Tooth Pain From a Sinus Infection

Your sinuses are acting up again, and this time around, tooth pain has decided to join the pain in your head. Are you unlucky enough to have an oral health problem at the same time as your sinus infection? Here is what you need to know about tooth pain from a sinus infection.

The link between sinusitis and tooth pain

A sinus cavity is just that: a cavity. It is an air-filled space that sits in the skull, where it forms part of the upper respiratory tract. There are three sets of sinuses:

• One set sits inside the cheekbones, the maxillary sinuses
• Another sits behind the forehead
• The third set lies behind the nose

The job of the sinuses is to moisten and warm inhaled air as it makes its way past the nose and down the respiratory tract. Sinuses also produce mucus that keeps debris from going farther into the respiratory system. 

An infection blocks the linings of the sinus cavities, which causes pressure. The roots of the upper molars sit in the same space as the maxillary sinuses. When these sinuses act up, the brain interprets the resultant pain as coming from the tooth roots.

What tooth pain from a sinus infection feels like

There are different levels of tooth pain, ranging from tooth sensitivity during meals to pulsating pain that makes for sleepless nights. Where do sinus toothaches fall in this spectrum?

Sinus tooth pain is usually a dull ache that affects the molars on the upper jaw. It starts right around the time that other symptoms of the sinus infection appear. Along with toothache, a patient suffering from a sinus infection will have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Headache, earache and/or pressure behind the eyes
• Blocked nose and nasal drip with an unpleasant taste
• Loss of taste and smell
• Sore throat
• Thick mucus
• Fever

Treating the sinus infection also takes care of its symptoms, including tooth pain. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms while the treatment does its work.

Managing tooth pain and other symptoms of sinus infection

Most cases of sinus infection are viral, so antibiotics have little effect. Treatment for viral infections comes down to managing the symptoms of said infection. By dealing with these effects, the patient also deals with the pain. Here is how to treat symptoms of a sinus infection:

• Take anti-inflammatory medication as per the instructions of a doctor, to bring the swelling down
• Eat foods rich in vitamin C, calcium, and omega-3, as these nutrients have antihistamine properties
• Stay hydrated to clear the sinuses
• Rinse the sinuses with saline solution to clean the sinuses and reduce swelling

When a physician diagnoses a patient with a sinus infection, they may prescribe medication to manage painful symptoms. Pain medication also takes care of sinus-related tooth pain.

Get a timely and accurate diagnosis

Tooth pain can happen for different reasons, and a sinus infection is just one of them. Just to be sure, though, make an appointment with our dentist. After all, dental pain only goes away when its root cause goes away.

Request an appointment here: https://www.northside-dentalcare.com or call Northside Dental Care, PC at (978) 206-7077 for an appointment in our Peabody office.

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