Do Our Teeth Suffer Anxiety Over Flying?

Of course not. Our teeth do not suffer anxiety over flying on airlines. But you may have had a tooth begin hurting while you were on an airplane. Why does this happen?

An infected tooth has bacteria in the root that produce a by-product of gas. This trapped gas will expand in the root with changes in the airplane’s cabin pressure, causing pain in the tooth or jaw bone — or both. Asking the attendant for ice water, taking a sip, and holding it in the mouth near the affected tooth will decrease the temperature of the gas, causing it to contract.

The temporary solution described above will provide relief from the toothache pain for a short time. Continue to ease the pain with ice water, as necessary. See a dentist as soon as possible after your flight. And if you’re in our town, please come and see us.

So, what causes a toothache? Simply put, a toothache is pain in or around a tooth. And you may know from unhappy experience that a toothache can range from anywhere between a minor annoyance to profound pain, usually closer to the latter.

Let’s examine some of the potential causes of a toothache, that you might avoid this nasty word altogether: Toothaches can arise from a variety of factors, such as poor personal dental habits, a sugary or high-carbohydrate diet, trauma to the mouth or a failure to visit your friendly neighborhood dental office for routine but imperative checkups.

Toothaches are often a result of tooth decay or a cavity, which is a permanently damaged area on the surface of your tooth that is decayed. And because an untreated cavity can continue to develop, it can altogether destroy your tooth and cause you pain.

Remember, the best way to avoid a toothache is to attend your regular dental checkups and cleanings, brush twice a day, floss once a day, and eat a well-balanced diet. But if you do find yourself with a toothache, come and see us and we’re happy to help.