Blooming flowers, budding trees, and itchy watery eyes - hooray spring is here. For those of us with allergies, spring is prime time for those pesky seasonal allergy flare ups.
But aside from just having a runny nose or itchy eyes - did you know that spring allergies can create toothache symptoms? See below for 3 ways allergies can affect your oral health:
Tooth Pain: Sinus pressure, possibly one of the worst symptoms of seasonal allergies. Our bodies respond to pollen and other allergens by producing mucus which leads to congestion and pressure. Since your sinus cavities are located at the very top of the roof of the mouth, when the sinuses swell from congestion, inflammation, or infection, they tend to press on the roof of the mouth and cause pain in the nerves of the teeth. Antihistamines commonly relieve congestion, which in turn rids the tooth pain - but if it doesn’t, give us a call!
Sore Throat: Another common complaint of allergy sufferers is a sore throat, which is more often than not caused by postnasal drip. Once mucus increases in the sinuses, the overflow starts to ‘drip’ down the back of the throat leading to throat irritation, and a sore or swollen feeling.
Dry Mouth: While antihistamines help to relieve congestion, they also come with some side effects - like dry mouth! Problem is, saliva is what protects the mouth and teeth from bacteria and the lack of it can lead to future cavities, bad breath, and gingivitis. So be sure to keep hydrated this season!
Should your children experience any of the above this allergy season and are unsure if its allergies or actually an infected tooth, give us a call to schedule an appointment.
But aside from just having a runny nose or itchy eyes - did you know that spring allergies can create toothache symptoms? See below for 3 ways allergies can affect your oral health:
Tooth Pain: Sinus pressure, possibly one of the worst symptoms of seasonal allergies. Our bodies respond to pollen and other allergens by producing mucus which leads to congestion and pressure. Since your sinus cavities are located at the very top of the roof of the mouth, when the sinuses swell from congestion, inflammation, or infection, they tend to press on the roof of the mouth and cause pain in the nerves of the teeth. Antihistamines commonly relieve congestion, which in turn rids the tooth pain - but if it doesn’t, give us a call!
Sore Throat: Another common complaint of allergy sufferers is a sore throat, which is more often than not caused by postnasal drip. Once mucus increases in the sinuses, the overflow starts to ‘drip’ down the back of the throat leading to throat irritation, and a sore or swollen feeling.
Dry Mouth: While antihistamines help to relieve congestion, they also come with some side effects - like dry mouth! Problem is, saliva is what protects the mouth and teeth from bacteria and the lack of it can lead to future cavities, bad breath, and gingivitis. So be sure to keep hydrated this season!
Should your children experience any of the above this allergy season and are unsure if its allergies or actually an infected tooth, give us a call to schedule an appointment.
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