You wake up with a dull, throbbing ache in your upper back teeth, and your nose feels stuffy too. Is it a cavity, or is it your sinuses? The two can feel remarkably similar, which is why so many people end up guessing, and sometimes treating the wrong problem for days.
At Forest Smiles in Forest, Virginia, Dr. Shane Claiborne, Dr. Emma Schmidt, and Dr. Maysa Nasir help patients throughout Lynchburg, Bedford, and Amherst County sort out whether their pain is coming from a tooth or from somewhere else.
Why Can a Sinus Infection Feel Like a Toothache?
The answer comes down to location. According to UCLA Health, the maxillary sinuses sit in the cheekbones, just above the upper molars.
When those sinuses become inflamed and filled with pressure, the roots of nearby teeth can become irritated, causing a dull ache that mimics a toothache. The Cleveland Clinic also lists pressure or pain in the teeth as a common symptom of a sinus infection, along with facial pain, a stuffy or runny nose, and sometimes a fever.
Signs Your Pain May Be Coming From Your Sinuses
Sinus-related tooth pain tends to have a few telltale features. The ache is often felt in several upper teeth at once rather than in one specific tooth, and it usually feels like pressure rather than a sharp jab.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, facial pressure from a sinus infection, particularly around the nose, eyes, and forehead, often gets worse when you move your head or bend over. Other clues include postnasal drip, thick yellow or green mucus, ear pressure, a cough, bad breath, and general tiredness.
If your tooth pain showed up alongside a cold or allergy flare-up, your sinuses are a likely suspect.
Signs Your Pain May Be Coming From a Tooth
Pain from a true dental problem, such as a cavity, a cracked tooth, or an infection at the root, often behaves differently.
It tends to be sharp, throbbing, or focused on one specific tooth, and it may flare up when you bite down or when you eat or drink something hot, cold, or sweet. Swelling in the gums, a bump near the tooth, or a bad taste in the mouth can also point to a dental infection rather than a sinus issue.
Pain that is confined to one spot and does not change when you bend over or lie down deserves a closer look from a dentist.
Can You Have Both at the Same Time?
Yes, and that is part of what makes this tricky. A sinus infection can make a healthy tooth hurt, but an infected upper tooth can also contribute to sinus problems, and a person can certainly have a cavity and a cold at the same time.
This is exactly why self-diagnosing is unreliable, and why a quick dental exam can save you days of discomfort.
What You Can Try at Home
If your symptoms point toward a sinus infection, the Cleveland Clinic notes that home care often helps, including decongestants, over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, nasal saline rinses, and plenty of fluids.
UCLA Health adds that saline rinses can help loosen thick mucus, and it stresses using only distilled or sterile water, or water that has been boiled for three minutes and cooled, since tap water can carry microorganisms that cause serious infections.
Many sinus infections clear up within a week to ten days. If symptoms have not improved after ten days, the Cleveland Clinic recommends checking in with a healthcare provider.
When to Get Help Right Away
Some symptoms should not wait. Contact a dentist promptly if you have a toothache that does not ease, swelling in your face or gums, or pain that wakes you at night.
The Cleveland Clinic advises going to the emergency room for signs of a serious infection, including a high fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, confusion, vision changes, pain or swelling around the eyes, seizures, or a stiff neck.
How Forest Smiles Can Help
If you are not sure what is causing your pain, Dr. Claiborne, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Nasir can examine the area, take X-rays when needed, and check for decay, cracks, or infection.
If a tooth is the source, we can treat it, whether that means a filling, a crown, or root canal therapy. If your teeth look healthy and your symptoms point toward your sinuses, we will let you know so you can follow up with your physician rather than spending time and money on dental treatment you do not need. For patients with severe pain, we also offer emergency dental appointments.
Do Not Guess When Your Tooth Hurts
Sinus pressure and tooth pain can feel nearly identical, but the treatments are completely different. A quick exam is the fastest way to know which one you are dealing with.
If your upper teeth are aching and you are not sure why, call Forest Smiles at 434-944-9763 or request an appointment online.