Straight Teeth in Less Time
Toothaches Unrelated To Dental Health
Lois Murray
While many toothaches are related to cavities, periodontal disease, and tooth infections, they may occur in the absence of oral pathology. Because of this, it is essential that you make an appointment with your dentist to determine the cause. Once the cause of your toothache has been uncovered, a treatment plan can then be initiated. Here are some toothache causes that may be the result of medical problems rather than dental conditions.
Bacterial Sinusitis
If you have bacterial sinusitis, you may develop severe nasal congestion and your sinuses may swell, placing pressure on your teeth. When this happens, you may develop toothaches in the top row of your teeth as well as gum inflammation.
Another way that bacterial sinusitis can cause toothaches is if the bacteria from infectious nasal mucus drips down into your oral cavity. When this happens, the bacteria-rich mucus may cause a gum infection or may invade the pulp of a tooth, causing an abscess. If you experience nasal congestion, green or yellow mucus, or sinus pain that is accompanied by a toothache or generalized dental pain, let your dentist know. Bacterial sinusitis is treated with oral antibiotics and once the infection has been treated, your dental pain will also subside.
Low Bone Density
Low bone density caused by osteoporosis or from side effects from certain medications can cause destruction of your jaw and damage the bones supporting your teeth. This can cause tooth shifting and crowding, which can increase your risk for toothaches. Low bone density may also heighten the risk for bite abnormalities, also called malocclusions. An uneven bite can make chewing painful and further stress your jaw, causing dental pain.
If you have osteoporosis or if you take medications that may decrease your bone density, see both your primary care physician and your dentist. Once low bone density has been treated, progression of jawbone damage may slow, easing dental pain and toothaches. In the meantime, consider taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen to ease your toothache so that your teeth do not hurt when chewing your food.
If you have persistent dental pain, see your dentist as soon as possible. After they take a thorough medical and dental history from you, they will perform an examination to determine the source of your dental pain. Once the cause has been determined, your dentist will recommend the appropriate treatment options to help ease your symptoms.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.