Dental tips before taking off (Blog #45)

OK, so you've read the headline and wondered if you've landed on some weird dental blog that's going to talk about getting your teeth straightened or, worse, having them whitened, or, much worse, travelling to Turkey to get that Instagram-perfect smile. No, you're at the right place if you want to learn some useful tips on how to avoid those annoying dental problems while you're off on your big trips. This isn't about those long weekends to capital cities or even a fortnight by a pool in Spain; no, I'm talking about those extended trips to parts of the world where health care, and in particular dental care, facilities are scarce or next to non-existent.

What qualifies me to write about dentistry? Before I became a writer, historian, smartphone photographer, and blogger, I spent longer than I care to think about as a general dental practitioner, dispensing dental advice and treatment to those who chose to seek me out. 

The prompt for writing this blog was therefore born out of two things: a hardwired passion to see to it that everyone has the best dental health possible; and recently reading that before going into active service, all military personnel must be free from potential dental problems. So, loosely linking a military tour of duty with heading off on some exotic lengthy trip, I decided to share some tips on how to keep you safe from pain, infection, and possible high dental bills.

So briefly, here's what I am going to tell you. Plan well ahead and get any little dental niggles (the occasionally painful tooth; the gum that bleeds, not too much, but just enough so you see blood in the wash basin) treated and out of the way. I will tell you what things to take and how to maintain good dental health while you are travelling.

First, a little dental history lesson. Before the advent of preventive dentistry, which came into vogue in the last decade of the last century, depending on where you lived, dentistry, at least in the UK, was very much drill and fill. Gum disease went pretty much undiagnosed and was rarely treated. This is why my wife and I have mouths full of fillings, root fillings, crowns, veneers, and a couple of extractions. On the other hand, our children, born in the 1980s, have none of these. If you're one of this generation then you're lucky, because healthy, unrestored teeth are unlikely to cause problems. 

But what about other potential dental problems? If you've been sucked into the world of Turkey teeth, having perfectly healthy teeth cut down to pegs so that crowns of an unnaturally white colour can be cemented over them. There are two potential problems here. The first is the risk of pain. When any tooth is drilled, the nerve inside doesn't like it, and post- operative pain can follow, either immediately or sometimes long afterwards. Second, and unrelated to the presence of pain, your lovely crowns could also drop off.

For people of an older generation, filled and crowned teeth can sometimes be little bombs just waiting to explode, usually at an inconvenient time. Fillings can drop out (this shouldn't be taken a sign of bad dental treatment, though), the remaining natural part of a tooth can break off, or, as one of my heavily restored back teeth once did, the whole top of a tooth can simply give up the ghost and disintegrate totally.

Maybe you're a regular dental attendee, in which case you're probably confident that your teeth and gums aren't going to cause you any problems while you explore the Himalayas, Tibet, and Mongolia for 6-months. But would it not be a good idea to get everything checked one more time before you go? You never know. How about signing up for a dental plan that covers you for dental emergencies and accidents? Accidents happen, as do physical assaults resulting in damaged teeth. There may still be a nearby dentist even in these remote regions.

If you're not a regular attendee, you'd be well advised to find a dentist well in advance of your departure day, get checked out, and  have any necessary treatment completed well in advance of your departure date.

Whichever category you fall into to, if the dentist and/hygienist recommends any treatment, get it done!

You've been given the dental green light; you've got some dental insurance cover; you're all ready to pack. When it comes to your ongoing daily dental care, what should you take? A manual toothbrush, one that doesn't need charging or rely on Bluetooth to tell you you're an ace brusher, is a better option than one of those fancy pants, all singing and dancing, electric ones, at least while you're away. Take your usual sized toothbrush. I would also take floss and a stock of interdental brushes (ask your dentist or hygienist for recommendations). And don't forget to buy a dental repair kit: they aren't expensive, and it my save the day if a filling comes out or a crown decides it's had enough of being fixed to one of your teeth.

On the flight, and while you're travelling, you should carry a little dental kit made up of a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, interdental brushes, a a small bottle of mouthwash. Being able to freshen up your mouth after a long flight or train journey will make you feel so much better.

Don't forget to keep up with the same dental hygiene routine that you've adopted back home.

Don't forget to also make sure your jabs are up to date and that any outstanding health issues are dealt with before departure. Your general health is equally important. On that note, take a first aid kit.

The advice I have given you comes as second nature to me, but I wonder if others give as much thought to these things as I do. I am not a dentally-trained geek who thinks that dental issues are the be all and end all of life, no, I just want to try to make you think about one particular aspect of your pre-trip preparation, that is, your mouth.

Thanks for visiting my blog. You can read my previous blogs here also, and visit my Instagram as mentioned above.

See you next time.

© Mike Young 2024