What is referred pain?

Question:

“For about two months, been having terrible teeth pain, lower and upper left side.  Ringing and pressure in ears, along with awful headaches.  [I am] going to a second dentist tomorrow [for an opinion], with lots of dizziness.   My lips are inflamed as well as the inside of my mouth.  I have drainage in the back of my throat.  My sinuses are too clear and it hurts when I breathe through my nose.  Does anyone know what this could be?  I am suffering badly.  Thank you.”

Answer:

There are several common causes for tooth pain. Please refer to posted article. Another less well known cause is what is called referred pain. This basically means that the tooth pain may not actually come from the tooth in question, instead it is carried over (or referred) from another tooth or another area in the body (i.e. ear infection).

Causes of Referred Pain

Reasons a tooth may ache due to referred pain include:

• A tooth infection (such as a tooth abscess) that travels to another tooth/teeth
• Referred tooth pain from an ear infection
• Referred tooth pain from heart attack
• Referred tooth pain from trigeminal neuralgia, a condition where there is pain in trigeminal (facial) nerves that supply sensation to teeth.
• Referred tooth pain from a sinus inflammation or infection.

Maxillary Sinus Infection (Sinutitis)

The maxillary sinuses are located in the upper jaw and behind the cheekbones. A sinus infection can be the cause of severe headaches, discomfort or pressure in or below the (eyes), pain in the ears, and upper facial pain. This type of infection affects teeth because of how close teeth in the upper jaw are to the sinuses. Causes of maxillary sinus infection include:

• An allergen (a substance or particles that you are allergic to)
• A ‘bug’ (some kind of virus, bacteria or fungus)
• An oral infection that has travelled to the maxillary sinus

Even small oral infections (for example a tooth cavity or a small tooth abscess) can lead to a maxillary sinus infection.

Symptoms of sinus infection

Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Sinus headache
• Facial pain
• Toothache- this is the most common cause of referred pain in a tooth or teeth
• Cough

It is very important to have a full evaluation and proper diagnosis by a dentist to determine if any oral condition is the cause, or if they can be ruled out, and what treatment is necessary. Good luck with your search for dentists.  We are sure this information can help guide you and your health care provider along the right course towards a proper diagnosis.

We hope that this information was useful to you!

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Teeth Grinding

Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, is a fairly common condition that affects a majority of the adult population (estimates range up to 85%).  It usually occurs while sleeping and the individual is completely unaware that he or she is grinding his teeth.  Unfortunately, this bad habit can lead to a host of other dental problems.

How would I know if I grind my teeth?

• Teeth appear worn down or damaged
• Enamel has been worn down exposing a yellow layer (dentin)
• Experience headaches or migraines in the morning or right after waking up
• Frequent earaches
• Ringing in the ears, especially in the morning
• Sensitive teeth
• Have a loved one observe you in your sleep, grinding of the teeth will occur quite frequently throughout the night
• Facial Pain

What causes teeth grinding [bruxism]?

Causes of bruxism are still under investigation.  However, the most common causes are as follows:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Alcohol
• Sleep disorders
• Malocclusion

How can I treat bruxism?

Effective treatment is still in the research phase.  The best way to prevent and control grinding of the teeth is to wear a nightguard.  This can be purchased over the counter or provided by your dentist.  Also, try to find ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life.  Activities such as deep breathing and yoga have found to be successful in reducing one’s stress level.

Please do not hesitate to visit the dentist if you suspect brusixm.  Grinding of the teeth can lead to several other dental problems including TMJ issues, the need for fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, and even extractions.  Eventually, once the grinding becomes bad, the teeth can loosen and will need to be removed.  This is definitely not an issue to take lightly.

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