Toothaches Which Lead to Headaches! Help

Hi E.,
The first onsets of my sinus infections are usually a scratchy throat and teeth/jaw aches. Mine lessen when I lay down, and then when I get up to start the day the jaw bone and back teeth start to get score, almost like itchy and I constantly want to scratch inside my skin on the bone. It is weird, but you would definitely see a specialist.

I was like you and thought my dentist would be able to tell as well, but he said that if it is inside the nasal passages, it is beyond his knowledge. I was inflamed from not treating it for so long, but after a couple weeks of antibiotics, I was fine.

Hi E.,

Dont put all your faith in dentists. They are supposed to be able to detect anything that might cause bigger problems and the whole point in regular checks up is preventative care right?

Not always the case though. In my case, constant tooth ache led to needing a root canal. Even though I went to all my cleanings and got necessary XRAYS, it went undetected.
It started off as a dull toothache which would always end up giving me a headache. Remember all of the ear,nose & throat are so close and connected that alot of times if you have tooth pain, it could affect your ear, or sinus infection could bother your teeth, etc.

It couldnt hurt talking to a speacilist and I know becuase your pregnant your not supposed to get Xrays right? Try talking to your dentist again and tell them that its painful and want to make sure this doesn't lead to something bigger.

For root canals and any kind of infection your supposed to treat with anitbiotics but I have no idea what they do when your pregnant.

Then again, it could be absolutly nothing. Sometimes pregnant womens teeth are just get extra sensitive. LOL Oh the joys of being a woman.

Good luck!!! I hope everything is ok.

I thought that I needed like 4 root canals my teeth hurt so badly during my last pregnancy. Turns out, I was grinding my teeth. Stress of being pregnant and not sleeping well enough, I dont know but I was grinding my teeth and making them hurt so much that it hurt all the way up to my eyes or my ears. I thought it was an infection spreading through my head!
My dentist gave me a plastic doo-hicky to wear at night and after a few nights I was better. Now I wear it when I feel it happening again.
Also, try icing your neck especially when you go to bed. With both of my pregnancies, I had a lot of tension at the base of the my skull. (where the ligaments attach the skull and vertebrae) I iced as much as I could and still practice this when I have migraines or toothaches.
Try these please. It really helped me.

usu. that's your sinuses talking

When I get sinus infections, I get bad pain in my incisor teeth. So it could be that. On the other hand, you might have an abcess in your tooth. I would assume the dentist would have seen it, but I once went in w/ tooth pain and they didn't see anything and 2 days later I went back to the dentist w/ horrible tooth pain and that's when they saw that I did have an abcess and I needed root canal.

Hi,
I've had much of what you describe since February. At first, there was tooth pain but then it turned out I had a double ear infection on the other side of my head. The pain was in one side of my jaw, mostly upper molars, and would shoot from the center of the tooth up and into my jaw. Agony! I treated the ear infections with 2 rounds of antibiotics, but the tooth pain stayed. We did all kinds of ENT stuff, including Ct scans, all came out basically clear. I've been using Sensodyne toothpaste for 2 months now and the tooth pain is gone.

All this to say -- could be sinuses, could be sensitive teeth, could be what the other moms have listed. But the $3 for toothpaste might be worth it (though check if it's okay for pregnancy). I really hope you feel better!

Hi E.,

The toothache and headache could be caused from tight muscles or a muscle spasm in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (the muscle that runs from behind your ear and lateral neck). You may also be clenching your teeth at night which could cause your symptoms. Because the symptoms develop approximately 2 hours after waking up this could very well be the culprit.

If, after getting further evaluation and you do not have an infection. Try a clinical massage or physical therapy. Also some of the topical pain relievers for arthritis and muscle aches may help if applied to the muscle and along the jaw line. Please check with your midwife or MD prior to applying any topical medication.

Hoping that you feel better soon!
Sarah

It could also be from clenching or grinding your teeth at night. I know that I tend to clench & my teeth ache when I'm stressed. Best of luck with the pregnancy/baby!

I used to get sinus infections on a regular basis and when I was pregnant I didn't want to take antibiotics. Try heating water in a pot when the steam rises put a towel over your head and put your head over the steam....don't burn yourself. Your sinus should open up and your nose should run. Most times a sinus infection causes our sinus to swell and not drain. Put some vicks vapo run on your nostrils...My toothaches were always an inidication that my sinuses were acting up.

