Make Sure Your Teeth Are Ready for Holiday Travels

With all the hustle and bustle of the season, oral health may not be your first concern. But if the holidays include a trip out of town, a few simple precautions can help keep dental emergencies from ruining your fun.

Before You Go

• Take care of any pre-existing conditions. Many vacation activities, including flying, can make problems worse through pressure changes.

• Pack a dental first aid kit. It should include gauze, cotton, pain reliever, floss, paraffin, oil of cloves, and dental cement. These can be obtained at most drug stores.

• Take your dentist’s information with you. Carry your dentist's name, address, telephone number, and any pertinent information about your oral health. Also bring your Delta Dental group number and phone number (800-452-9310).

• Review your dental coverage. Take a close look at what type of coverage is available through your dental plan. Fee-for-service, PPO-type, and HMO delivery plans can vary in their in-network and out-of-network coverage. Delta Dental’s online “Find a Dentist” feature can help you find network dentists in areas where you will be traveling. Go to www.deltadentalnj.com and click “Find a Dentist” on the left navigation bar.

If an Emergency Does Happen
"First assess the injury,” advises Dr. Scott Navarro, Dental Director, Delta Dental of New Jersey. “Someone experiencing a blow to a tooth or severe tooth pain should contact a dentist right away rather than waiting until returning home.” A positive long term outcome often depends on early treatment.

Travelers with dental emergencies should follow these tips from the American Dental Association:

Toothache
Take a pain reliever, but don't place aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. Rinse the mouth with warm water. Floss to make sure no food or foreign object is lodged around the tooth. Contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked Out Tooth
Retrieve the tooth. If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the crown, and carefully rinse off its root. (Don't scrub the tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments). If possible, put the tooth back in its socket; otherwise, put it in a container with milk or cool water. Contact a dentist immediately.

Broken Tooth
Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Use cold compresses to keep down swelling. Contact a dentist immediately.

Bitten Tongue or Lip
Use a clean cloth to apply direct pressure to the bleeding area. Use cold compresses to keep down swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, contact a dentist immediately or go to a hospital emergency room.

Object Caught Between Teeth
Gently try removing the object with dental floss. Do not use anything sharp. Be careful not to cut the gums. Contact a dentist if you can't remove the object.

Lost Filling or Crown
Apply oil of cloves to cotton, squeeze out the excess, and cover the tooth. Alternatively, clean out the tooth and cover with dental cement or paraffin. Take a pain reliever as needed. See a dentist at your earliest convenience.

If an injury occurs in a foreign country, contact the American embassy. The embassy should be able to assist you in finding a reliable, English-speaking dentist.