A sinus infection occurs when bacteria infect the sinus linings. The results are uncomfortable symptoms, including facial pain, runny nose, headache, and tooth pain.
This article will examine why a person experiences tooth abscess related to their sinus infection and when to call a doctor.
Table of Contents
Can a sinus infection cause a toothache?
A sinus infection causes dental pain. The various common sinus infection site that causes dental pain is the maxillary sinus.
The sinuses, teeth, and gums all share related nerves that can transmit pain signals.
Inflammation due to sinus infection or dental infection can press on these nerves, leading to pain. Therefore, a person interprets these signals as dental pain.
Can a dental disease cause a sinus infection?
A dental infection causes a sinus infection.
A data review from 2012 estimated 40% of chronic maxillary sinus infections was due to dental infections.
Some studies considered this amount about 10-15%, but advances in imaging and CT scans have revealed dental infections as a common underlying cause.
A person with this infection type has maxillary sinus infection symptoms. In addition, they may have the following risk factors relating to their teeth:
- History of the jaw or dental pain
- History of or dental infection
- History of endodontic, oral, or periodontal surgery, tooth extractions
Sinus toothache vs. regular toothache
A doctor will look at variations in symptoms to help diagnose a toothache that a sinus infection is causing or a dental problem.
A sinus infection can cause:
- Check with a person’s sense of smell
- One-sided nasal obstruction, or a stuffy nose
- Runny nose
Signs that can differ from sinusitis and could indicate a dental problem include:
- Dental pain with temperature changes when eating or drinking cold or hot
- Facial swelling
- Gum swelling
Abscess tooth not responding to antibiotics
If oral antibiotics do not fix the abscess, you’ll need to return to the dentist. In some cases, you’ll need to visit the dentist for treatment of the infected tooth. This is when IV antibiotics are needed.
This is the case when you first notice the abscess. An abscess might not show severe, but it is a severe medical condition. You can reduce the pain with OTC pain relief, but you need to see a dentist for urgent attention.
Alternative Treatment Options
Medical treatment
An exception to treating sinus at home is when a person has a fever, or the infection appears to have spread beyond the sinuses, such as into the ears.
Someone with pus-filled nasal discharge also benefits from antibiotics. Treatment for sinusitis is amoxicillin. If a person is allergic to amoxicillin, a doctor orders clarithromycin.
If a person experiences sinusitis that affects their breathing and quality of life, their doctor recommends sinus surgery.
Surgery can increase sinus passages to reduce the possibility of infection and irritation occurring.
When to see a doctor?
A person experiences the following symptoms:
- Sinus pain
- Fever that lasts more than 2–4 days
- Dental pain
- Inability to eat or drink related to dental
- Symptoms that last more than ten days without any improvement
If a person has sinus infections for a year, they should seek medical treatment. A doctor can guide them on how to reduce the risks of chronic infections.
Conclusion
Tooth pain can be a symptom of an acute sinus infection. However, a dental infection can turn into a sinus infection.
A person should not ignore symptoms if they continue beyond several days and seek medical attention.
Which medications do you use from above list to treat yourself? Let me know in the comments below.
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