Sinus Infection And Tooth Pain
If you have both a sinus infection and tooth pain, youre probably wondering, has one caused the other? Unfortunately, sinus infections and toothaches can often go hand-in-hand.
Learn why tooth pain is one more bothersome symptom you have to watch out for when youre dealing with a sinus infection and what you can do to find relief.
Because The Tissues Separating The Tooth And The Sinus Are
Can a bad tooth give you sinus problems. Indeed, there is the possibility for a tooth implant to lead to a sinus issue. This points towards a problem with your teeth, not the sinuses. So much so that severely infected teeth and gums can easily spread the infection to your sinuses.
Your teeth will turn yellow and rot over time, your gums will get diseased, and of course, your teeth could get infected and cause this throat pain. Pain in the forehead, around the eyes, in teeth and jaws Conversely, if youre experiencing a sinus toothache, youll probably feel discomfort in several teeth, particularly the top molars .
Fluids and iv antibiotics will be used to treat this condition. Lewis, a root canal specialist, chronic sinus infections are sometimes caused by an underlying tooth infection. Teeth infections causing sinus symptoms.
In addition, more symptoms might cross over. If you suffer from chronic nasal congestion as well as toothaches, the two might be related. Yes, a sinus infection can cause a toothache.
If you are thinking about getting a tooth implant or already have one, you are likely wondering if it will cause sinus problems. Depending on your own unique anatomy, the roots of the upper premolars and molars can extend quite close to the floor of the maxillary sinus, or even poke through it. A sinus infection can put pressure on your tooth, leading to a toothache.
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When An Infection Spreads
Not all tooth infections come with toothaches, however. An infection that develops in the root of one of the upper back teeth can spread to the sinuses, and the patient and clinicians wont necessarily recognize it for what it is. An incorrect diagnosis based on sinus symptoms that doesnt factor in the infected tooth can lead to ineffective treatment, and the patient may then develop a sinus disease called maxillary sinusitis of endodontic origin .
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What Are Sinus Infections
Your sinus cavities are located behind your cheekbones, eyes, and forehead. These air-filled spaces are responsible for producing mucus that drains into your nasal cavity, moistening and warming incoming air, and preventing dust or debris from entering your lungs.
Most of the time, you wont even notice your sinuses. However, when you have a sinus infection , the tissue lining your sinus cavities becomes blocked by fluid, which can cause congestion and painful pressure. Common causes of sinusitis include allergies, respiratory infections, the common cold, fungal infections, structural abnormalities, and exposure to pollutants, chemical irritants, or changes in air pressure or temperature.
Since our sinuses share a space with the roots of our upper teeth, swollen sinuses put painful pressure on nerves connected to your teeth, causing toothaches.
Sinus Infection Tooth Pain
Sinus tooth pain is fairly common, according to dental experts at the Mayo Clinic. Sinus infection tooth pain occurs when the fluid that builds up in the sinus cavities during a sinus infection puts pressure on your upper teeth, which are close to the maxillary sinuses.If you have sinus tooth pain, you may need to see a doctor to manage your sinus condition.
Sinus infection tooth pain might occur suddenly and usually feels like a dull ache, like something pressing down on your teeth. Or you might notice tooth sensitivity when chewing. Sinus infection tooth pain also can occur if you dont have a full-blown sinus infection. You might notice tooth pain similar to sinus infection tooth pain if you simply have a bad head cold and sinus congestion rather than a full-blown sinus infection.Some conditions that can cause pain in the upper teeth may be confused with sinus tooth pain. Even if you think your tooth pain is related to your sinuses and should be treated by a doctor, see a dentist to rule out dental problems including:
- Tooth Damage: A fractured or decayed tooth near the sinus cavity has similar symptoms to sinus tooth pain.
- Tooth Grinding: Tooth grinding can cause pain similar to sinus tooth pain.
- Gum Disease: The early stages of gum disease can also cause pain similar to sinus tooth pain.
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Have An Infected Tooth Get Expert Care From Miamisburg Family Dental
At Miamisburg Family Dental, Dr. William Almoney and Dr. Gerald Brown specialize in root canal therapy. Were here to help you get the relief you need from your pain and discomfort and to avoid other complications like sinus infections due to infected teeth. So dont wait. Contact us online or give us a call at 866-5501 to schedule an appointment today.
Can A Tooth Abscess Cause A Sinus Infection
A tooth abscess may cause a sinus infection, as can almost any type of bacterial infection in your upper teeth.
In fact, theres a name for this type of sinus problem: maxillary sinusitis of endodontic origin. The maxillary sinus is located behind the cheekbones close to the roots of the upper back teeth. Therefore an infection in the upper teeth can spread to the maxillary sinus rather easily. Symptoms of this type of sinus infection include post nasal drip and sinus congestion.
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What Are The Clinical Features Of A Dental Sinus
The infected necrotic pulp may cause severe toothache before the sinus or fistula develops. Disappearance of the pain without dental treatment, can be an important clue that the abscess has drained and formed a sinus. However, the process can also occur painlessly.
