Seasonal allergies can negatively affect oral health by causing a sore throat, dry mouth and tooth pain.
If you’ve ever had sinus pain from allergies or a cold, you are familiar with the pressure it causes in your cheeks, nose and head. The large sinuses in your face, also known as the maxillary sinuses, are located above your mouth, so when pressure builds up in these areas, it can push down on the roots of your upper teeth, causing pain.
While allergies can be the culprit to these oral health issues, they also may be covering up more severe dental problems like gum disease, tooth decay and infections. Be sure to let your dentist know that you are suffering from allergies and have him/her diagnose the problem.
7 Ways to Protect Your Oral Health from Allergies
- Drink Plenty of Water. Staying hydrated can counteract the effects of dry mouth and flush away the excess mucus from your nose and throat.
- Continue Oral Health Habits. Brushing and flossing your teeth is still very important, even when you’re sick. Doing so can also help fight against dry mouth.
- Gargle Salt Water. Make a glass of warm water and dissolve some salt in it. Gargle and spit out the water until it is all gone. This will help draw out the mucus in your sinuses.
- Stay Inside at Peak Pollen Times. Usually the local weather report includes pollen counts in their report. Pay close attention to this and avoid going outside at peak pollen times, which is usually late morning or midday. This will offer you some allergy relief.
- Keep Your Vents Clean. Consider cleaning out your heating vents and changing the filter before turning it on. This will help get rid of any mold or other allergens that have gotten caught in the vents.
- Visit Your Dentist. As much as you don’t want to visit the dentist when your nose is stuffy and runny, if you’re experiencing tooth pain, talk to your dentist about it at your appointment. Your dentist can help identify if the toothache is allergy-related or not.
- Treat Your Allergies. The most important and most effective way to protect your oral health is to control and treat your allergies to reduce any impact they might have on your mouth. Prescription medication and allergy shots are two possible treatment options to get rid of allergies quickly. Some other options include:
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- Steroid nasal sprays
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
Protecting your oral health from allergies might just protect you from the allergens themselves. Don’t let the misery of seasonal allergies damage your oral health.
For more information call the Greenslopes Dental team on 07 3394 3399