Tooth Pain and Colds Go Hand-In-Hand

Maybe it has happened to you before. You find yourself coming down with a cold and in addition to the aches, pains and stuffy nose, you also experience tooth pain! Many different factors can cause tooth pain including tooth decay, gradual exposure or damage of the tooth root from gingivitis and gum disease, grinding teeth, clenching, or cracked teeth among other possibilities. The pain can range from a sharp jolt, like when a cold or hot beverage hits a sensitive tooth, to a dull ache made worse by biting down or chewing something hard. If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, you should make an appointment at a dental office as soon as possible. However, for mild pain, while it can be annoying, it is usually nothing to panic about—especially if it’s cold and flu season.    

Stuffy Noses and Aching Molars Can Cause Tooth Pain

Usually, the sinuses, the four small pockets found behind the bones that make up your face, are filled with air. When you come down with a cold, your sinuses become inflamed. The sinuses also produce mucus, which is meant to drain into the nasal cavity to help clean out whatever bacteria or viruses are causing the inflammation. Inflammed and blocked sinuses put pressure on the roots of the teeth located just below them. The resulting ache is usually localized to the upper molars. If your sinuses are very inflamed or mucus builds up it is not unusual to feel pain in other parts of your mouth as well. 

Take it Easy, Take a Shower, and Avoid the Dental Office

Unless you are in severe pain, dental offices will often advise you to stay home until you are feeling better, to help control the spread of cold and flu. Often just a little bit of rest is enough to ease aching tooth pain caused by a cold or sinus condition. If not, over-the-counter pain medications can help to reduce inflammation. You can also try home remedies such as nasal rinses or simply take a shower and breathe in the warm steam to help reduce congestion. Once the stuffiness is gone, the pain will go with it. 

But wait, there’s more!

When you are healthy, your nose and sinuses serve to filter the air that you breathe in, adding moisture and trapping bacteria and other particles before they get too far. But when your nose is blocked with a winter cold, you breathe in the cold dry air through your mouth. All that air dries out your mouth and gums and makes them more susceptible to infections like canker sores, and cold sores. You may also notice bleeding gums when you brush. Be sure to keep up your oral care routine including brushing and flossing and everything should return to normal once you’re feeling better.  

Time to Find a Dentist Near Me for Tooth Pain

In the event that the pain does not go away with your cold, you should make an appointment at a dentist in Midland as soon as you can. There may be other issues that, while not caused by the cold, were exacerbated by it. 

Dr. Ranny Sidhu and the Midland Bay Dental team provide family dental and cosmetic dentistry in the community of Midland, Ontario. Call the office or make an appointment for your next dental checkup, for a dental emergency or to learn more about cosmetic procedures including dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures.