Toothache, a lost filling or a broken crown in the middle of a holiday: a practical, step-by-step guide for the first few hours.
The first step with a dental problem on holiday is to decide whether it can wait or needs attention the same day. Facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, bleeding that will not stop or a tooth displaced by trauma all need to be seen straight away. For everything else, a few simple measures reduce the pain and save the rest of your trip.
The first half hour
- Work out where the pain is: one tooth, the whole jaw, or radiating to the ear
- Rinse with lukewarm water in case trapped food is causing pressure
- Use floss gently to remove anything wedged between the teeth
- Apply cold to the outside of the cheek rather than heat
- Stop chewing on that side and avoid very hot or very cold drinks
Never place aspirin or any painkiller directly against the tooth or gum; it can cause a chemical burn. Take pain relief by mouth and follow the information on the packaging.
The four most common holiday problems
A lost filling
The cavity becomes sensitive and traps food. Keep it clean, avoid chewing on that side and get it seen soon so the tooth does not fracture further. Do not pack the space with cotton or chewing gum. See our page on a filling that has fallen out.
A crown or bridge has come off
Keep the piece and bring it in; in many cases the same restoration can be re-cemented. Do not glue it back yourself, because a crown fixed in the wrong position damages the tooth underneath.
A fractured tooth
If you find the fragment, keep it in milk or saline rather than letting it dry. Orthodontic wax can cover a sharp edge until you are seen. Our page on a fractured tooth explains the options.
A swollen gum
Swelling means infection is spreading, and waiting for it to settle on its own is not a good plan. Warm salt water rinses give temporary relief, but the source needs treating.
Treatment that fits around your trip
Most urgent treatment is completed in a single appointment and leaves you with few restrictions beyond swimming that day. Tell us at the first visit how long you are staying in Antalya. With a known departure date we plan so that as much as possible is completed in one visit, and you leave with written instructions for anything that continues after you travel home.
A small kit worth packing
- Toothbrush, paste and floss, since brushing is the routine most often dropped on holiday
- Pain relief in its original box and a list of your medication
- Orthodontic wax if you wear braces
- A denture cleaning tablet and storage case if you wear a denture
- A photo of your most recent panoramic X-ray on your phone
A wire end digging into the cheek is a classic holiday complaint; cover it with wax and do not cut the wire yourself. Our page on an irritating orthodontic wire explains what to do.
Our clinic is in Muratpasa and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, holidays included.