Intraoral dental sinus may appear as a persistentmouth ulcer that drains pus, causing a bad taste in the mouth. Extraoral dental sinus may present as a persistent, draining sore or as a lump on the face. It is usually painless. The discharge may be pus or blood-stained. The sinus opening may be observed on careful examination.
Because toothache is usually absent, the patient frequently presents to a doctor rather than a dentist. As extraoral dental sinus is a rare condition it is often misdiagnosed initially as a more common skin condition such as a skin cancer, boil or other skin infection, pyogenicgranuloma, trauma, foreign body or other granuloma, cyst or one of the other forms of face and neck sinuses and fistulae.
Recurrence despite antibiotics or surgery is a clue to the correct diagnosis.
An obviously decayed tooth in the mouth or a history of a deep filling usually suggests which is the offending tooth. The relevant tooth may be discoloured or tender when tapped. There may be evidence of previous dental or endodontic work or of poor oral hygiene generally.
Extraoral dental sinus
Dental Sinus Infection Symptoms
When an anomalous channel inside your mouth drains from a persistent abscess that originated from a dead or almost dead tooth is called dental sinus.
If someone has a history of past tooth infections and root canal, there is a chance that it will happen again. And this time it can be more dangerous than before.
So, if you feel intense or continuous pain in your mouth, consult with your dentist. If the pain goes away after some time, it may be because of some kind of irritation.
But if the pain remains for more than 24 hour or even two to three days, it can be a dental sinus. So, look out for the common symptoms. They are
- Swelling of your face.
- Pain while eating cold or hot foods.
- Fever or consistent cough.
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Tooth Infections And Sinus Problems
TOOTH DECAY, CAVITIES, AND INFECTIONS can be linked to a variety of other issues, including headaches and sinus problems. Sometimes, sinus problems may even be the only symptoms the patient will experience, so they go to their doctor instead of the endodontist, and the condition is treated as something else.
Tooth Infections And How They Spread
A tooth infection begins when acid from food and drink and from acid-producing bacteria eats a hole in the outer layer of a tooth. If left untreated, the harmful bacteria in the cavity can work their way deeper until they penetrate into the pulp chamber at the core of the tooth, which is connected to the root canals. The bacteria then infects the dental pulp and spreads down the roots, which is usually when biting down becomes painful.
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Sinusitis And Toothache Connection Explained
A sinus inflammation or a sinus infection can cause a severe toothache. You are diagnosed with sinusitis when the tissues surrounding the sinuses get swollen and inflamed. The resulting tooth pain can be a result of drainage from the infection or sinus pressure. Its often felt in the upper back teeth those closer to the sinuses.
How Do You Relieve Sinus Pressure In Your Teeth
Some individuals will find relief from a sinus infection and tooth pain through home treatments. Common strategies include: using a humidifier and/or neti pot, eating spicy foods, staying hydrated, and careful, limited use of over-the-counter medicine.
But patients who struggle with severe sinus infections, sinus infections that wont go away, and chronic sinus infections may need to take a proactive approach.
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A Case Of Sinusitis Caused By A Tooth
This person had chronic sinusitis for the last few years, that started shortly after she had a metal post put into one of her upper back teeth. Upon looking at her x-rays I noticed that the metal post that was put in one of her upper teeth looked like it had pierced through edge of the tooth and gone slightly into the bone. This caused an abscess that was leaking into her sinus.
Heres the x-ray of her upper right teeth:
To make the x-ray below easier to see, the tooth is green, the infection is red, and the sinuses are blue:
Sadly, due to the fracture in the tooth caused by the large metal post, the tooth had to be extracted.
The oral surgeon who extracted the tooth told me that the tip of the tooth broke off just above the metal post, causing the root fragment to get pushed into the sinuses during extraction. He had to open up the sinus to retrieve the root and he was able to suction out a lot of the infection he said it was a pretty bad infection.
How Can You Tell If A Blocked Sinus Is Causing Your Toothache
Theres one MAIN way to know if your tooth pain is due to blocked sinus.
Try bending over. Does the pain increase? If so, your tooth pain is caused by a sinus problem. The pressure shifts in your sinus when you bend over, causing pain in your teeth.
If you experience more pain when you bend over, your toothache is caused by a sinus infection. The pain might also increase right after you have a cold or flu, or when you are on an airplane.
If you have tooth pain related to a blocked sinus, you will experience certain symptoms. One of the main symptoms is that your face, jaw and nasal area will feel tender and sore. Many people describe the pain as a constant dull ache, rather than a sharp pain.
If you feel a sharp and increasing pain, you might have an abscess in your mouth. If you have an abscess, you need to seek treatment right away.
While most people feel their blocked sinus pain in their upper teeth, the ache can spread to the lower teeth as well. This is called referred pain, and it is very common in the mouth. Your dentist or doctor can help to determine what is going on with your teeth and sinuses. Even if you feel pain in an unrelated tooth, theyll be able to determine the real problem.
