When it comes to tooth extractions, they’re truly not fun and can be a slight setback for a few days or even a couple of weeks. Each person responds differently to a tooth extraction which means that some may experience more pain or side effects than others. That being said, choosing to fly after a tooth extraction will have varying results for each person but, what it really comes down to is their pain tolerance.
A couple of days following a tooth extraction are usually the most painful and can often leave people in bed or missing work. Others can bounce back from it and barely be bothered afterwards. This varying degree of pain often comes from a person’s natural level of pain tolerance. This doesn’t mean someone is a baby because something hurts more to them than someone else. No, sometimes our bodies will feel certain pains more strongly than others and that’s not something that’s usually covered mentally. We can’t help how our bodies transmit the feeling of pain. All of this is to say, if you know your teeth are often touchy when it comes to painful procedures, flying a couple of days after a tooth extraction will be rough.
Due to the high altitude plane flights involve, the sinuses often take a beating with the pressure experienced at those heights. The ears, face, and teeth often get the brunt of this pressure and the effects can often be felt for days following a flight. Although it’s considered safe to fly after getting a tooth extracted, it might not feel so great. Many people already experience an uncomfortable or even painful sensation when flying due to the pressure. This pressure can cause added pain, sometimes immense pain, for those that have just had their teeth extracted.
In other words, it’s up to you whether or not you want to chance the added pain or not. Scientifically, pain is about the only thing that should result from taking a flight after a tooth extraction. It also should be noted that pain can cause some people to faint, puke, etc. which are other symptoms to be aware of when trying to decide whether to take that flight or not. In short, there’s no risk to flying after getting a tooth extracted so it all comes down to each traveler and how they’re feeling after they’ve gone through the procedure. As always, ask your dental professional since each dental case is unique. Due to some circumstances, they may suggest you not fly. However, it’s likely in most cases that they will say that it’s up to you and give you basic advice about the symptoms you might experience if you choose to fly.
