BEWARE: Allergy Season vs. Your Teeth
Are you experiencing sinus pressure accompanied by tooth pain? Perhaps dry mouth or mouth breathing? What about postnasal drip and bad breath? If any of those unpleasant feelings ring a bell to you, you may be suffering from seasonal allergies!
That's right! Allergies tend to cause sinus inflammation, which ultimately puts pressure on your upper back teeth causing an aching or sensitivity that feels like a toothache.
As if that's not frustrating enough, if your allergies are making it difficult to breathe through your nose, you may find yourself "mouth breathing" to get by. How does that implicate your teeth? Breathing through your mouth more prominently can dry out oral tissues, which directly contributes to tooth decay and gum inflammation.
What about that pesky postnasal drip that just WON'T go away? Unfortunately, the excess mucus breeds bacteria, causing bad breath and throat irritation to boot.
Using allergy medications to get by? Allergy medications may help, but they also reduce saliva production, making you more prone to cavities, gum disease, and persistent bad breath.
Okay, enough with the bad news already! Since there is no stopping allergy season year-after-year, how do you protect your smile during this trying time?
- You stay hydrated! Hydration is key to combat dry mouth.
- Brush and floss regularly to remove excess mucus and bacteria.
- Consider a sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow on those dry days.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: see your top-rated dentist in Old Bridge, NJ at Old Bridge Dental! While your discomfort may be allergies, you should never let pain go unchecked. If your pain is not related to allergies, you want to get it taken care of before it becomes a much more painful problem. And if you're not sure when your last cleaning was, let's check that off your Spring-Cleaning list while you're at it!