E.,
I think your midwife is right, but you can just call your regular doctor for this, personally I wouldn't bother with a specialist unless your doctor can't help you. Whenever I get a sinus infection I know for sure when I start getting tooth pain. If you had a cold recently and now have tooth pain and also headaches that aren't going away, if definitely could be a sinus infection. Go see your doctor, you should take a round of antibiotics if that's what it is, I am sure they can prescribe something safe for pregnancy.
Good luck.
A.

E.-
this happens to me on occasion. it feels like i have cavities is all my teeth! it is always my sinuses. i use sudafed PE Sinus Headache. i used this while pregnant and i think it is safe but check with your widwife if you are concerned. you may have to take it every 4 hrs for at least a day before you get some relief.

My teeth hurt every time I get a sinus infection. If you are looking for a natural way to clear up a sinus infection try the neti pot. It looks like a genie lamp and you mix non-iodized salt with warm water and then rinse out your nose. It is great! I have to say that at first it may feel like you got water up your nose but with a little practice, if you do it right you can't feel it at all. Good luck and feel better!

Hi E.. I have sinus problems that cause my teeth to hurt. I take a decongestant. The doctor will not give an antibiotic unless he/she thinks you have and infection. Dr. may ask if you cough or see green or yellow coming from your nose(I know, yuk) Not sure what you can take in your condition but you can use a saline nasal spray. I think you should consult your doctor. My best, Grandma Mary

You safely use tissue salts. Hylands makes one called BIOXII (Bio 12) that has all the salts in it. We've used them for growing pains. If I understand correctly they will help your body utilize the minerals you already have while providing more minerals. These are safe for babies and pregnant moms. Online or health food store. While you're using the BIOXII read a book about Tissue Salts and figure out which individual salts would be best for you. The sooner you start the better.

You can't safely take antibiotics while pregnant unless it's an emergency.

Be sure you're consuming enough leafy greens. No sugar or white flour products if it's a sinus infection!

If it's sinus for sure there's a homeopathic spray you can use by Heel. Euphorbium comp.

Personally I wouldn't use any medications while pregnant. Everything you take your developing baby is using too and in greater amounts since it's obviously much smaller. It can affect whatever organ or whatever cells are growing at that particular time.

My guess is that you're depleted of some minerals which is often the case during pregnancy. Tooth issues can easily be causing your headaches. Again, I'm not making any diagnosis here, just giving you some ideas!

Hope you get feeling better soon!

If you have a sinus infection that is causing pain in your teeth and headaches, there is a great product that is all natural and 100% safe during pregnancy called Xlear. It is a nasal wash that you can use several times a day. It has xylitol, a natural sugar, that inhibits the growth of bacteria. When you use it, your nose will run like crazy, but it's good because it drains the fluid out of the sinuses and will give you some relief. You can buy it at a health food store, or online (www.xlear.com)

Hi E.:

The health of your mouth and teeth say alot about the current state of your overall health. I would be happy to assist you with a health consultation to get to the root of the matter and address it. Please feel free to contact me.

All the best,
N.
Holistic Maternity Care Provider
www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html
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Given that this seems to happen mostly after you are asleep - I am wondering if you have an excacerbation of your TMJ. Get the infection checked out absolutely - but 2 years ago (for the next 8-9 months) - I had terrible toothaches that led to sore throats and headaches - to the point that I was taking a muscle relaxor and hydro-codeine more days than not. When it first began, I went to my dentist who told me he couldn't tell until he did a cleaning which I needed to wait 2 weeks for. Then he said, I was fine and didn't know what the problem was. It was after that that I got the pain killers to help me sleep when it would start. I wanted to get pregnant, but knew I couldn't not take this medication (and I HATE medication) and wouldn't be able to handle the pain without it. I went to the ENT who said - I had TMJ and sent me to a dentist who specializes in TMJ. This dentist explained what was happening - gave me an appliance to wear so I don't clench my teeth. Knock on wood - since he gave that to me at the beginning of last summer - I have not had a flair up. If there's no infection - keep looking. All dentists aren't quite the same!

if its any consolation it will go away once you have the baby. Sometimes fillings hurt when your pregnant too. See if you can use some kind of pain reliever theres no point to going to the doctor when its only pregnancy related.
From H.