Can a bad tooth cause sinus problems?

A toothache, or the pain caused by one or more teeth, can be quite unpleasant and distracting, but it usually isn’t dangerous and shouldn’t cause any lasting problems if treated properly. You may be surprised to learn that oral health can affect your sinuses, even though your mouth and sinuses aren’t located near each other in your body. In this article, we’ll explain, can a bad tooth cause sinus problems.

What is the connection between your mouth and your sinuses?

It is hard to say because the different bacteria in your mouth can have other effects on your sinuses. For example, dental work such as cavities and root canal treatments that affect the teeth will likely also impact the gums or dentin supporting those teeth. When these areas are infected or inflamed, they might produce cytokines which are inflammation-inducing proteins. If these cytokines get past the bone barrier and into the soft tissue surrounding your nose and eyes. They can trigger an immune response, leading to long-term problems with your sense of smell and taste.

Can poor ORAL HYGIENE cause sinuses?

Let’s look at two popular health conditions to learn if there is any correlation between the mouth and sinuses. The first is called Sinusitis. Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis, happens when your nasal passage or throat becomes inflamed and swollen due to an infection or allergy in the nose or the Eustachian tube near the ears. The second condition is gum disease, which is a periodontal disease. Periodontal disease occurs when tartar and plaque build up on your teeth and under your gums, leading to inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. Gum disease happens gradually, so it often goes undetected for many years until it worsens.

What are the symptoms of Sinus Infections?

Is your oral hygiene routine just not cutting it for you? Your poor oral hygiene could be to blame for your chronic Sinusitis. That may result in frequent bouts of the dreaded postnasal drip that is sure to clog up the old bronchial tubes. 

Here’s what happened: The bacteria and plaque that form on teeth can lead to inflammation and infection of the gums or teeth. This infection can then spread to other parts of the body through tiny blood vessels called sinuses which lead into your lungs. Allergies usually cause sinus infections. But they can also cause by conditions such as the common cold or nasal congestion due to inhaling smoke from fires (yikes). The main symptom of a sinus infection is persistent nasal congestion, with associated symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat, and fever. A person who suffers from chronic Sinusitis will experience these symptoms daily at least three months out of the year.

How to deal with Sinus Infections?

Many people wonder if a Sinus Infection causes by the common cold or other upper respiratory tract infections. This is not true. A cold cannot in itself cause Sinuses to become infected. Still, it may worsen an existing condition of congested nasal passages that leads to postnasal drip that may become infected. Some causes of a postnasal bubble are allergies, chronic dry mouth, increased sensitivity to odors from cigarette smoke or pollution, and irritants such as smoke or fumes. A bad tooth could also lead to these same conditions of postnasal drip and be the root cause of your Sinus Infection symptoms.

The root cause of Sinus Infections

Sinus infections are typically the result of inflammation in your nasal passages, usually caused by an allergy or cold. Inflammation in your nasal passages causes them to swell and narrow the openings that let air pass through. Your mucous membranes swell, making it difficult for them to work properly and clear away infection-causing secretions. In this state, you’re more likely to develop a secondary bacterial infection as bacteria and viruses (particularly rhinoviruses) can gain easy access to your system.