Dental Care When Travelling in the UK: How to Protect Your Smile on Staycations & Holidays

If you’re planning a staycation or a holiday somewhere in the UK, your dental care might be the last thing on your mind. But accidents can and do happen – particularly when we’re in unfamiliar settings.

With this in mind, we’re sharing our top tips for caring for your teeth when you are travelling, so you can book your next step with confidence.

Caring for your teeth when you’re travelling

The most important thing to remember is that your routine is everything. Whatever you would normally do at home, you should try to do this when you are travelling. Try not to skip steps just because you are away from home, as this could lead you to stop these important steps when you get home.

Another helpful tip would be to check if you have travel dental coverage before you go. There are many ways you might have access to emergency dental care coverage, including through your credit card provider, home insurance provider, travel insurance, your dental insurance, or a dental payment plan. Check if this coverage includes travel in the UK, or if you can only use this when you are travelling abroad.

What to do in an emergency

No one wants to deal with a dental emergency when they are trying to enjoy their holiday, but having a rough plan in place can help you to get your trip back on track.

When you book a holiday, make sure you check for emergency dentists in the local area. This will help you to direct your enquiry to the right place, or at least know where you need to start your search.

Often, the most difficult part will be deciding if you are facing an actual emergency, or if you can wait until you get home. The following would be considered a dental emergency and you should seek help as soon as possible:

- A knocked out or loose tooth

- Dental bleeding that cannot be controlled with a compress

- Sudden dental pain that keeps you awake at night

- A chipped tooth with a sharp edge

- A broken or detached bridge, crown, inlay or onlay

- Damage to a denture that makes it impossible to wear

- Excessive pain following a dental procedure

- Damage to orthodontic appliances, including loose wires and detached brackets

In short, if the issue is going to get in the way of your enjoyment of your trip, you should look for an emergency dentist as soon as possible.

What can an emergency dentist do?

An emergency dentist appointment might not address the issue in full, but it will help you to get the condition under control. Treatment could include:

- Antibiotics to get an active infection under control

- Pain medication to help manage your condition until you can see your usual dentist

- Fixing a bridge, crown, inlay or onlay back in place with dental cement

- A temporary fix for your denture or orthodontic appliance

- A temporary filling or crown for a chipped or broken tooth

- An X-ray to check for further damage following a knocked out tooth

All of these steps will help you to have a healthy and happy time on your holiday, without having to worry about your oral health. If you’re concerned about a dental health issue arising while you are away, book an appointment before you leave to enjoy peace of mind.