In a word, yes it can. Fortunately, this only happens when you’re on the plane and changing altitude. No permanent harm is done. Healthy teeth are not affected, but teeth that have fillings or other dental work are at risk of causing you an unpleasant flight.
Why Flying Can Give You a Toothache
Flying can give you a toothache and a bad one at that. It’s caused by how changing pressure affects the volume of even microscopic amounts of trapped air in your dental work. Aerodontalgia—tooth pain due to flying—is real, but it’s no threat to your healthy teeth.
Aerodontalgia usually happens when your plane is ascending. As the outside air pressure decreases, tiny, even microscopic pockets of air inside tooth fillings try to expand, putting pressure on nerves.
Managing Tooth Pain While Traveling
The best plan is to plan ahead! See your dentist at Campbell & Williams Family Dental in Highland Village before traveling.
Before Your Flight
If you’ve had tooth pain before your flight, come to see us at Campbell & Williams Family Dental in Highland Village, TX. Untreated cavities and cracked teeth can be very painful when you fly, but we can get you fixed up and ready to travel. Any dental problems that you’ve been struggling with will be aggravated by the changes in altitude.
During Your Flight
Teeth will be more sensitive until you touch down. During your flight, avoid icy drinks, especially sodas. Bring dental gauze if you’re recently had oral surgery. It’s common for surgical sites to bleed due to differential pressure changes.
When to Take Extra Care of Your Teeth Before Flying
All of the below conditions need extra care:
- Recent dental work.
- Fillings
- Cracked teeth
- Early tooth decay
When You Should See a Dentist About Sensitive Teeth While Flying
See your dentist near Highland Village after flying if you experience pain while flying. Flying can cause pain in early tooth decay that can’t yet be seen. If you’ve flown after oral surgery and now have any swelling or redness, get in touch with us at Campbell & Williams Family Dental, your dentist in Highland Village, TX 75077