If you suffer from allergies or have ever experienced severe congestion, you may know it can cause dental pain. Our sinuses aren’t far from the roots of our upper teeth, and the pain involved can be serious. Some sufferers indicate that the pain is similar to that experienced with a cavity, or even an abscess. If you’re concerned about your oral health, this feeling of dental pain may cause you some consternation. We’re going to talk a little bit about how congestion can cause dental pain, and how to know if you need to see your dentist.
Dental Roots And Sinuses Aren’t Always Good Neighbors
Sinus-based dental pain may come as a surprise if you’ve never experienced dental pain associated with congestion and sinus pressure. This kind of dental pain occurs because the teeth of your upper arch sit close to your sinus cavity. Our rear teeth, in particular, are situated close to the maxillary sinuses. As inflammation or infection sets in this part of our sinuses, it creates pressure on these teeth. This is the result of swelling of tissues that sit quite near to our rear dental roots.
Dental pain caused by sinusitis can be distinguished from regular dental pain with these clues:
- If the only teeth that hurt are in the rear top portion of your mouth
- You have multiple teeth that show symptoms
- You are currently experiencing congestion
- Your teeth aren’t sensitive to heat or cold, but are affected by pressure
While dental pain is often the only oral consequence of a sinus infection in the maxillary sinuses, others do occur. Some patients have reported developing a tooth infection from a sinus infection. This happens when bacteria take the opportunity to attack a tooth made vulnerable by your cold. For this reason, cold and allergy season also gets the moniker ‘toothache season’ among the dental community.
Not knowing why your teeth are hurting is always a good reason to take a visit to your dentist. Their expertise and access to proper equipment mean they can definitively determine the source of your sensitivity and oral pain. X-rays and other forms of dental imaging may be used to determine the source of your discomfort. If your teeth seem otherwise healthy, and there are no other dental symptoms, and you have congestion, it’s probably sinus-sourced dental pain. If you have any bottom teeth that are experiencing dental pain, however, it’s time to visit the dentist.
When the origin of your symptoms is sinus pain, it’s relatively simple to treat them. For allergy sufferers, the appropriate steps are those taken during any other attack. If the source is a sinus infection, flu, or cold then it’s time for a visit to your medical professional. The pain you’re experiencing will pass as your infection fades, usually with the help of antibiotics.
Speak To Your Dental Provider For Further Guidance
Sinus-sourced dental pain is an ongoing struggle for some patients. Allergy sufferers are especially prone to being chronic sufferers of this condition. Those with compromised immune systems or other conditions that raise susceptibility to congestion may also be involved. Reach out to your dental professional for help with sinus dental pain today!
