Sinus Toothache and Dental Toothache - How to Tell the difference

It is difficult to tell whether a toothache in the upper jaw comes from a sinus infection or from a dental problem.

Why?

Dental Health

Because many of their symptoms overlap:

Sinus Toothache and Dental Toothache - How to Tell the difference

1. The roots of the upper back molars increase into the maxillary sinus cavities. This means that when the maxillary sinuses are infected, the increased pressure caused by trapped mucous, pushes down on the roots thereby displacing them slightly. This causes the upper jaw to ache, followed by a throbbing toothache. Other symptoms of maxillary sinus infection are facial tenderness and swelling in the cheek area. This single pain is not dental related.
2. On the other hand, if the toothache is caused by tooth decay or other dental problems, 'referred' pain will increase up the U shaped root cavity (called the alveolar), into the maxillary sinus. This will also cause facial tenderness and swelling in the cheek area.

It is also worth mentioning that the maxillary sinuses are the most ordinarily infected sinuses. This is because drainage from these cavities is not assisted by gravity.

In other words, drainage is difficult because the lowest pockets of these cavities where mucus tends to accumulate, are below nostril level during waking hours. Mucous must therefore tour upwards while the body is erect.

Since sinus infection is ordinarily caused by bacteria multiplying in pockets of stagnant mucous, sinusitis induced toothache is a relatively coarse complaint.

How to tell the difference

• Sinus toothache normally accompanies sinus infection in the maxillary sinuses.
• Sinus toothache occurs when pressure build-up from maxillary sinus infection presses down on the exposed roots of the upper back molars. Even experienced dentists sometime have strangeness in differentiating in the middle of sinus toothache and dental toothache.

Apart from a throbbing toothache, symptoms of sinus toothache include:

1. Facial swelling.
2. Swollen gums.
3. Facial tenderness in the cheek area.
4. Fever.
5. Sinus headache.
6. General feeling of malaise.
7. Prolific nasal dismissal and/or postnasal drip.

Dental Toothache:

• Dental toothache is caused by tooth or gum disease and can be identified by the absence of sinus infection.
• Dental toothache can sway any of your teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw. If toothache occurs in the lower set of teeth, it is approximately for real caused by one or more dental problem.
• Dental toothache symptoms include:
  • *Facial swelling
  • *Swollen gums
  • *Facial tenderness
  
  

Can Dental Disease Cause Sinusitis?

If the rear upper molars come to be infected, the reply is yes. As mentioned above, the Maxillary sinuses and the mouth (oral cavity) are associated by a U shaped opportunity called the alveolar. This cavity is occupied by the roots of the upper back molars.

If you suffer from periodontal disease (gingivitis) or make an abscess below the gum line, bacteria will tend to migrate up the alveolar and invade the maxillary sinuses, thereby causing sinus infection.

Sinus Toothache and Dental Toothache - How to Tell the difference