Yes, Flying Can Cause a Toothache: Here Is How & What to Do About It

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Table of Contents
- Causes
- How to Prepare for a Flight & Manage Pain
- Prevention
- Treatment
- When to See a Dentist
- References
Yes, you can get toothaches during a flight. The pain comes from the change in pressure as you climb to higher altitudes. The condition is also known as barodontalgia.
Experiencing a toothache when airborne is not that common, with only about 0.26 to 2.8 percent of pilots and air passengers getting them.
Causes
Having a toothache while flying is usually regarded as a symptom rather than an ailment. Barodontalgia is caused by:
- Change in pressure
- Decaying teeth
- Poor dental procedures
- Pupal necrosis
- A recent tooth-related surgery
Pressure
As the plane climbs during flight, it moves to low-pressure regions. The air in these regions is thin, resulting in a change in pressure.
If your teeth have air pockets due to incomplete filling of cavities, the air inside will expand, causing discomfort in your teeth.
The same phenomenon applies when you feel your ears popping in a flight.
Dental Caries
Faulty Dental Restoration
Pulpal Necrosis
Recent Surgery
How to Prepare for a Flight and Manage Pain While Traveling
If you have encountered tooth pain during a flight in the past, you should visit a dentist before your next flight.
If making a dentist appointment is impossible, you will need to do the following to manage the pain on the plane:
- Apply wet cotton wool balls on the affected teeth
- Use analgesic (painkiller) drugs such as Ibuprofen
- If you have sensitive teeth, avoid too hot or too cold drinks.
- Take soft foods and beverages such as smoothies.
Prevention
The following have proven effective in preventing tooth pain when flying.
Regular cleaning of teeth.
Using Zinc Oxide Eugenol base.
Regular dental checkups.
Treatment Options
In most cases, having a toothache while flying is usually a sign of underlying dental disease. Therefore, most any treatment will also correct causes of barodontalgia. Here are some of the remedies:
Endodontic Treatment
Surgery
Fillings
When to See a Dentist
You should visit the dentist's office if you feel any pain in your teeth while airborne. Make the appointment even if the pain dissipates after landing as it will not go away untreated.
The dentist will examine your teeth and look for anything causing the toothache.
You should also see a dentist if you recently had dental surgery. Inflammation caused by the surgery could cause tooth pain.
The dentist will prescribe a treatment to reduce the inflammation. It will also help prevent any tooth infection caused by inflammation of tissues around the teeth.
References
Barodontalgia among flyers: a review of seven cases.(July 1996). National Library of Medicine.
Pathophysiology of Barodontalgia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. (December 2012). National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Barodontalgia as a Differential Diagnosis: Symptoms and Findings. (January 2005). Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.
Pain management for dentists: the role of ibuprofen. (April 2015). Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry.
Aerodontalgia. Report of a case. (1988). National Library of Medicine.
Aviation Dentistry. (March 2014). Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.
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