What Is The Connection Between Sinus And Jaw Pain
When the sinuses become inflamed, a condition known as sinusitis, the effects can be felt in unexpected places. Due to the positioning of two of the largest sinuses, there is a link between sinus and jaw pain. By treating ones sinusitis, it is usually possible to relieve pain in both places. It should be noted, however, that a dental infection may sometimes be to blame instead.
The sinuses are air-filled, mucus-membrane-lined cavities found within the skull. Each person has four sets of sinuses, which are spread over the front part of the head. Occasionally, one or more of these sinuses can become blocked by excess mucus. Such a blockage creates a warm, moist environment that can prove welcoming to bacteria and other foreign bodies. When the sinuses are infected by these foreign bodies, they become inflamed.
As they swell, infected sinuses can put pressure on nearby body parts. Simultaneous sinus and jaw pain usually occurs due to an infection of the maxillary sinus, which lies within the cheek area. A swollen maxillary sinus can put pressure on the upper jaw. This pressure often causes tenderness and pain in the jaw area, particularly at the area over the upper molars. Sometimes this pain is also joined by discomfort in the upper teeth and the ear.
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We Believe You Shouldnt Have To Suffer With Chronic Headaches
When you have a headache due to allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection, its best to talk to your physician. They can prescribe antibiotics for an infection and offer suggestions for dealing with your cold symptoms.
Your doctor can also prescribe an oral allergy medication, nasal spray, or allergy shots.
And what about the patients who struggle with migraines or headaches caused by a TMJ disorder?
They should see a TMJ dentist.
As a neuromuscular/TMJ dentist practicing in Chicago and Mount Prospect, my family dental practice offers a variety of treatment options for patients with headaches.
For instance, I might suggest orthodontic treatment to a patient who has a misaligned bite. When their bite is out of alignment, it puts strain on the muscles of the jaw, head, and neck. That, in turn, causes pain.
Other Remedies For Symptom Relief
Staying hydrated can help thin mucus to ease congestion.
Drinking hot liquids such as tea and broth may help relieve your symptoms. Breathing in moist air may also help relieve the discomfort that comes with nasal congestion. Try breathing in steam from the shower, a bowl of hot water, or a mug of tea.
If your voice is hoarse, rest it by avoiding yelling, whispering, and singing.
Placing a warm compress over the inflamed area can help reduce pressure and provide relief.
damages the natural protective elements of your nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory system.
If you smoke, consider quitting. Ask a doctor if you need help or are interested in quitting. Quitting may help prevent future episodes of both acute and chronic sinusitis.
Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu seasons, to keep your sinuses from becoming irritated or infected by viruses or bacteria on your hands.
Using a humidifier during the cooler, dryer months may also help prevent sinus infections.
Talk with a doctor to see if allergies are causing your sinusitis. If youre allergic to something that causes persistent sinus symptoms, you will likely need to treat your allergies to relieve your sinus infection.
You may need to seek an allergy specialist to determine the cause of the allergy. The specialist may suggest:
- avoiding the allergen
- doing allergic immunotherapy
Keeping your allergies under control can help prevent repeated episodes of sinusitis.
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Untreated Sinus Infection Risks
Sinus infections often start to improve on their own after about 10 days. If your symptoms last longer without improving or if they worsen, a doctor may need to treat the underlying cause of the infection.
If a sinus infection affects a sinus cavity close to the brain, it can spread to the brain if left untreated. Though rare, an infection can also pass into the eye socket and cause vision changes or blindness. These types of infections are more common in kids.
While uncommon, a serious fungal sinus infection left untreated may pass into the bones.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you have severe symptoms, or if the following symptoms last longer than 10 days or keep coming back:
- fever
- congestion
- facial pain
Because the cause of your sinus infection can affect your treatment options, its important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if youre looking for a doctor.
If you believe you have chronic or recurring sinusitis, consider asking for a referral to an otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat specialist. You may need imaging and other tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
An ENT specialist can take a culture of nose drainage to better understand the cause of an infection. The ENT specialist can also examine the sinuses more closely and look for any problem in the structure of the nasal passages that could lead to chronic sinus problems.
Swollen Gums From A Sinus Infection
Swollen gums are among the most commonly observed symptoms of a sinus infection. To know more about this problem, read this HealthHearty article.
Swollen gums are among the most commonly observed symptoms of a sinus infection. To know more about this problem, read this HealthHearty article.
Sinus cavities are present on those facial bones, which are located behind the eyes and nose area. These tiny cavities play a crucial role in the respiratory system. They filter out all dirt, debris, and pathogens that enter the respiratory passage, and prevent them from entering the lungs. Thus they protect the body from several infections. Medically, sinus infection is known as sinusitis. In this condition, the sinus cavities get irritated and inflamed. Some of its key signs and symptoms are: nasal congestion, post nasal drip, cough, headache, earache, and swollen gums.
