Most of the ways that hayfever affects you are obvious – itchy eyes, sneezing fits and runny noses being the most common. However, it can also have a big impact on your mouth too. If you’ve been experiencing mouth problems alongside your hayfever, here’s what you can do about it.
Tooth pain
People often experience tooth pain at the height of their hayfever but don’t associate the two problems with each other. However, the pain in your tooth could be due to the build-up of mucus you experience with hayfever filling the hollow spaces in your sinuses – this causes pain by putting extra pressure on the roots of your upper molars teeth, which are connected to these spaces. Signs of this may include: unusual sensitivity to hot or cold food or drink, and pain that shifts between sitting standing and lying down.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth is bad for your teeth – it increases the chance of developing diseases, cavities and bad breath. This is because saliva prevents bad oral health by helping to wash away bad bacteria and food particles. Hayfever can cause dry mouth in two ways: firstly, you’re far more likely to breathe through your mouth when your nose is blocked, and secondly, a side effect of many antihistamines is reducing saliva production.
What to do about it
- Stay hydrated – It’s vital to drink lots of water to prevent dry mouth and help your body to flush away the built-up mucus in your sinuses which cause tooth pain.
- Treat your allergy – Controlling your allergies with antihistamines or prescription medication can help to relieve your hayfever symptoms and subsequent oral issues.
- Chew gum – Chewing gum can help to produce saliva and dislodge the blocked-up mucus in your sinuses.
- Talk to your dentist – If you’ve tried a number of ways to relieve your hayfever and oral issues but are still experiencing pain, you could have a more serious dental issue. In this case, it is always best to schedule a dental appointment.
You might not associate your oral issues with your hayfever, but it’s always best to be responsive in cases where the two problems coincide with each other. Follow our tips for treating dental pain caused by hayfever and make sure to contact your dentist, if the symptoms don’t subside.
