Sinus inflammation and tooth problems can often have similar symptoms, making it difficult to determine the root cause of your discomfort. This can cause you to ascribe tooth pain to something like allergies and fail to get timely dental care. Our dentist in West Windsor, Dr. Sunny Thakkar, tells you how to spot the differences between these two types of pain and why they’re often confused.
Sinus Pain Causes
This pain is caused by inflammation in the sinus cavities, which then causes pressure. That pressure can cause pain and discomfort in the forehead, cheeks, and behind the eyes. Inflammation could be accompanied by symptoms like headache, congestion, runny nose, and post-nasal drip. Sinus pain is triggered by allergies, colds, or sinus infections.
Dental Pain Causes
You could experience tooth pain because of:
- Cavities or Decay
- Cracked Teeth
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding or Clenching)
- Impacted Teeth
- Abscesses
- Gum Disease
Something very specific to tooth problems is sensitivity to temperatures or flavors. Pain or discomfort when consuming hot, cold, or sweet food and drink tends to directly point to a tooth issue that needs resolving by a dentist.
What treatment you need depends on the source of your pain. Cavities could need fillings, cracked teeth require crowns or root canals, impacted teeth might need extraction, and gum disease can be treated with deep cleanings. An experienced dentist, like Dr. Thakkar at Smile Flossophy, can trace the source of your pain and form the right treatment plan.
Why It’s Hard to Identify Which Is Which
The sinus cavities in your cheeks are right above your teeth. In fact, for some people, the roots of their teeth actually extend into the sinus cavity. When these sinuses get inflamed, that inflammation puts pressure on your teeth.
The opposite is also sometimes the case. Bad tooth infections can spread into the sinus cavity, causing chronic sinus problems. If you keep having sinus issues without a known source, the culprit could actually be your teeth.
Jaw and Ear Pain Are Also Often Confused
Patients sometimes think they have an ear infection when they actually suffer from a problem with their jaw, like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Our orthodontic care team can treat jaw pain, whether it’s stemming from a specific tooth or due to a condition like TMD. A simple but effective treatment is a nightguard.
How Our Dentist Tells the Difference
When you come to us with pain, we examine your teeth by visually checking your mouth as well as testing for pain or sensitivity. That could mean tapping on teeth or applying cold to potentially sensitive spots.
Dental X-rays also allow us to check for signs of inflammation. We can see if you have tooth fractures, decay, or an infection. These scans can show if your tooth roots are extending into your sinuses, and we can sometimes even see a sinus infection.
Check with Smile Flossophy for Any Tooth Pain
Even if we end up determining that you have a sinus problem, not a dental one, we won’t kick you out of our office for checking! Not only are you always welcome to bring your questions and concerns to our dentist in West Windsor, NJ, we prefer it. We would rather you come to us for any tooth or jaw pain, especially because delaying care can make your condition worse. Reach out now for an appointment if you are experiencing any pain.
