What Should You Do if a Dental Emergency Happens on an Airplane?

A toothache, broken tooth, dental bleeding, or a swelled face can be terrifying at any moment. However, it becomes terrifying at 30,000 feet in the air since getting dental treatment is not an option. But what to do in this case?

What to do in the case of a Dental Emergency on board?

The first thing to do when experiencing a Dental Emergency onboard is to inform the cabin crew, remain calm, and try to control the situation to ensure that you can receive appropriate care. The crew may provide you with any needed first aid and help until you can get to a hospital.

However, if your condition is severe (the swell is interfering with the ability to breathe or swallow), it may necessitate immediate medical attention.

Once you land, contact an Emergency Dentist or other appropriate healthcare professional as soon as possible.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency on a Plane?

Not every toothache requires emergency treatment. However, some dental problems can become difficult to manage during a flight.

Potential dental emergencies include:

• Severe, sudden tooth pain
• A broken or fractured tooth
• A knocked-out permanent tooth
• Significant bleeding from the mouth
• Facial or gum swelling
• A dental abscess
• Dental trauma following an accident
• Severe pain that makes it difficult to eat or rest

A mild toothache may be uncomfortable but usually doesn't require an emergency response during the flight.

The key question is whether the symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or associated with trauma, infection, swelling, or uncontrolled bleeding.

Why Can Tooth Pain Feel Worse During a Flight?

Some people find that they are aware of existing dental pain during air travel.

While an aircraft's cabin is pressurized, the pressure is still lower than what we experience at sea level. This can sometimes cause pain in a tooth that has an existing issue such as trapped gases or inflammation due to a damaged tooth or from recent dental work.

This is sometimes referred to as barodontalgia, or tooth pain related to changes in pressure.

It's important to remember that pressure related tooth pain isn't a diagnosis on its own, and if you find your teeth regularly hurting on flights, especially if it's severe pain, get it checked by a dentist before your next travel date.

What Should You Do if You Have a Severe Toothache on a Plane?

If a severe toothache suddenly starts during your flight:

1. Tell the cabin crew

Let a flight attendant know that you're experiencing significant dental pain.

They cannot replace a dentist, but they can help you understand what assistance is available onboard and follow the airline's emergency procedures if your symptoms become serious.

2. Avoid chewing on the painful side

If possible, avoid putting pressure on the affected tooth.

3. Rinse your mouth if appropriate

If food appears to be trapped around the tooth, gently rinsing with water may help. Avoid aggressive probing with sharp objects.

4. Follow medication instructions carefully

If you normally take an over-the-counter pain reliever safely, follow the product's labeled instructions and consider any medical conditions, allergies, or medication interactions that may apply to you.

Don't take medication you're allergic to or that a healthcare professional has previously told you to avoid.

5. Arrange dental care after landing

If the pain is severe or persists after the flight, arrange an appointment with an Emergency Dental provider or dentist.

What If You Break a Tooth During a Flight?

A broken tooth can be alarming, but the immediate goal is to prevent additional damage until you can see a dentist.

If possible:

• Save any broken pieces of the tooth.
• Rinse your mouth gently with water.
• Avoid chewing on the damaged side.
• Don't try to glue the tooth back together.
• If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth where appropriate.
• Contact a dentist after landing.

If the tooth has been severely fractured, is causing significant pain, or the injury involves substantial facial trauma, seek urgent professional evaluation.

What If a Permanent Tooth Gets Knocked Out?

A knocked-out permanent tooth requires prompt dental attention.

If possible, handle the tooth by the crown—the part normally visible in your mouth—and avoid touching the root.

If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing. If practical and safe, keeping the tooth moist can help preserve the cells on its root surface. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to place the tooth back into its socket, but this should only be attempted if you are comfortable doing so and the situation allows.

If you're on an airplane, tell the cabin crew immediately and follow their instructions. The priority is getting professional dental care as quickly as possible after landing.

What If Your Face Starts Swelling During a Flight?

Facial swelling can potentially indicate a dental infection or another medical problem.

Tell the cabin crew immediately if swelling develops or rapidly increases.

This is especially important if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling involving the neck
• Rapidly increasing facial swelling
• Feeling faint or seriously unwell

Difficulty breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency.

Do not wait until landing to seek help.

Can You Prevent a Dental Emergency While Traveling?

You can't prevent every dental problem, but preparation can reduce your risk of being caught completely unprepared.

Before a long flight:

Have a dental problem checked first. If you're already experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity, swelling, or a loose restoration, consider seeing a dentist before traveling.

Avoid chewing extremely hard foods. Ice, hard candy, and other hard objects can damage vulnerable teeth.

Pack basic oral-care supplies. A toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, floss or another interdental cleaner, and any medications you regularly use can be useful during travel.

Know where you'll get care after landing. If you're traveling to an unfamiliar city, identify an Emergency Dentist or urgent dental provider near your destination.

Don't ignore ongoing symptoms before a trip. A tooth that hurts before takeoff may become significantly more uncomfortable during travel.

Should You See an Emergency Dentist After Landing?

If your symptoms were severe, persistent, or involved trauma, it's wise to arrange a dental examination rather than simply hoping the problem disappears.

You should seek urgent Emergency Dental Care after landing if you have:

• Severe or persistent tooth pain
• Facial or gum swelling
• A broken or knocked-out tooth
• Uncontrolled oral bleeding
• A suspected dental abscess
• Significant dental trauma
• Pain that prevents eating or sleeping

Even if your pain improves during the flight, consider a dental evaluation if it was unusually severe or repeatedly occurs when flying.

What Should You Keep in Your Travel Dental Kit?

A small dental travel kit can be surprisingly useful.

Consider packing:

• Travel toothbrush
• Fluoride toothpaste
• Dental floss or interdental cleaner
• Clean gauze
• Any regularly prescribed medications
• A small container for a broken tooth fragment
• Contact information for your dentist
• Information about an emergency dental provider at your destination

Do not try to fix a tooth yourself. Do not use any sharp objects to file, pull, or repair the tooth. This may cause further injury.

A dental emergency can be scary, but trying to do it yourself may be more dangerous

If you are bleeding, have a broken or damaged tooth, or are having any other type of dental emergency, alert the cabin crew right away. Once they arrive, try to take care of the problem until you can get to a dentist.

If you have an emergency where you can't breathe or swallow, treat it as a medical emergency. Seek help from the crew.

Once you've landed, an Emergency Dentist can evaluate the tooth, identify the underlying problem, and recommend appropriate Emergency Dental Care.

And if you're planning a long trip, don't wait until you're at the airport to think about your teeth. A dental checkup before you fly can be one of the easiest ways to avoid a painful Dental Emergency at 30,000 feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can flying make tooth pain worse?

It can. Changes in cabin pressure may aggravate pain from certain underlying dental problems. Repeated or severe flight-related tooth pain should be evaluated by a dentist.

What should I do if my tooth breaks on an airplane?

Tell the cabin crew, rinse your mouth gently if needed, save any broken tooth fragments, avoid chewing on the damaged side, and arrange dental care after landing.

Is a toothache on a plane an emergency?

Not every toothache is a dental emergency. Severe or rapidly worsening pain, swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of infection warrant prompt attention.

Can cabin crew treat a dental emergency?

Cabin crew are not a substitute for a dentist. They can follow the airline's emergency procedures and may provide or coordinate appropriate first aid or medical assistance.

When should I see an Emergency Dentist after a flight?

Seek an Emergency Dentist promptly for severe tooth pain, significant swelling, dental trauma, a broken or knocked-out tooth, an abscess, or uncontrolled bleeding.