Home RemediesThere are some simple home remedies, that can tackle the swelling and tenderness of the gums. They are as follows:
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: The simplest way to eliminate the infection-causing bacteria from the gums is with proper oral care. Brush your teeth three times in a day. It should be followed by flossing, which cleans up the hidden corners of the gums, where your brush cannot reach. Finally, use a mouthwash, which can destroy the bacteria growing inside the mouth.
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Can Sinus Pressure Cause Your Teeth To Hurt
Sinus pressure is the pain experienced over the face, nose and head due to inflammation or infection in the sinuses . It is often caused by viral or bacterial infection . Sinus pressure can be experienced in association with seasonal allergies and common cold. The pressure generally develops when there is excessive fluid/mucous build up in the empty spaces within the sinuses, such that the sinuses are unable to drain leading to blockage and pressure builds up. This is experienced as pain, tenderness and discomfort over the sinuses.
Can Tmj Cause Sinus Problems
While TMJ wont cause sinus problems, the symptoms of existing sinus problems can make TMJD worse. Nasal congestion and bruxism can trigger snoring and restless sleep. Sinusitis can cause breathing problems because of congestion, leading you to breathe with your mouth open. This pulls the jaw out of its natural resting position, which can stress the jaw and contribute to bruxism, or teeth grinding. Sinus issues like allergies can also cause sneezing, an action that can cause your jaw to click or pop, or even dislocate entirely.
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So Yes Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Ear Pain But What About Sore Throat
If the problem causing the tooth is not resolved quickly, bacteria can accumulate in this area. This is because it can be difficult to reach the brush in this way or it can be very painful to brush well and floss. In that case, you can get an infection in this area. In that case, symptoms such as sore throat, fever or swollen lymph nodes may occur.
Can A Dental Infection Cause A Sinus Infection
A dental infection can cause a sinus infection.
An evidence review from 2012 estimated as much as 40% of chronic maxillary sinus infections were due to dental infections.
Older studies estimated this amount was about 10%, but advances in imaging, such as CT scans, have revealed dental infections as a more common underlying cause.
As the back portion of the teeth is close to the maxillary sinuses, infectious organisms can travel to these cavities.
A person with this infection type will have maxillary sinus infection symptoms. They may also have the following risk factors relating to their teeth:
- history of jaw or dental pain
- history of or current dental infection
- history of endodontic, oral, or periodontal surgery, especially tooth extractions
Infection of this type requires antibiotics and treatment of the underlying infection in the tooth or teeth. This approach helps reduce the chance of the infection returning.
A doctor will look at differences in symptoms to help diagnose a toothache that a sinus infection is causing or one from a dental problem.
A sinus infection can cause:
- interference with a persons sense of smell
- one-sided nasal obstruction, or a stuffy nose
- runny nose, typically on one side
Signs that may be different from sinusitis and could indicate a dental problem include:
- dental pain with temperature changes, such as when eating or drinking something cold or hot
- facial swelling
- gum swelling near a tooth
- pain near a tooth that has dental work
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Toothache Caused By Sinus Infection
As we can see, problems with sinuses can have a wide range of symptoms but sometimes people experience nothing but a common toothache. The tooth pain is often what brings patients to the dentist and at first glance, this pain can seem completely unrelatable to sinuses. Sometimes, it is the sinus causing tooth pain and making you feel uncomfortable and not your tooth.
A panoramic x-ray or CT scan can show nothing wrong with the tooth but may show congested sinuses. This is the key sign that sinus infection causes toothache, especially if that pain affects other teeth as well.
Sinus toothache can happen suddenly and usually when you chew. That is why people often confuse it with a regular toothache. Some other signs that indicate toothache caused by sinusitis include facial swelling, swollen gums, strong headaches, runny nose, and even fatigue.
This condition can make it difficult to have decent oral hygiene but fortunately, all of these symptoms are easily resolved by detecting and treating the sinus infection.
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Watch For Obvious Symptoms Of Sinusitis
Sinusitis comes with some fairly obvious symptoms that should give it away. If you experience any of the following, its likely that you have a sinus infection:
- Facial congestion
- Discharge from the nose that is thick and discolored
- Changes in taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Upset stomach
These symptoms develop as a result of the collection of mucus in the nose and sinuses. This thick mucus will clog your nose and may ooze out either forward through the nose or backward in the throat. It changes your sense of taste and smell because your nostrils are clogged and mucus is seeping into your mouth. This can also irritate your throat and lead to an upset stomach.
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Sinus Toothache Symptoms And Causes
If you have both a sinus infection and tooth pain, the first thing you need to know is this: A sinus toothache is caused by the same inflammation of your sinuses that causes sinus headaches, the combination of sinusitis and tinnitus, and sinusitis and hearing loss.
Sinus infections can cause swelling and inflammation within the sinus cavities located along your jawline. When this occurs, your back upper teeth may begin to hurt due to the inflammation and increased pressure.
