While a beautiful sight, this can be a miserable time for allergy sufferers. As pollen counts rise, you suddenly find yourself with itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose and sinus pain. More than this, spring allergies can greatly affect your dental health.
Tooth Pain
You have several sinus cavities in your head. The maxillary sinuses are the most affected by allergies. When your allergies flare up, the sinuses become congested. As they fill up, pressure builds. Your maxillary sinus cavities are located very close to your upper jaw. When the pressure builds up, your sinuses press up against the roots of your teeth, causing inflammation. This then leads to sensitivity and pain.Dry Mouth
Allergies, and certain allergy medications can also cause dry mouth, a condition in which your saliva flow is inhibited. Saliva is essential for oral health. It does more than just keep your mouth moist.Saliva is your mouth's natural defense against oral bacteria. It contains enzymes that kill the bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. When you don't have a sufficient saliva flow, your mouth becomes dry, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
What Can You Do?
There are several things you can do to help treat your allergies. An air purifier in your home can help to remove allergens from the air. An antihistamine can help with congestion and other allergy symptoms, but you should also be aware that they can cause dry mouth. Drink plenty of water. Cool compresses can aid in pain from sinus pressure, while a vaporizer or warm shower can help to clear them out.
If your teeth are bothering you this spring, this very well could be the effect of allergies. However, if you are managing your allergies and your tooth pain persists, it is important that you contact our office right away to rule out an infection or other oral health issue.