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"Please fasten your seatbelt and prepare for landing" is heard thousands of times every day in skies around the globe. Whether you are a pilot, flight attendant or a passenger, your teeth react to changes in cabin pressure.
You may not connect a sudden dental problem with taking off or landing.
For example, your tooth might ache because pressure affects a worn, loose or cracked filling that is allowing decay-causing bacteria to seep underneath it and create a cavity. Changes in cabin pressure can also cause a weak filling to fracture.
If you have a respiratory or sinus infection or TMD (jaw joint pain), pressure changes can give you a headache or toothache.
Pressure changes can cause a crown to loosen and pop off. Sometimes, pressure changes can even cause your upper denture to lose its suction.
Sudden dental problems can affect anyone who is subjected to pressure changes, including SCUBA divers, and the cure is simple: prevention.
Have regular dental check-ups, and remove the biofilm on your teeth regularly with brushing, interdental cleaning, and xylitol.
Have your teeth examined before you fly off to that vacation spot or convention. If you have a cavity, crown or filling that needs attention, we need to place a new restoration.
If you frequently fly, you likely grab a quick (sugary) snack or sugary drink on your way down the concourse. A healthy diet helps promote good oral health, so choose your snack wisely. Chew gum with xylitol, and keep some in your carry-on luggage.
With our recommendations "You are now free to move about the cabin."