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Is It Sinus Or Tooth Pain
Its springthat beautiful time of year when everything is in bloom. But for allergy sufferers, spring may forecast a season of struggle and discomfort. Spring allergens can cause nasal inflammation and lead to sinus infections.
What does all of this have to do with your teeth? Plenty. On top of everything else a sinus infection brings, it can also cause tooth pain. How do you know if the pain youre feeling is from a sinus infection or a tooth that needs attention? Read on to find out.
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Conditions Linked To Tmj
There are also some conditions you should consider that might make you more likely to have TMJ. These conditions can either influence TMJ or be influenced by it. They include:
- Migraines
- Stress
- Teeth clenching and grinding
People with migraines are more likely to have TMJ. Sometimes, its because undiagnosed TMJ is actually the cause of the migraines. Stress leads to muscle tension, which leads to TMJ. One link between stress and TMJ is bruxism, though bruxism can be linked to many other causes in addition to stress.
Jaw Pain Can Be Caused By A Number Of Factors Including Allergies Sinus Infections And Colds
Jaw pain can occur for a number of reasons: temporomandibular joint disorder , a teeth-grinding habit, gum disease and untreated cavities.
It is also possible to experience discomfort in the jaw and teeth when your sinuses are blocked. Sinus infections, congestion and allergies can all affect the jaw and face, often causing swelling and pain.
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What Is The Connection Between The Sinuses And The Jaw
We have sinuses between our eyes, in the cheekbone and above the bridge of the nose, which means that they take up a considerable amount of space in the facial area. When the sinuses become swollen and inflamed, the pain and pressure that we feel in these areas can easily move to the jaw. This causes jaw pain, as well as headaches, earaches and general facial tenderness and discomfort.
If you suffer from allergies on a regular basis, it can be difficult to know if your sinuses are your main concern, or whether you are suffering from TMJ. In many cases, however, both of these issues play a part.
Some common symptoms of seasonal allergies and sinus inflammation include a stuffy nose, headaches, pain in the ears, a sore throat, and swelling or tenderness in the face, especially around the nose and eyes. Some of the symptoms of TMD can feel quite similar ear pain and pressure, headaches, jaw pain, and swelling of the face can all occur.
Also, if you suffer from congestion, it is likely that you breathe through your mouth this can lead to additional pressure on the jaw.
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Taking Vitamin D helps support the immune system as well as drinking a lot of fluids. It is a good idea to avoid dairy products, as they have been shown to increase mucous production. Stay inside during days with high pollen count and make sure to wash hair and pillowcases frequently to control the allergens near the face.
Ask dentists at Lincoln Family Dentistry any questions you may have about your sinus toothache.
Make easy, affordable payments for your procedure with payment plans we offer.
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Allergies Sinuses And How They Can Cause Jaw Pain
As any sufferer knows, allergies can wreak havoc on your body. In addition to the well-known sneezing, sniffling, and red watering eyes, you may experience postnasal drip, coughing, and fatigue.6 Allergies can also clog the sinuses. Because of that, they could be the source of your nagging jaw pain.7
You probably identify sinus problems with nasal pressure. But allergies can cause lower jaw pain as well as the feeling of general pressure, especially if maxillary sinuses are obstructed. Inflamed and swollen sinuses can affect a number of areas of the face and head and result in issues ranging from headaches and earaches to facial tenderness near the eyes and nose that radiates to the jaw.8
Its possible that seasonal allergies could cause jaw pain in other ways, although more research is needed on the subject. Frequent sneezing and coughing force the mouth open which could lead to muscle tension and overuse strain and create issues with the jaw. Similarly, a stuffy nose may make you breathe through your mouth at night. If your jaw is strained open all night, it makes sense that you could wake up with jaw discomfort.9
- Your cheeks may become tender, and the pain may radiate to your jaw and teeth.
- The top of your head may also hurt.
- The pain can be dull to intense.
- It’s usually worse when you lie down and better when you sit or stand upright.
Can Your Nasal Sinuses Affect Your Teeth
There is a definite relationship between your sinuses and teeth. This is easy to appreciate when you think about the fact that as we breathe air in through our nose, it travels through our nasal passages and hollow air filled cavities located behind the nose and cheekbones, which are also located directly above the upper jaw bone .
Under certain circumstances, a direct correlation can exist between a sinus infection and a toothache. Occasionally, unexplained tooth pain may be a symptom of a sinus infection, or sinusitis, typically caused by allergies or bacteria. This relationship also works the other way, as a sinus infection may be caused by an oral infection in the maxillary teeth, the ones in the upper-back part of the mouth.
Maxillary sinusitis pain can be felt throughout the jaw and upper row of teeth, as well as around the cheeks and eyes. Despite the close relationship between a sinus infection and toothaches, there are ways to determine if the pain is sinus related or dental related.
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