Is Your Child's Seasonal Allergy Responsible For Their Toothaches?
Sometimes it feels like every time you turn around, your child is complaining about a new body ache or pain. Because a child grows so fast and experiences growing pains as they age, many parents ponder whether an urgent trip to a medical professional is required or not. A regular toothache is always a cause for concern in a child because untreated dental decay affects 1 in 4 Australian children. However, when your family dentist has cleared your child's mouth of cavities, what else could be behind their toothache? The answer could lie in their seasonal allergies, so here are the facts you need to know.
What Is Sinusitis?
Each parent has their own method for treating their child's seasonal allergies. However, when treatment is not effective or the pollen count gets too high, then allergies can be difficult to contain. When an allergy flares up, then the membranes within the sinus cavity become inflamed and congested. This inflammation is also known as sinusitis.
How Does Sinusitis Impact Teeth?
If your child is complaining about a toothache in the back of their mouth, then it is possible sinusitis is the culprit. The reason for pointing this finger of blame is because the back upper teeth are located quite close to the sinus passage. When the sinus passage is inflamed, then the corresponding pain moves down the nerve endings to the teeth. The pain is actually originating in the sinus area but is close enough to the teeth that it represents itself as a toothache.
Treatment Of Sinusitis
The treatment of sinusitis does require a trip to the doctor for antibiotics, but it is also important to follow this up with a dental visit if the pain does not abate. This dental check is needed because the inflammation from the sinus infection puts pressure on the roots of the teeth as the gum swells. If the gum is swollen for too long and that pressure is not relieved, the possibility of permanent nerve damage is possible.
So, if your child is experiencing regular toothaches and they coincide with the allergy flare-ups, then it is quite likely the two problems are linked. Make sure your dentist is aware that your child experiences allergy issues so they can check the sinus area as a possible cause. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to childhood dental pain so that your child does not end up as a statistic of untreated dental decay.
Contact a family dentist in your area for more information.
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