Why Do I Get Toothaches If I Have Sinusitis?

A sinus infection can cause your teeth to ache - especially in the upper teeth, which are close to the sinuses. This is fairly common. If you have a persistent toothache, it is always better to see your dentist first for an exam. If your dentist rules out a dental cause for your toothache, your symptoms may be caused by a sinus infection or other underlying medical condition.

So, why do my teeth ache?
Toothaches caused by sinus infection can occur when the maxillary molars, the roots of the upper back teeth, extend into the maxillary sinus cavity. To see if this is the case, your dentist can take a periapical x-ray that shows the sinus area above the tooth roots.

How will I know if my toothache is caused by a sinus infection?
The first thing most dentists perform is a percussion test. The dentist gently taps on the tops of the teeth to see which teeth hurt. In most cases, when there is a dental problem, only one tooth will hurt when tapped. All your teeth will hurt if it is a sinus problem.

When you have sinusitis, your nasal passages or sinuses fill up with liquid and cause the sinus cavity to appear white and murky in a periapical x-ray. A normal sinus looks black in an x-ray.

What do I need to do to treat the infection?
In most cases, prescribing antibiotics for 10 - 14 days will eliminate the infection. If the pain does not resolve after the round of antibiotics, you should see an experienced ear, nose and throat physician to determine why the problem persists.

My teeth still ache. What is happening?
Your condition may be chronic and a repeating sinus infection toothache is one of the symptoms.

What should I do for the pain?
There are some home techniques that can be helpful with the pain you are experiencing. Nasal sea salt sprays and washes can be bought from most pharmacies. Using these sprays or washes several times a day will keep your nasal tissues moist and this will allow the sinus to easily drain into the nose. Relieving the pressure in the nasal passages will also help relieve the pain in your teeth.

What can I do to treat my chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis can be bacterial or non infectious. Both have different medical treatment options. Many people with non infectious cases respond to topical or oral steroids or nasal wash systems.

Depending on the severity of your infection, there are different treatment options your doctor may consider. Generally, antibiotics will be involved for bacterial cases. In worst case scenarios, sinus surgery can be done.

Chronic sinusitis can be difficult to treat because treatment may require the coordinated efforts of several specialists to treat all of the aspects of the disease. If antibiotic treatment fails, allergy testing, desensitization, and/or surgery may be recommended as the effective means for treating chronic sinusitis. A vast majority of people who undergo surgery have fewer symptoms and a better quality of life.