush, a travel pack of tooth paste, some floss and some mouthwash, especially if you’re traveling for a short duration (a week or two) trip. Longer travel (an entire summer abroad, perhaps), might call for a bit more. Otherwise, though, the basics are fine. Consult with your dentist if you have questions about specialty toothpaste or other equipment for your specific needs.
A Note About Water
Sometimes, we travel to places where the water isn’t necessarily clean enough to drink or brush our teeth with. Especially when camping, but sometimes in remote areas of foreign countries. If you’re concerned, we recommend boiling water that you plan to use for brushing. If necessary (if you can’t boil, for example), a little bottled water will do.
Traveling during the summer is a joyful thing. We hope you have a safe, fun time! Just don’t forget to be prepared for the unexpected. A dental emergency while traveling will certainly put a damper on the fun. We hope these helpful tips will come in handy, just in case.
Looking for a caring, helpful practice to support your specialty dental needs? Give us a call today to talk about why adding a periodontal or endodontic specialist to your personal dental team can assure you keep your teeth and keep them healthy for life!
