27 Oct

Can Allergies Cause Tooth Pain?

From a stuffy nose to an itchy throat, seasonal allergies can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. But did you know that allergies can also cause tooth pain? The team at Lifetime Family Dental can help you understand when tooth pain is a dental emergency or a side effect of something else. We put together this guide about the connection between tooth pain and allergies to help you find relief. 

How Can Allergies Cause Tooth Pain?

Sinus Pain

Seasonal allergies (also known as hayfever) feel like a cold but are actually your body’s reaction to irritants like pollen. One of the symptoms of seasonal allergies is pressure in your sinuses, the air-filled spaces in your skull that connect your nasal cavity to your throat. 

When allergies make the sinuses fill with fluid and become inflamed, they create pressure and pain. Because the roots of your upper back teeth are located near the sinuses, a toothache can sometimes be an allergy symptom. 

Dry Mouth

Allergies can also cause dry mouth, which is when your mouth is unable to produce enough saliva to keep it lubricated. Saliva helps defend your mouth from tooth decay by removing loose plaque, bacteria, and food particles. When saliva production is too low, your risk of tooth decay increases. Dry mouth caused by allergies can lead to cavities, tooth pain, and sensitivity. 

Allergy Symptoms vs. Tooth Decay Symptoms

Seasonal allergy symptoms include:

• Cough
• Fatigue
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Ear congestion
• Sinus pressure
• Nasal congestion
• Tooth pain
• Watery, red, or itchy eyes
• Itchy nose, throat, ears, or roof of the mouth
• Postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat)

Although you don’t need to visit your dentist if your tooth pain is from sinus pressure, you absolutely need professional dental care for tooth decay. It doesn’t matter if it’s caused by allergy-related symptoms or something else, treating tooth pain right away can help prevent tooth decay from getting worse. 

If you’re experiencing tooth decay symptoms on top of allergy symptoms, then your tooth pain could be more than just sinus pressure. Symptoms of tooth decay include:

• Pain when biting down
• Tooth sensitivity (pain when consuming hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks)
• Visible holes (cavities) in your teeth
• Brown, black, or white tooth stains

How to Relieve Dental Pain from Allergies

If your tooth pain is caused by sinus pressure, it should go away after you recover from your seasonal allergies. In the meantime, you can try the following tips to relieve an allergy-related toothache:

• Stay hydrated—drinking water helps thin out nasal mucus, easing sinus pressure.
• Breathe in steam from a hot shower or a pot of boiling water to relieve nasal pressure. 
• Stay indoors and keep the windows closed to reduce your exposure to allergens. 

Toothache Treatment in Gilbert, Arizona

If your tooth pain doesn’t disappear with your allergy symptoms, then it’s time to call the dentist. Ignoring dental pain will only lead to harmful complications and more invasive treatments down the road. 

The compassionate team at Lifetime Family Dental will take a look at your mouth and quickly identify the source of your pain. We’ll discuss which treatment options are right for you, and help you find relief as soon as possible. If you have tooth pain, call us at 480-558-4331 today to schedule an appointment. 

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/27/2022). Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels