Can Allergies Cause Jaw Pain

How Can I Tell If I Have Tmj Or A Sinus Problem

Whether your sinus-related symptoms are caused by TMJ or not, youll need to address their root cause. Symptoms like headaches, facial pain, tooth pain, earaches, dizziness, and restless sleep are common in both. In fact, sinus pain itself is a symptom of TMJD. Because of the position of the sinuses, it can be tricky to tell whether you have sinusitis or TMJ. However, there are a few questions that you can ask yourself to figure out whether your sinus pain is caused by sinusitis or may be TMJ-related:

Are you noticing neck and shoulder pain?

• Feeling tense can be a symptom of both TMJ and a sinus-related condition. The tension caused by TMJ is usually due to a misalignment of the joint, whereas sinus headaches are usually the source of tension.

Do you have facial congestion or a feeling of fullness?

• Inflammation related to chronic sinusitis and sinus infections often gives people a feeling of fullness or swelling on the front of the face. This is often a good indicator of a sinus headache.

Have you noticed thick or discolored nasal discharge?

• When your sinuses are inflamed, it can prevent the natural flow of mucus. This is a sign that your headache might be due to a sinus infection.

Have you experienced changes in your ability to taste or smell?

• When you have sinusitis, your sinuses may be unable to drain. Full sinuses can affect your sense of taste and smell.

Does your headache get worse if you lie down?

Are you clenching or grinding your teeth at night?

Why Does My Jaw Swell Up When I Eat

If you notice that one side of your jaw becomes swollen and tender only when you eat, a salivary duct stone may be to blame. Eating causes the salivary glands to increase the production of saliva. A stone blocking the duct that usually delivers saliva from the gland to the mouth causes saliva to build up, causing swelling and pain. You may be able to feel the stone if you palpate the inside of the mouth in the swollen area.

What Is Menieres Disease

This is an inner ear disorder that causes ringing in the ears, a feeling as if youre spinning and hearing loss that becomes progressive and finally permanent. Some medical studies connect Menieres disease with seasonal allergies or food allergies. Allergy immunotherapy may help some patients.

Millions of people suffer from allergies, and allergies can affect the ears. Over-the-counter medications usually can help alleviate the symptoms. Sometimes an allergic reaction can lead to a short-term hearing loss, which clears when the allergies subside. If your ear health is suffering due to allergies or another reason, schedule an appointment with a hearing care provider as soon as possible to get to the bottom of it!

Don’t Miss: Pseudoephedrine Heart Rate

Common Characteristics Of Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can most likely be described by the following details.

• Aching pain in your jaw, ear, and/or face: Especially when chewing or attempting to open or close your mouth
• This is the hinged joint just in front of your ear.
• Locking or sticking of the TMJ
• Headache
• An uneven appearance of the teeth and bite: This may either be a cause or a result of your jaw pain.

Do I Have Tmj Disorder

If, after reading through this guide, you think you may be suffering from TMJ, you should schedule an immediate trip to the dentist to be evaluated and diagnosed. The sooner you get an appointment, the sooner you can begin treating your TMD symptoms.

Diamond Dental Group has lots of experience treating patients with TMJ in the area. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

Recommended Reading: Dr Morosky Allergy

Diagnosis And Testing For Sinusitis

There are various tests that can and should be performed to confirm a diagnosis, determine the level of infection and check for other more serious issues.

A physical examination is completed, which includes a full head and neck examination so that more serious issues can be excluded. Swollen lymph nodes may occur in the neck if an infection is present, which is no different than the swelling of lymph nodes that accompanies an acute sore throat or ear infection .

Sinus palpation is used to determine the level of tenderness or swelling. When pain is experienced caused by the palpation, in the frontal or maxillary sinuses, it will be taken into consideration. A doctor may also use transillumination to look at the frontal and maxillary sinuses, though this is not always the most effective test.

The oral cavity and oropharynx is examined to evaluate the palate and condition of dentition, as well as looking for evidence of postnasal drip.

Anterior rhinoscopy, conducted with a nasal speculum, is used to examine the condition of the mucus membranes to look for evidence of purulent drainage or to look for signs of polyps or other masses. This examination is carried out with the use of a nasal decongestant, with treatments both before and after.

An ear examination may be carried out to inspect for possible middle ear fluid. This could be a sign of a mass or growth in the nasopharynx .

• Conjunctival congestion
• Lacrimation
• Proptosis and visual disturbances

Sinus Infection & Tmj Overlapping Symptoms

One reason a doctor might mistaken TMJ for a sinus infection is that they have a lot of overlapping symptoms. Both conditions exhibit symptoms including:

• Jaw pain
• Ear symptoms: ringing, pain, fullness
• Vertigo or dizziness
• Toothaches

Although both TMJ and sinus infections can show these symptoms, a sinus infection has a few symptoms that TMJ does not.

• Nasal discharge
• Sore throat
• Upset stomach
• Fever

If you experience any of those symptoms in addition to the others that TMJ and a sinus infection share, its most likely you just have a sinus infection. If your symptoms dont improve after your sinus infection goes away, you might have TMJ.

On the other hand, TMJ has a few symptoms that sinus infections do not. This includes:

• Popping, clicking or grinding noises
• Muscle tenderness in the neck and head but nowhere else
• Sore jaw joints

If you have any of those symptoms, theres a good chance you have TMJ and not a sinus infection.

Don’t Miss: What’s Better For Allergies Claritin Or Zyrtec

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care And Lasting Pain Relief

Today, upper cervical chiropractors use technological advances and scientific measurements to detect and plan for precise corrections of any upper cervical misalignments. Upper cervical chiropractic care provides relief and care to patients who suffer from various chronic pains and other health issues caused by problems found in the upper cervical spine.

Upper cervical care is precise, safe, and non-intrusive. The method is exact and very gentle. As a result, corrections allow the bones to return to correct positions, resulting in lasting alignment. Thus, neck pain patients feel immediate relief and significant improvement. They also experience even better results in a matter of days as the body continually heals from the damage caused by the misalignment.

The optimum health of the whole spine is highly reliant on how perfectly positioned the uppermost vertebra is. Experience a life full of hope and free from pain. Find an upper cervical chiropractor near you soon.

to schedule a consultation today.

When To Seek Help From Your Doctors

If you suffer from allergies and neck pain at the same time, seek care for both ailments. Do not just treat your allergies, hoping that your neck pain will automatically go away. Similarly, do not assume that treatment for your neck pain will improve your allergies. The two problems might be unrelated.

See a general practitioner or an immunologist if:

• Your allergies persist after treatment with over-the-counter medications
• Your allergies interfere with your daily life, such as driving safely or work

Neck pain requires a visit to a pain specialist who can diagnose the underlying problem and offer you the best treatment.

See a pain specialist if:

• Neck pain does not improve with over-the-counter medications
• You have trouble turning your head while driving
• A doctor has diagnosed you with neck problems in the past

Also Check: Allergy Mucinex

What Causes Allergies

Your immune system works to protect your body from dangerous substances, such as viruses or bacteria. However, sometimes it overreacts, responding to foreign substances called allergens. These allergens are usually harmless and do not affect most people, but in a person with allergies, the immune system launches a response and releases chemicals, such as histamines. When these chemicals are released, you experience allergy symptoms.

If your allergies are triggering sinus problems, you are most likely breathing in allergens. Some of these common allergens include:

• Pollen

Deep in your head behind your nose, about the size of a large grape.

How To Treat Tmj

TMJ typically is a symptom of a larger condition. Yet, many cases can come about isolated from other conditions as well. It is important to know what treatment options you have for TMJ and how they can help you.

Like with any other condition in western medicine, figuring out if your experience is in line with TMJ and the severity of your condition is important. The K7 Evaluation is one major way we use to evaluate the health of your jaw. This is also done alongside scanning the jaw with x-rays to evaluate the structure.

Following this, if you are determined to have TMJ, we move forward with treatment. Depending on your condition, treatment options may differ. We aim to be as minimally invasive as possible and avoid surgery whenever possible. That being said, orthodontics is a great option for aligning misaligned teeth. Non-surgical bite repositioning helps bring your jaw back into proper alignment with devices such as mouthguards. For any more permanent damage, we offer different dental implant options to help restore the jaw and bite line.

Don’t Miss: What’s Better For Allergies Claritin Or Zyrtec

What Is The Connection Between The Sinuses And The Jaw

We have sinuses between our eyes, in the cheekbone and above the bridge of the nose, which means that they take up a considerable amount of space in the facial area. When the sinuses become swollen and inflamed, the pain and pressure that we feel in these areas can easily move to the jaw. This causes jaw pain, as well as headaches, earaches and general facial tenderness and discomfort.

If you suffer from allergies on a regular basis, it can be difficult to know if your sinuses are your main concern, or whether you are suffering from TMJ. In many cases, however, both of these issues play a part.

Some common symptoms of seasonal allergies and sinus inflammation include a stuffy nose, headaches, pain in the ears, a sore throat, and swelling or tenderness in the face, especially around the nose and eyes. Some of the symptoms of TMD can feel quite similar ear pain and pressure, headaches, jaw pain, and swelling of the face can all occur.

Also, if you suffer from congestion, it is likely that you breathe through your mouth this can lead to additional pressure on the jaw.

How Do I Fix The Problem

To get rid of your sinus toothache, youll need to clear out the mucus and reduce the inflammation in your sinuses. Once the inflammation goes down, there wont be any more pressure on the nerves leading to your teeth. It may be best to try one of these non-medical, and more affordable or even free solutions, prior to visiting your doctor or an urgent care clinic:

• Sleep Your body needs downtime to repair itself, especially if your sinus infection is the result of a cold. Be sure to keep your head elevated so you arent trapping mucus in your sinuses.
• Hydrate Drink plenty of fluids, like sugar-free juice and water, to hydrate your sinuses. Try to avoid coffee, as this can make symptoms worse.
• Breathe in steam Steam can open up your nasal passages and allow mucus to drain. Take a hot shower, breathe in the steam from a homecooked meal or sip some warm, caffeine-free tea. Do this a few times a day for the best results.
• Apply compresses Warm compresses and towels can be applied to the face to soothe pain.
• Use saline rinses Its best to use distilled water, but you can also boil and purify tap water for the same effect. Then, flush your nose with a neti pot, nebulizer or another safe device.
• Tweak your diet Spicy foods like horseradish, garlic, black pepper and chili peppers can thin mucus. Certain spicy foods can make things worse, so proceed with caution. If youre not a fan of spiciness, try peppermint.

Recommended Reading: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Can Seasonal Allergies Lead To Neck Pain

• NSPC Team

Winter is over, the sun is out, flowers are blooming and you are miserable. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, the start of warm weather ushers in endless hours of sneezing, itchy eyes, and sinus congestion.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Every year, 20 million Americans suffer from pollen allergies, otherwise known as hay fever. While allergy symptoms are tolerable for many people, others experience added distress due to neck pain.

If allergies and neck pain bother you at the same time of the year, you may wonder if there is a connection between the two. We will examine some possible reasons for this pattern.

Can Allergies Cause Ear Infections

Allergies can also lead to the development of ear infections. People who have seasonal or year long allergies are more likely to experience ear infections than those without.

Environmental allergies can irritate the eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to the throat. The eustachian tube helps balance pressure between the outer and inner ear.

An allergy can cause swelling around the eustachian tube, which can prevent fluid from draining away from the middle ear.

If this fluid collects behind the ear drum, it increases the risk of bacteria and viruses growing in the fluid. These bacteria and viruses can cause an ear infection in the middle ear.

Symptoms of a middle ear infection can appear suddenly and may include:

• swelling

Read Also: What’s Better For Allergies Claritin Or Zyrtec

Migraines Tension Headaches And Tmj

Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. They occur when overworked or tense muscles experience pain because of their exertion or put pressure on nearby nerves and other tissues.

Migraines are not fully understood, but they seem to be related to excessive stimulation of certain nerves that trigger a complex response in the vascular system of the brain. TMJ starts as an imbalance in the jaw, but it can lead to excess muscle tension in the muscles of the head, contributing to tension headaches. Tension headaches can serve as a trigger for migraines.

TMJ can also trigger migraines through jaw pain or by causing pressure on certain nerves, especially the trigeminal nerve, which is a known trigger point for migraines. It should be noted that sinus inflammation can also serve as a migraine trigger, and people with migraines often get more of them during allergy season.

To get the best possible migraine and headache treatment, its important to determine the actual cause of your headache. If you have persistent headaches that resist treatment, you should be evaluated for TMJ to find out whether it might be the cause. For a TMJ evaluation in Philadelphia, please call for an appointment with our dentist at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell today.

Why Is Neck Pain So Common

Studies show that neck problems are common. Roughly 20-70% of adults experience neck pain that interferes with their daily activities, at some point in their lifetime.

Your neck contains the top part of your spinal column , a likely source for injuries and pain. The cervical spine needs strength to support the head. . It also needs flexibility in order to allow the neck to twist and bend.

The cervical spine has multiple parts:

• 7 back bones They provide strength to your neck and protect the spinal cord.
• 6 pairs of facet joints These small joints connect the backbones and provide flexibility in the neck.
• 6 discs These cartilage cushions act as shock absorbers between the backbones.
• 8 pairs of spinal nerves Spinal nerves branch out from the top of the spine to reach the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. They receive touch temperature, and pain sensations from the skin and control upper body movements .

The cervical spine is like a finely tuned instrument, with its multiple parts working together to produce precise movements. If any of these parts wear out or suffer injuries, you will experience neck stiffness and pain.

Also Check: Does Cetirizine 10 Mg Make You Sleepy

What Happens When You Have Tmd

TMD happens when the jaw becomes misaligned. Also, when there is a strain on the muscles or tendons that control the jaw movement. The temporomandibular joint functions as a hinge that connects the lower jaw to the skull. Frequently, its quite tricky to verify how a person develops TMD. However, here are the common reasons why people may have TMD:

• Misalignment of the jaw or teeth
• Injury to the teeth or jaw
• Too much stress
• Anxiety
• Depression

If you continue to ignore your ear, jaw, and neck pain, in due time, they can be worse. Thus, it would cause more damage to your jaw joint, jaw. Dont let your jaw pain hinder you from doing your daily routines. You dont even have to endure that pain and allow a minimal jaw movement.

Jaw Pain When Chewing

Pain in jaw when chewing can suggest an issue within the jaw bone itself, or it might signal a disorder from any of the nearby tissues, nerves, and structures of the head and neck. Specific chronic autoimmune conditions can likewise lead to jaw pain. Jaw pain may indicate a worrying underlying disease. Consulting with a doctor can eliminate any serious causes of jaw pain when chewing.

Don’t Miss: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec