Toothache on long-haul flights

[cgichard]

Is it inevitable that an intermittent and mild toothache will worsen on a long-haul flight? Due to pressure changes or some such? I have a molar that occasionally hurts a little, like for an hour or so a couple of times a month. It's one that is already mostly filling: the dentist has X-rays that show increased loss of jaw-bone beneath it, compared with a year ago. At present, the plan is to do nothing until it starts really bothering me, as the only ultimate remedy will be extraction. However, when I mentioned I was planning a 5-week trip to Europe next year, he said I should definitely have it extracted before then (and he was referring to the flights rather than to the cost or quality of dentists where I'm going). Just wondering if anyone has relevant experience to offer.

 

[dajop]

Having just gone through a couple of root canals and extraction of rotting wisdom tooth that was causing lots of pain, I found flights no worse than normal. In fact I usually found evenings and lying down made pain worse irrespective of flight or not. Paracetamol or Aspirin seemed to work fine for me to subdue pain or if really bad something like Panadeine.

 

[cgichard]

Interesting. When mine does hurt it starts to do so overnight and first thing the next morning, and then is soon gone.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Trapped gas pockets under decaying teeth can cause severe pain due to expansion of gas during flight. Can be excruciating, especially on long haul.

 

[cgichard]

Ah, sounds nasty. That must be what the dentist was concerned about.

 

[Solid]

I find my teeth start aching on long haul due to too many gin and tonics

 

[blackcat20]

No issues with my wisdom teeth which were due for extraction within days of getting home. Nor any issues when one of them was infected and I looked like a lopsided chipmunk...

 

[dajop]

Interesting. When mine does hurt it starts to do so overnight and first thing the next morning, and then is soon gone.

Mine always at bed time :-( but gone in the morning. Flying made no difference to this pattern but pattern remained (ie evening/bedtime pain) regardless of time zone. But my problem was with teeth themselves and nerves/roots not jaw.

 

[cgichard]

Well the roots of teeth do peg into the jaw. But in my case, I think Boris S. may be right as the gum around the tooth is shrinking - not as a result of gum disease but just a consequence of older age. (I explained it incorrectly in my original post.)

 

[NFF]

Calcium and Vitamin D might prevent further decay. Have you tried clove oil to ease the pain ?

 

[eric2011]

On long haul flights I simply take mine out and put them in a zip lock bag until decent.

 

[tuapekastar]

I spent the night before a MEL-LAX flight a couple of years virtually sleepless due to tooth pain. I considered walking across the road and cancelling the flight in the morning (staying at HI MEL) but instead bought strongest over counter painkillers I could and they did quite a good a job on the flight, though it was not entirely pain free. Transferred to SFO and had 'emergency' root canal the next day.

 

[PaulST]

Calcium and Vitamin D might prevent further decay. Have you tried clove oil to ease the pain ?

Talk to your GP before starting calcium/vit D. They may be harmful in some members of the population.

I guess you're taking a risk because even if the flights are fine, you don't want to get stuck with a tooth ache, possible dental surgery and then having to deal with insurance companies. Or they may not cause any problems at all.
Also, if you take painkillers on the flight, just be careful of mixing them with alcohol and the decreased oxygen everyone has at 30,000ft. You don't want to get yourself handcuffed to your seat.

 

[Danger UXB]

Has anyone thought that listening to the professional might be the right thing to do. From the story you have seen this dentist in the past for X-rays. You have been back to him therefore you trust his opinion. So if he says get them out then why doubt him/ her now? Of course you may want to take a risk.... Let's not talk about ludwigs angina shall we. And on the insurance front would it not be classified as a pre existing condition by insurance if you made a claim?
anyway when it's all said and done only you can make the choice. Sounds like a reasonable diagnosis to me
cheers
Danger UXB

 

[cgichard]

You are absolutely right, Danger UXB, on every count. Yes, I do trust this dentist. It just goes against all my instincts to agree to the extraction of a tooth that is giving me only intermittent and relatively mild discomfort, especially as I already have a gap right beside this tooth from a previous necessary extraction some years ago when a crown that broke off when I was on holiday proved irreparable, even though it was not causing me pain. I'm not planning to fly until June next year. It's possible that the tooth in question may become more troublesome in the meanwhile which would make agreeing to the extraction easier. I guess I have too many months to think about it in the meanwhile.

 

[lang_13]

my advice would be to not put it off. a couple of years ago got abscess on wisdom tooth - and they had to be extracted the day before I was due to fly to Europe - not the most pleasant of flights.

 

[Danger UXB]

You are absolutely right, Danger UXB, on every count. Yes, I do trust this dentist. It just goes against all my instincts to agree to the extraction of a tooth that is giving me only intermittent and relatively mild discomfort, especially as I already have a gap right beside this tooth from a previous necessary extraction some years ago when a crown that broke off when I was on holiday proved irreparable, even though it was not causing me pain. I'm not planning to fly until June next year. It's possible that the tooth in question may become more troublesome in the meanwhile which would make agreeing to the extraction easier. I guess I have too many months to think about it in the meanwhile.

My advice. Play it safe. 4 weeks prior to departure attend the dentist, re X-ray. If deterioration continues compared to previous X-rays then get rid of it. If it remains the same chances are you may be ok. But I would still pack some travel insurance in the form of antibiotics in the suitcase. Teeth have an uncanny habit of knowing when to cause the most chaos.
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[Gibbels]

I never had problems with the pain getting worse during the flight. But I think it depends on your general condition as well as on the healing process. Different for everyone I guess..

 

[Sprucegoose]

If concerned get a second opinion. I guess pilots see their own dentist. Call an aviation Heath expert ?

My learnings here are deal with it up front don't procrastinate

 

[Boris spatsky]

If concerned get a second opinion. I guess pilots see their own dentist. Call an aviation Heath expert ?

My learnings here are deal with it up front don't procrastinate

Yes, dental health is important in the industry.

When i was in the RAAF, not having seen a dentist every 12 months and been cleared dentally fit would in fact ground you.