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.