Holiday Dental Care – Be Prepared
Going abroad for your holiday? Here are a few things to consider.
We are approaching the time of year when many of us are planning to travel abroad for a summer break and the recent weather will probably have encouraged that even more. Everyone loves a holiday of course and there are always things to do before we go. Making sure our passport is in date, getting medical insurance and of course, hitting the gym ready for the beach as well – (maybe not all of us!)
Sometimes, amongst all this, and with the excitement building, it isn’t hard to forget about our teeth, especially if we are not having problems and think that they are in good health. Naturally, we hope that this is the case for our Bedford patients but it is worth looking at some aspects of our oral health and holidays in order to be prepared – just in case.
Prior check ups and restorations
If you haven’t had a check up for sometime before you go, or if your forthcoming check up clashes with your holiday and you need to cancel it, we do recommend that you call The Dental Centre Bedford to try to arrange a check up before you leave. Not only will this bring you peace of mind for your holiday, but any minor problems can be dealt with before you go. Even if a more advanced issue is discovered, such as the need for an extraction, we are sure that most people would rather have this done at their usual dentist than at a foreign dentist that they don’t know.
What to pack
What you pack for your holiday will depend on where you are going of course, but there are certain things that you should take to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Packing your toothbrush and toothpaste are obvious ones, and we also recommend that you take dental floss too. Depending on where you are going, it may not always be easy to purchase things that you have forgotten so make sure to have a good check before you finally close your bags.
Especially if you are going somewhere remote, you may wish to consider an emergency dental repair kit. This usually includes some ready made amalgam to temporarily fill a tooth if needed. If you do use this, make sure that you see your dentist on your return who may decide to refill it to protect the tooth properly. Leaving it ‘self filled’ could mean that gaps are available for bacteria to enter and cause even more problems.
When things go wrong
Even if you head off abroad for your holiday with your teeth in great condition, it doesn’t mean that problems won’t happen. Falls, accidents or even just biting on something unexpectedly hard can cause damage to your teeth that requires prompt treatment. In some cases, you may need to make the call to look for a local dentist or wait until you get back. Your decision may depend on a number of things such as how serious the problem is and how long before you arrive back in the UK.
If you decide to wait until you can see your local Bedford dentist, we recommend that you contact us while you are still there. This will enable us to book you in for an emergency appointment as quickly as we can on your return.
If you decide to see a dentist at your holiday destination, your hotel might be able to recommend someone. It is probably better though, to do some research before you leave and take the information with you. Also, please make sure that your insurance includes oral care abroad. It could save you a great deal of money!
Beware of ‘smile’ treatments abroad
Depending on where you go, you could find yourself in a country that is known for offering popular cosmetic dental treatments at prices much lower than in the UK. We know this might be tempting but if you decide to have these treatments, you could end up with far more problems than you started with. It can be very difficult to determine how qualified and experienced some dentists are in different locations. Getting this wrong could ruin your smile for life and you may have to undergo even more treatment to restore them to a natural looking and practical tooth once you have returned to the UK.
It should be noted that the above not only applies to complex treatments such as tooth implant placement but others too. For example, the popular teeth whitening procedure may be non invasive, but if excessive bleaching agents are used, as has happened before, it can damage your teeth and leave them incredibly sensitive to both hot and cold. Don’t risk it.
If money is a concern, please talk to us about it. We have payment plans that can help you to spread the cost of smile improvement treatments over a period of time.
Holidays then should be relaxing and full of good memories. These can be spoiled by dental problems and the search for a reliable dentist where you are holidaying. In more remote areas, this could even be potentially dangerous. Make sure then to allow time to have your teeth checked before you go and receive any necessary treatment. If you do find yourself in distress with a dental problem while you are away, we are happy for you to call us for advice.
For more information or to book yourself in for a check up, please call The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.