Most people tend to assume that oral health is just about teeth. In reality, the body is a system where one organ is intricately linked to another. For this reason, having a sinus infection should not be something to be taken lightly. This is because it could be a pointer to other serious dental conditions that may require urgent treatment.
What Are Sinuses?
Sinuses are hollow cavities that help to connect your ears, mouth, nose, and throat. Nobody quite understands the role of sinuses but they can get infected and cause the victim great discomfort. One of the reasons why sinuses are so prone to bacterial infection is the fact that they are lined with mucus, which makes them a great breeding ground for bacteria.
How Dental Health Affects Sinuses
For many people, some parts of their back molars extend into what is known as the maxillary sinuses. Under normal circumstances, this does not pose a problem at all. Trouble comes when those molars become infected, especially due to poor oral hygiene. When this happens, this infection is transferred to the sinuses which then become inflamed. Of course, if this infection is not treated quickly, it may lead to other complications such as periodontal disease.
If the affected tooth is not painful, the first clue to the problem is usually the sinus infection. During dental exams, your dentist will carefully look for signs of gum disease and may ask you about any sinus trouble that you may have.
Dry Mouth
One of the effects of swollen sinuses is that they may make it difficult for the patient to breathe. This often forces the victim to use their mouth to breathe, which in turn causes the mouth to dry. This dryness leads to the rapid growth of bacteria in the victim’s gums which often lead to bad breath or halitosis. This in turn makes the tooth decay problem even worse, leading to more sinus infections.
Are you wondering how to break out of this vicious cycle? Read on to find out.
Treatment and Prevention
Practicing proper oral hygiene is one of the most effective ways of managing this problem. If your teeth stay healthy, chances are that your sinuses will stay healthy as well. The other thing to remember is that regular dental exams would probably catch such infections long before they spread to the sinuses. Caught early, your dentist can perform a deep cleaning procedure to remove plaque and ensure that your teeth are bacteria-free. This also means that if you have a recurring sinus infection, it might be a good idea to go for a dental exam. This way, the dentist can locate the source of the problem and begin to treat the infection. Dr. Alex Rubinov is an experienced dental practitioner in New York. The practice offers a range of services including teeth whitening, smile makeovers, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics, to name but a few. Contact the team at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.