If any of these sound familiar, it is time to head to the doctor. An acute maxillary sinus infection can go unnoticed for a long time. It can be easily confused with chronic nasal congestion. Your doctor can tell you exactly what is wrong and help you to end the pain.
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Who Gets A Dental Sinus
A dental sinus usually results from a chronicinfection in longstanding necrotic dental pulp . The decay is usually due to caries or trauma. Caries occur due to poor dental hygiene and regular consumption of refined sugars. Other predisposing factors to dental decay include:
- removable dental prostheses
- xerostomia .
Infection is more likely after endodontic work, and in patients that are immunosuppressed, having chemotherapy or suffering from blood dyscrasias.
The direction a sinus takes either within the mouth or to the skin is determined on which tooth is involved and follows the path of least resistance the thickness of the bone as well as muscle attachments and fascial planes direct the route of drainage.
Intraoral dental sinuses usually occur in the sulcus on the cheek side near the tip of the tooth involved.
The majority of extraoral dental sinuses start from a tooth in the lower jaw and drain to the chin or under the chin or jawline . Those originating from a tooth in the upper jaw may drain to the cheek or close to the nose. The site of an extraoral sinus opening is often at quite a distance from the infected tooth.
Can A Tooth Abscess Cause A Sinus Infection Or Heart Disease
When it comes to what brings patients into our Grosse Pointe dental office for oral surgery, its not always about the pain. A tooth abscess is often the first sign of a tooth infection or fracture. A tooth abscess may also cause a sinus infection or headaches, which are also key indicators that you may need a tooth extraction or root canal.
If you have an abscess on your gums, you should seek dental treatment as soon as possible. Abscesses will eventually lead to tooth and gum pain, as well as sinus infections. Further, studies have shown that drainage from the sore may contribute to heart disease.
Following are several things you should know about tooth abscesses and their relationship to sinus infections.
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Signs A Sinus Infection Might Be Causing Your Toothache
People with sinus disease can commonly have tooth pain, said Eugene Chang, MD, an otolaryngologist at BannerUniversity Medical Center Tucson Campus.
Look for these telltale signs that a sinus problem may be driving your pain:
- You have other sinus symptoms besides a toothache.Isolated tooth pain by itself without other sinus symptoms is usually not related to sinus disease, Dr. Chang said. Sinus symptoms could be a runny or stuffy nose, facial pressure, colored nasal discharge, headache, post-nasal drip, cough, sore throat, or a change in your sense of smell.
- Your toothache is in the back of your upper teeth. Your cheek sinuses, also called maxillary sinuses, contact the roots of your upper molars. So, youre more likely to notice a sinus-related toothache there. Toothaches in your bottom teeth or front teeth are less likely to be sinus related.
Your Reoccurring Sinus Infections May Actually Be Caused By Tooth Decay
If you suffer frequent sinus infections, you might want to talk with your dentist about it. It could be your chronic sinus problems stem from a deeply decayed or infected tooth.
Sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in the front of the skull associated with nasal passages. The largest, the maxillary sinuses, are located just behind the cheekbones and above and to the rear of the upper jaw on either side of the face. These sinuses can become painfully congested when infected.
One possible cause for an infection in the maxillary sinus can occur in certain people whose upper back teeth have roots that are close to or even protrude into the sinus. This is normally a minor anatomical feature, unless such a tooth becomes infected.
An infection in teeth with advancing decay or whose nerve tissue has died will eventually reach the root tip through tiny passageways called root canals. If the roots are close to or penetrating the maxillary sinus, the infection could move into the sinus. This is known as Maxillary Sinusitis of Endodontic Origin .
A case of MSEO could potentially go on for years with occasional flare-ups of sinus congestion or post-nasal drip. Because of the nature of the infection within the sinus, the affected tooth itself may not show the normal signs of infection like sensitivity or pain. Doctors may attempt to treat the sinus infection with antibiotics, but because the actual source of the infection is within the tooth, this therapy is often ineffective.
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What Is The Treatment For A Dental Sinus
Removal of the entire tooth or necrotic dental pulp is the only successful treatment for a dental sinus.
Antibiotics such as penicillin or metronidazole may be also required.
The sinus will usually heal 12 weeks after extraction or successful endodontic treatment. There may be residual scarring if biopsies or surgery had been performed. Otherwise there might be a slight dimple or skin surface colour change that usually improves with time.
Is Your Sinus Infection Really A Tooth Infection
This time of year, many people develop sinus infections as a side effect of colds or flus. Often, they will pass without much special care. However, some persist, lasting for weeks or increasing in intensity, which can drive you to a doctor. Sometimes, this will help, but other times it doesnt. If typical treatments arent helping with your sinus infection, it might be time to consider that your infection might not be a sinus infection after all. It could be an infected tooth, which requires special care to treat.
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