Why You Might Want to Reschedule Your Flight if You’ve Recently Had a Tooth Extraction

Let’s say you had travel plans and booked a flight. Your departure date crept closer and closer, which was all well and good – until you needed an emergency tooth extraction. Now your mouth is sore, you have all these recovery instructions to follow, and your diet is limited. Should you still take that flight?

You’ll probably want to reschedule, if possible. There are plenty of good reasons why your dentist wouldn’t recommend a post-extraction flight, and you can learn all about them in this post!

Flight Risk Factors

The first 48 hours after your tooth extraction is when you’re most vulnerable to an increased risk of recovery complications. For example, you could experience:

• Severe discomfort. Cabin pressure is not particularly kind to your sinuses. The frequent pressure shifts can make them swell and exert more weight on your teeth – not a good sensation for an already sore extraction area.
• Interference with healing. If you’re carrying heavy bags or like to wander around the airport after confirming your gate does indeed exist, the physical exertion can increase oral bleeding and slow down your body’s healing process. And the travel stress won’t help!
• Dry socket. This is when the protective blood clot that shields the new hole in your gums comes loose. Dry socket exposes your nerves and sensitive oral tissues and is quite painful. OTC pain relievers usually aren’t enough to mask the discomfort.  

When It’s Safe to Hop on A Plane Again

While your risk of complications mid-flight does decrease after 48 hours, it’s a good idea to wait at least one week before hopping on a plane. This will give your body plenty of time to heal and recover from your tooth extraction. You’ll probably feel better in general, too!

That said, make sure to confirm this timeline with your dentist. Not everyone heals at the same pace, and you may need more or less recovery time depending on your extraction.

Can’t Reschedule? Optimize Your Carry-On

If you really can’t reschedule your flight, then it’s best to make yourself as comfortable as possible once you’re in the cabin! You should pack these items into your personal and carry-on bags:

• Pain relievers
• Gauze
• A water bottle (to be refilled after making it through TSA)
• A bag of ice, icepack, or cold compress
• Sleep aids, a blanket, pillows – prepare to get cozy!
• Soft snacks that won’t hurt your teeth
• Your favorite, most distracting form of entertainment
• Earbuds or headphones

Let your dentist know if you plan on flying soon after your tooth extraction. They may be able to help you with more tips – or give you more good reasons to postpone your flight!

About the Author

Dr. Henry Lu loved his own dentist growing up and strives to emulate his gentleness and thoroughness. If you need a tooth extraction in Dallas, This Nova Southeastern graduate will work hard to help you have a positive experience during – and after! – your treatment. To contact Dr. Henry with questions or concerns about your tooth extraction recovery (or how they might impact your flight plans), call 469-998-9822.