Sinus Infection and Toothache: Know the Connection

31 Mar Sinus Infection and Toothache: Know the Connection

There are few experiences worse than tooth pain. The aching and throbbing in your mouth can lead to headaches and even nausea or joint pain. That being said, the root cause of your toothache may not be in your teeth. Instead, you may be experiencing pain caused by a blocked sinus. For this reason, it is important to know the connection between a sinus infection and a toothache.

Are your sinus infection and toothache connected?

With your teeth and sinuses stacked on top of each other, it is understandable how their pain can be related. With that, there is an easy way for you to determine if that is the case for you and your toothache.

To know if a sinus infection and toothache are connected, simply bend over. If the pain increases, your tooth pain is most likely because of a sinus problem. This is because bending over shifts the pressure in your sinuses, thus causing pain in your teeth. Other toothache symptoms related to sinus problems include facial pressure and soreness in the jaw and nasal area. Often sinus-related tooth pain occurs in the upper teeth, but the aching often can radiate to the lower jaw as well, which is known as “referred pain”.  The pain is also often described as a constant aching rather than a sharp jabbing pain. Sharp pain in the jaw may be an abscess, which should be treated as soon as possible.

Treating tooth pain caused by a sinus infection

If these symptoms sound familiar and have lasted more than a week, it is time to make an appointment with your dentist to examine the issue and discuss treatment. With their expertise and help, you can treat the root cause and end your tooth pain. Even if you are experiencing pain in an unrelated tooth, your dentist will be able to determine the real problem and provide a solution.