Who doesn’t fear (even a little) a visit to the dentist? With all due respect to these professionals, there’s still a certain reluctance to schedule an appointment with them. It’s no more than an irrational attitude originated from many urban legends about old practices (currently overcome) and dentists, who do nothing but free us from oral problems like cavities, dental abscesses or periodontal disease. Indeed, dental issues can cause so much discomfort and need to be taken care of properly, though sometimes it’s hard to determine where the pain comes from..
If you happen to have tooth decay, you probably know what to expect during the visit to the dentist: he or she will remove the plaque accumulated in your tooth and will replace it with a filling that, hopefully, will put an end to the suffering. But imagine having a constant ache located in your upper teeth and going to the dentist’s office only to find out that your dental pieces are completely fine. What could be wrong then? Well, in a case like this, the dentist would rule out and consider different underlying conditions including bruxism (grinding of the teeth), gum disease… and even sinusitis! Yes, as hard as it might be to believe, a sinus infection can be responsible for toothache. How can that happen? Let’s clarify this!
Found on the cheekbones, below the eyes, the maxillary sinuses are the largest paranasal cavities, almost connected to the upper jaw, above the level of molar and premolar teeth. Thus, when a sinus infection affects the maxillary sinuses, the pressure exerted by thick mucus stored in these hollow cavities can trigger referred pain to the gums and upper rear teeth.
Unlike common tooth pain, which tends to be sharp and worsen with time, sinus tooth pain is usually persistent and dull. Under these circumstances, the best thing you can do is look out for typical sinusitis symptoms, such as nasal congestion, facial pain, headaches and loss of smell, which could help you identify the source of your problem.
What about the other way around?
Maxillary sinusitis can lead to tooth pain, fine, but can teeth cause a sinus infection instead? Although it appears unlikely, this can happen too, but only on rare occasions. When it does occur, it’s usually due to a periodontal infection of upper back teeth or gum abscesses that somehow make their way into the sinuses through the bone, thereby infecting the paranasal structure.
What to do
In order to prevent further complications like an osteomyelitis (a bone infection), you need to have your toothache properly treated. If the pain derives from a sinus infection, you can try having anti-inflammatory medication to decrease the swelling in the affected areas. Yet, what you should ideally do is drain the mucus from your sinuses, thus removing facial pressure and referred pain to the teeth.
In a nutshell, the next time you deal with an unusual toothache, don’t assume it’s just a cavity. Seek medical help and bear in mind if you have recently been sick with a cold or have been struggling with allergies. This may provide a good clue to solve the enigma.
