Teeth Pain Could Be An Indication Of Sinus Problems – What You Should Know

If your upper teeth are aching, you may be concerned that you have a toothache or an infected tooth. But that’s not always the case. There are lots of things that can make your teeth hurt. And if it’s only your upper teeth that hurt, you may have tooth pain due to a sinus infection (sinusitis).

But how do you know what the cause of your tooth pain might be? Read on to learn everything you need to know from Skutak Dental!
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Sinus Infections Can Make Your Teeth Hurt

The sinuses consist of four different pairs of air-filled spaces found near your forehead, behind your cheekbones. The sinuses that are the nearest to your mouth are called the “maxillary sinuses.”

Normally, the sinuses work to warm up, moisten, and filter air as you breathe through your nose. They also produce mucus that helps clean the nose and drain the nasal cavity. But when the sinuses become blocked, they may become infected. This is known as “sinusitis.”

You’ve probably had sinusitis before. The most common symptoms of sinusitis are facial pain or pressure, a “stuffed up” and congested nose that makes it hard to breathe through your nose, and lots of mucus coming out of your nose. Sinus infections may also cause a sore throat, throat irritation, and a hoarse voice in some cases.

More rarely, though, sinus infections can actually make your teeth hurt. This is because the maxillary sinuses mentioned above are very close to the roots of your upper teeth and your jawbone. When the maxillary sinuses become inflamed and congested, they may put a lot of pressure on your upper teeth, which may cause them to feel sore, painful, and tender, similarly to a toothache. 
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How Can I Tell If A Sinus Infection Is Causing My Tooth Pain?

There are a few things that may tell you whether or not you’re having tooth pain due to a sinus infection.

• You have sinusitis symptoms and your teeth didn't hurt previously – If your teeth didn’t hurt before you got sinusitis, it’s likely that the source of your tooth pain is due to your sinus infection, and not due to an infected tooth or any other such issue.
  
  
• Several teeth are affected, and only in the upper mouth– It’s pretty rare for dental-related tooth pain to occur in several teeth at once. So if you have multiple teeth that are hurting, and the pain started simultaneously, your condition may be caused by sinusitis. This is particularly true if only your upper teeth are hurting. Sinusitis usually doesn't cause pain to the lower teeth, since they’re not near the sinuses.
  
  
• Moving makes the pain worse – If you make a sudden move like jumping or bending over, tooth pain caused by sinusitis will likely feel worse due to shifts in sinus pressure. You may also feel relief from pain when you sit or lie down. 
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Need Help With Tooth Pain? Come To Skutak Dental

Tooth pain during a sinus infection is usually nothing to be concerned about. But if you’re still experiencing a lot of tooth pain after your sinusitis has cleared, or you suspect you may have some other serious oral health issue, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and Dr. Lisa M. Skutak is here to help. Contact Skutak Dental online or give us a call at (715) 355-4433 to schedule an appointment in Rothschild, Wausau, or Schofield today.