The pressure that comes with an infection might create discomfort in your upper teeth since your sinuses are close to your mouth. A toothache may also cause pain in the teeth and result from sinusitis, sometimes referred to as sinus infection. The tissue lining the sinuses becomes inflamed and swollen as sinusitis develops. The most typical sinusitis symptom is a toothache. Sinus pressure and drainage from an infection can bring on tooth discomfort. The pain typically originates in the upper back teeth closest to the sinuses.
Sinuses Anatomy
There are many sinuses in the body. For example, the sinuses next to the nose are paranasal sinuses. In addition, there are dural venous sinuses in your brain.
These sinuses are divided into four pairs and are situated in the facial bones behind the cheekbones, on the forehead, and next to the eyes. They warm, moisturize and filter the air that enters your nasal cavity. Moreover, nasal cavity cleaning is accomplished by sinus mucus flowing into the nasal cavity. Fluid obstruction in these areas increases the risk of infection. In addition, germs may enter the area when you cough or blow your nose, resulting in an illness.
The pressure and mucus accompanying a sinus infection may make your upper teeth unpleasant or painful. This is the case because the roots of your top teeth and jawbone are close to your sinuses. Occasionally, you might also experience discomfort with your lower teeth.
How to Distinguish Between Dental and Sinus Issues
Determining whether a sinus or dental issue is to blame for your pain can be very challenging. However, the following signs point to sinus pain as the cause of tooth pain:
- Pain is only felt in the upper back teeth.
- There is more than one affected tooth.
- There is nasal or sinus congestion.
- There is no sensitivity to hot or cold but it hurts to chew or bite.
In contrast to sinusitis, toothaches might present with the following symptoms:
- Tooth sensitivity to both heat and cold
- Swollen gums
- Sharp or throbbing pain
- Pain when chewing
If you are suffering from the symptoms mentioned, you may need medical or dental assistance.
Causes of Sinus Toothaches
The upper teeth, especially those in the rear, are so close to the maxillary sinuses that they might cause tooth discomfort associated with sinus issues. The maxillary sinuses are inside the cheekbone and above the upper jaw. The maxillary sinus swells and gets congested due to sinusitis or infection, which results in pressurization. In addition, the roots of the back teeth in your upper jaw are very close to the bottom portion of the maxillary sinuses, so when they swell and pressurize, it can easily result in pressure on the nerves of the roots of your teeth.
As a result of opportunistic germs attacking a pre-existing tooth issue when your immune system is compromised, it is also frequent to have tooth pain quickly after a cold or allergy attack.
When to Visit the Doctor
Never neglect a toothache! Toothaches frequently signal significant issues that, if left untreated, will only become worse. To identify whether sinus pressure or a dental infection is the cause of your toothache, we will check your mouth.
Severe tooth pain can cause a dental emergency! You should seek immediate medical attention if a toothache keeps you awake at night. Call us at SkyRise Dental to arrange an emergency examination. If you live in Thornhill, Ontario, we’ll make time to give you the care you require to relieve the discomfort and stop additional infections.
