Do you have sinus pressure or a toothache?

A toothache can be caused by several factors including sinus pressure. But, no matter what the cause, a toothache hurts. To determine how best to alleviate toothache pain it is important to find out its cause. Your dentist can help with this but to assist your dentist it is helpful if you can describe the pain.

 

Toothache From Sinus Pressure

CAUSE:

Several sinus passages are located behind your cheekbones. When one or more of these passages is inflamed or infected, swelling and congestion occurs resulting in pressurization on the upper back teeth. You may think the pain is a toothache, but the pain is actually the pressure on the nerves entering the roots of your teeth.

HOW IT FEELS:

• Pain is felt on both sides of the face and only in the upper back teeth.
• It feels like more than one tooth is affected.
• There is no sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, but it hurts to chew or bite.
• It is most likely not a toothache if you press down directly on a tooth and don’t experience immediate pain.
• You are experiencing some sinus related issues such as a blocked or runny nose, a cough or sore throat, and pain around or behind your cheekbones. You also may have pain when moving your head up and down.

TREATMENT:

Contact Cornerstone Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist will perform a dental exam and digital x-rays (if needed) to determine the cause of your pain. If a sinus infection is the cause of your pain, it will be treated with a single round of antibiotics.

 

Toothache From Other Causes

CAUSE:

A toothache can be caused by dental issues such as tooth decay, an abscess, cracked or damaged teeth, a loose or broken filling, from grinding your teeth or an infection.

HOW IT FEELS:

• Sharp or throbbing pain is localized in or around a tooth or in a specific area in your mouth.
• The affected tooth may hurt when exposed to hot or cold temperatures and when chewing or biting.

TREATMENT:

Contact Cornerstone Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist will perform a dental exam and digital x-rays (if needed) to determine the cause of your pain. If tooth decay, an abscess, a broken or loose filling or other dental issues are the cause of your pain, dental treatment followed by antibiotics will be required.

Whatever the cause of your pain, rest assured it can be treated and there is no need to suffer. We are happy to help.

 

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Sources:

Evison, Angela DDS
Is it Sinus or Tooth Pain?

Is It Sinus Or Tooth Pain?

Highland Dental Group
How To Identify A Toothache vs Sinus Pressure
www.salemdentistma.com/how-to-identify-a-toothache-vs-sinus-pressure

West U Family Dental
Is it Sinus Pressure or a Toothache?
http://westufamilydental.com/2017/08/is-it-sinus-pressure-or-a-toothache/