By Dr Elizabeth Crake
The cases are out, the flights are booked and Wimbledon is buzzing with holiday plans. Before you head off for the summer, there's one item that rarely makes the packing list but really should: your teeth. A surprise toothache on a beach in Spain, or worse, sharp pain as the plane climbs, can take the shine off the best-planned trip. The good news is that a little preparation now means you can switch off and enjoy yourself. Here's our pre-holiday dental checklist for Wimbledon residents.
Get a check-up before you fly
The single most useful thing you can do is book a check-up a few weeks before you travel. Small problems, a loose filling, a hairline crack, the very start of decay, are often painless at first, then choose the worst possible moment to flare up. Catching them at home means a quick, planned repair rather than a stressful hunt for a dentist in a country where you don't speak the language and don't know the costs.
Leaving a few weeks' notice matters: if the dentist does spot something, there's time to treat it before departure. A routine examination is the foundation of good general dentistry, and it's never more valuable than just before a trip. The NHS recommends regular check-ups based on your individual risk, a pre-holiday slot is a sensible time to fit one in.
Why teeth can hurt on a flight
If you've ever felt a tooth twinge as a plane takes off or lands, you're not imagining it. Changes in cabin pressure can trigger pain in a tooth that already has an underlying problem, untreated decay, a failing filling, an infection or a recent procedure. Dentists call it barodontalgia. A healthy, well-maintained tooth shouldn't react to pressure, which is exactly why a pre-flight check-up is the best prevention.
Pack a small dental kit
A few simple items in your wash bag can save a lot of discomfort:
- Toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and floss, keeping your routine going while away is the easiest win of all
- A travel mouthwash and a small pack of interdental brushes
- Sugar-free gum to help wash away acids after meals when you can't brush straight away
- Over-the-counter pain relief and some dental wax for a sharp edge or a rubbing brace
- Your dentist's contact details and your travel insurance documents, easy to find on your phone
If you wear a retainer, nightguard or are mid-treatment with Invisalign, pack it and your case, and don't leave aligners on a hot windowsill or in a warm car.
Summer in SW19 is a season of temptation. Strawberries and cream, Pimm's and fizzy drinks around the Championships, ice creams on the Common, all delicious, all acidic or sugary. Enjoy them, but try to keep them to mealtimes rather than constant grazing, and rinse with water afterwards. The same goes once you're abroad: holiday sangria, gelato and fruit cocktails are kinder to your teeth when they're not sipped all day long.
Mind the holiday sugar and acids
Holidays loosen everyone's routine, and that's part of the fun, but constant snacking and sipping keeps your mouth in a near-permanent acid bath, which is when enamel softens and decay gets a foothold. You don't need to give anything up. A few small habits make all the difference: keep sweet and acidic foods to mealtimes, drink plenty of water (especially in the heat), and wait around an hour after acidic food or drink before brushing, so you're not scrubbing softened enamel. The Oral Health Foundation has straightforward guidance on diet and dental health worth a quick read before you go.
Book your pre-holiday check-up in Wimbledon Village
A quick, thorough examination with Dr Elizabeth Crake and our team at The Dental Lounges Wimbledon, so you can travel with peace of mind. Appointments six days a week.
Book an appointment View general dentistryIf it goes wrong while you're away
Even with the best preparation, accidents happen, a bitten olive stone, a fall, a sudden ache. A little know-how keeps a small problem from ruining your trip:
- Toothache: rinse with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relief; avoid very hot, cold or sweet foods on that side.
- Knocked-out adult tooth: handle it by the crown (not the root), keep it in milk or saliva, and find a dentist urgently, time matters.
- Lost filling or crown: keep the piece if you can, avoid chewing on it, and book a repair as soon as you're home.
- Swelling with fever: this can signal an infection that needs prompt local care, don't wait it out.
Travel with a UK GHIC or EHIC card and insurance that covers dental treatment, then book a follow-up with our emergency dentist in Wimbledon when you're back to make sure any holiday repair is sound.
Your before-you-go, while-away, if-it-goes-wrong checklist
Here's the whole plan at a glance, with our real, transparent prices for the appointments you might need before or after your trip.
| Stage | What to do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Before you go | Book a check-up 2–4 weeks ahead (new patient exam inc. X-rays & oral cancer screening) | Contact us for current fees |
| Before you go | Regular patient check-up (X-rays extra) | £80 |
| Before you go | Hygiene clean to start the trip fresh | £90 |
| Before you go | Treat anything found (e.g. tooth-coloured filling) | £150–£350 |
| While away | Pack a dental kit; keep sugar/acids to mealtimes; carry a GHIC card & insurance | — |
| If it goes wrong | Phone advice from our team while you're abroad | Free |
| If it goes wrong | Emergency appointment on your return (existing / new patient) | £120 / £150 |
All prices are confirmed in writing before any treatment, and any onward work is quoted upfront, never a surprise on the bill. Whenever you're ready, our friendly team in Wimbledon Village is here to get you holiday-ready.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, a check-up a few weeks before you fly is one of the best ways to avoid a dental emergency abroad. We can spot a loose filling, early decay or a cracked tooth before it becomes painful, leaving time to treat it at home where it's cheaper and easier than finding a dentist in an unfamiliar country.
Changes in cabin air pressure can cause pain in a tooth that already has a problem, such as untreated decay, a failing filling, an infection or a recent procedure that has trapped a tiny pocket of air. This is sometimes called barodontalgia. A pre-flight check-up to treat the underlying issue is the surest way to prevent it.
Take a UK GHIC or EHIC card and travel insurance that covers dental treatment. For pain, rinse with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relief, and keep any knocked-out tooth or lost crown safe. Seek a local dentist or pharmacy for urgent care, then book a follow-up with us in Wimbledon when you return to make sure it is properly repaired.
