Your Sinus Infection: Signs You Should See The Dentist For It
Sinus infections are relatively common ailments that many people have and can affect anyone at any time. Often caused by the common cold virus or other intrusion, a sinus infection can cause pain in the ears, upper quadrants of the face, and can even cause pain in the teeth, gums, and jaw.
When you have a sinus infection, it might be dental-related, which means you'll need to see your dentist to get full relief from your symptoms. When should you see the dentist for your sinus infection? Here are the signs that you should.
Your sinus infection isn't going away
The average sinus infection clears on its own within 10 days, or a week and a half or so. Any sinus infection that is lingering past this point likely has underlying issues that are causing it to stick around. One of them is this: an infected or abscessed tooth. If it's been a while since you have been to the dentist and your sinus infection just won't go away, then it might be that your mouth is causing your sinus infection, in part or wholly.
How? The sinus cavities and your mouth are closely related and are all part of the upper respiratory system. If you have an ongoing sinus infection, or one that seems to ease up for a few days then returns, your oral health might have something to do with it.
Your sinus infection is causing bad breath or sore teeth
If your sinus infection is going hand-in-hand with bad breath or your teeth are sore at the same time, then one of two things is likely. Either your sinus infection has spread to include your mouth and gums, causing a bacterial infection that makes your breath smell, or your bad breath and sore teeth are the underlying cause of your sinus infection in the first place.
Either way, sore teeth and bad breath are not good signs, with or without a sinus infection, and should be inspected to see what is causing the problem. A quick exam from your dentist can determine what your issue is, and even if your sinus infection turns out to not be related to your teeth after all, you'll have a clean bill of health and will be able to seek other medical treatment.
If needed, your dentist may be able to prescribe you antibiotics to help ease your sinus infection. Keep in mind that dental issues may only be partly to blame, so continue to use all antibiotics until you have shown vast improvement in your sinus infection and have depleted your prescription. A follow-up appointment should then give you the all-clear in the end.
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