Are your Chronic Pains Caused by Dental Problems?

There are many medical symptoms that are surprisingly related to dental problems. These symptoms can easily be attributed to something else and a dental checkup is never given. If you have any of the following aches or pains and are having a hard time getting a diagnosis, considering a dental checkup might prove to be useful.

Chronic earaches

Chronic earaches are usually a symptom that young children get. However, if you continue to get chronic earaches into adulthood, it could be a sign of a medical problem. Seek medical consultation with your primary physician. They are likely to refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. If they are unable to find a cause for your earaches, it might be worth it to seek dental consultation. Poor dental care or untreated dental problems, like impacted wisdom teeth, could lead to chronic earaches.

Chronic headaches and migraines

Millions of people deal with chronic headaches and migraines. Chronic migraines can also be one of the most difficult medical symptoms to diagnose. Impacted wisdom teeth or other types of dental problems can lead to chronic headaches. The problematic teeth cause you to clench your jaw repeatedly, even when you don?t realize you are doing it. Over time, you can develop an intense pain in your head or neck area. Removing the impacted wisdom teeth or opting for dental implants could improve the pain, if that is what?s causing it. According to the American Public Health Association, an estimated 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted from 5 million people in the U.S. annually. It is a minimally invasive and low risk dental procedure.

Symptoms that mimic a sinus infection

If it seems like you have sinus infection that will not go away, it could be caused by dental problems. When you have a problem with your wisdom teeth or unfilled cavities, the dental nerve roots are exposed. When you eat or drink certain items, it aggravates the nerves, thus leading to a runny nose, sore throat, and even runny eyes. Many people wrongly associate this with being a sinus infection or the symptoms of the common cold or flu. Missing teeth should never be left untouched. Fortunately, replacement for missing teeth is a simple dental procedure. Up to 15 million people in the U.S. have crown and bridge replacements for missing teeth.

How to avoid dental pains

The best way to avoid chronic dental pains that mimic other health conditions is to practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing numerous times per day. You should also floss your teeth at least one time per day. Most Americans do not floss and this can lead to problematic teeth. Additionally, it is crucial to keep up with regular dental visits. Your toothbrush can only remove some of the debris on your teeth. The debris that gets stuck between the teeth can lead to problems. Schedule a dental cleaning two times per year. For those with dental health insurance, these dental cleanings are often included and completely free to the patient.

Undiagnosed and untreated dental problems can lead to chronic pain condition. That earache or headache that never goes away could be caused by your impacted wisdom teeth. It could also be caused by poor dental hygiene. Because primary physicians do not deal with oral hygiene, this is often never considered when seeking a diagnosis for a chronic pain condition. Keeping up with your routine dental checkups and cleanings will help prevent any dental pains that could lead to more chronic of pain conditions.