Posts Tagged ‘sinusitis’

They’re back. Seasonal allergies, and soon the flu.

A lot of people are coming in for their dental appointment and report having a cold for a couple weeks, sore throat, headaches, and feeling run down – with the HIGH pollen count (click here for our local pollen count), it’s is most likely you have seasonal allergy symptoms.

The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

And … it’s time again to think about getting a flu shot, which is generally offered between September and mid-November - typically before the late-fall to early-winter start of flu season. It takes up to two weeks to build immunity after a flu shot. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know: allergies caused by pollen can make your teeth hurt?

Those beautiful blossoms coming out now can be a source of pain for your teeth: sinus problems that are worsened with the onset of pollen season often show up as tooth pain.

Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and throat (pharynx), and is characterized by symptoms that consist of any combination of the following: sneezing, itching (of nose, eyes, ears, palate), runny nose (rhinorrhea), postnasal drip, congestion, dental pain (upper back teeth, and even lower back teeth), inability to perceive odors (anosmia), headache, earache, tearing, red eyes, eye swelling, fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise. Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of rhinitis. It is an extremely common condition, affecting approximately 20% of the population.

A common sign associated with allergic rhinitis is “allergic shiners”, dark circles around the eyes (related to vasodilation or nasal congestion). [Symptom versus sign: a symptom can more simply be defined as any feature which is noticed by the patient. A sign is noticed by other people. It is not necessarily the nature of the sign or symptom which defines it, but who observes it.]

How can you tell if it is your sinuses making your teeth hurt? Read the rest of this entry »