When Teeth Hurt from Seasonal Allergies
When is your child’s toothache not
really a toothache? When the pain results from a seasonal allergy. In the
spring and fall, natural allergens such as flower and tree pollens and molds
can seriously affect some children (and adults, too). Other allergens that can
spark similar reactions year-round include dust mites and animal dander.
Once an allergic child inhales
allergens from the air, the child’s body senses that these substances are
foreign and “need” to be eliminated. So the body produces a response—but that
response is imperfect. It includes the production—and often overproduction—of
thick mucus.
If there is more mucus than
necessary and it can’t be easily discharged, it pools in head cavities called
sinuses. These spaces are normally filled only with air, but they become
receptacles for mucus when it’s produced. The pressure from the overabundant mucus
can lead to a sinus headache.
What does this have to do with the
teeth? The maxillary sinuses are located just above the roots of the back top
teeth (premolars and molars). When these sinuses are swollen and overflowing,
they exert pressure on the roots, causing pain that feels exactly as a
toothache would feel if there were something wrong with a tooth. Symptoms
include oversensitivity to cold, throbbing and pain when biting down or if the
tooth is tapped from the outside.
However, no dental problem actually
exists. Adults have a difficult time telling the difference between a
sinus-induced problem and a true tooth issue; it’s even more difficult for a
child.
So, if your child complains of a
toothache but is also susceptible to seasonal allergies, try to address the
allergic symptoms first and see if the tooth pain lessens. In consultation with
your pediatrician, you may want to try an antihistamine, decongestant and/or
nasal spray.
In some cases, the toothache may be
gone faster than that new box of tissues.
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