Professionally, over the years, I have come across a number of patients who complain of intense dental pain associated with flying. This is usually caused by sinus obstruction. The nerves supplying your top teeth are very closely associated with the sinus lining so if you are bunged up you can add toothache to your list of potential woes. It can be intense, usually commencing on ascent and subsiding on descent.
I have successfully used ephedrine/pseudoephedrine for patients with recurrent problems. This will usually alleviate symptoms in pax and can help with some of the other sympoms of sinus barotrauma. If you are on a booked as pax on a commercial flight and have a cold it is wise to take a bottle with you. It is available over the counter in the UK. It works by opening the passages in your head. It should not be used for more than a couple of days as its effect becomes reversed.
Athletes must not use it as they will be banned if dope tested.
Aircrew should not use ephedrine without consulting the flying Doc first. I suspect he would say "No".
Last edited by Gaseous; 1st Jun 2005 at 14:02.