We are about to leave for a family road trip and I have developed a toothache. I wondered if there is something I can just grab from the drug store that will just keep me out of pain until we get back. I don’t want to delay our trip, but it is starting to hurt quite a bit.
Lee
Dear Lee,
I know you are anxious to get on the road, but I do not recommend that you just try to nurse this along. Depending on how long the road trip is, you could ask your dentist for some antibiotics. This won’t heal the infection. It could hold it at bay until you get back. However you are taking a bit of a risk. If the antibiotic doesn’t work or if you run out while you’re on the trip, the infection will blow up. These can become life threatening quickly.
Let me tell you about a recent tragedy with another man. A twenty-six year old long haul driver from Antelope, California who had to make a haul to New York. His tooth started hurting before he left. By Oklahoma it was hurting so much that he stopped to see a dentist. That dentist prescribed him some antibiotics and he continued his trek. He managed to make his delivery but by then he was in such horrible condition that he couldn’t drive home. His brother flew to New York to drive him home.
They made it as far as Utah before his brother grew concerned with his breathing so they went to a hospital. They put him on oxygen and then flew him to Salt Lake City which had a better hospital. The infection had spread to his blood and lungs. They put him on dialysis and tried very strong antibiotics, but there was nothing else they could do. They notified his wife and she flew there in time to say her goodbyes.
The truth is that dental infections are much more serious than people think. Between six to ten people die in the United States every year from undertreated tooth infections. The safest course of action would be to at least have a root canal treatment started so that you are safer. Dentists generally leave room in their appointments for emergency dental situations.
This blog is brought to you by the compassionate dentists in Decatur, AL Drs. Drake and Wallace.
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