Sinus inflammation can cause tooth pain, especially in the maxillary sinuses located above the upper teeth. The pressure from fluid buildup in the sinuses can irritate the surrounding tissue and pinch the nerve to the teeth, resulting in tooth pain. Antibiotics and other treatments may be necessary. Infected teeth can also cause sinus irritation and tooth pain if left untreated.
Sinus inflammation and tooth pain often coincide. Sinus pressure, particularly in the maxillary sinuses, can cause pain to radiate to the jaw and teeth and can be experienced as a toothache. A patient who has a sinus infection might experience dental pain and assume that the problem lies in the mouth, completely overlooking the actual cause.
The maxillary sinuses are cavities in the skull located just above the upper or maxillary teeth. These sinuses are very close to the upper teeth, separated from the roots by only a thin layer of bone tissue. The nerves running to these roots pass through a depression along the lining of the sinuses.
The irritation of the sinuses causes the membranes to produce fluid in the sinus cavity. When the soft tissues of the other sinuses or nasal passages are irritated, this fluid drains away as a postnasal drip. The drainage for the maxillary sinuses, however, is not at the bottom of the cavity, which means that fluid will collect at the base of the sinuses. The fluid not only creates pressure within the sinuses, but it can also irritate the surrounding soft tissue. The irritated tissues swell, further increasing the pressure in the sinuses.
The pressure can directly cause pain in the sinuses, but the teeth can also be affected. The nerve that runs to the teeth is pinched by the pressure in the sinuses and the result is tooth pain. The brain, sensing only that the nerve to the teeth is registering pain, cannot tell that the source of the pain is higher up the nerve.
When a patient reports blocked sinuses and tooth pain, sinus infection is the most likely cause. Tooth pain caused by sinus infection will be a dull ache across the upper teeth and may affect the jaw as well. Sinus pain and other sinusitis symptoms often, but not always, accompany this tooth pain.
Patients with inflamed or infected sinuses and tooth pain will usually need to see a doctor. Antibiotics are often needed to fight the infection. Allergy medications, decongestants, and nasal irrigation may also be recommended, depending on the cause of the inflammation.
An infection of a maxillary tooth could also cause irritation of the maxillary sinuses. Infected teeth are most likely the result of poor oral hygiene and failure to get professional dental care. When the infection reaches the root of the tooth, it could also spread to surrounding tissue, including the sinus membranes. If left untreated, the patient will experience repeatedly infected sinuses and tooth pain.
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