Sinusitis is a common health issue affecting many individuals. It involves the inflammation of the sinuses, leading to various symptoms and discomforts. The main symptom of a sinus infection is painful pressure, which varies depending on the affected sinus. For instance, frontal sinusitis causes pain in the forehead, maxillary sinusitis results in pain over the cheek or in the upper jaw and teeth, and pain behind the eyes indicates ethmoid or sphenoid sinusitis. Additionally, sphenoid sinusitis can cause pain at the top of the head.
While upper tooth infections can trigger sinus infections, and vice versa, it’s important to note that sinus infections do not typically cause pain in the lower teeth or jaw. If experiencing such symptoms, it’s advised to consult a dentist or primary care provider for a proper evaluation, which may include X-rays or other imaging techniques.
Loss of sense of smell is another symptom often associated with sinusitis, usually accompanied by facial pain or pressure. It’s important to distinguish these symptoms from those of COVID-19, which may include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues. Given the overlapping symptoms, a discussion with a healthcare professional is recommended for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
A common cause of new jaw pain, unrelated to sinusitis, is neuralgia—an irritation of the nerve. This can be a result of conditions like post-herpetic neuralgia from previous shingles, or trigeminal neuralgia. Diabetes can also lead to facial neuralgias.
To soothe sinusitis symptoms, initial steps include using nasal rinses, decongestants, and pain relievers. Symptoms similar to a cold, such as fatigue, cough, impaired sense of smell, fullness or pressure in the ears, or headache, are common. It’s best to allow the body to fight the infection while providing symptomatic relief.
Other symptoms of sinus infection include bad breath, fever, lethargy, loss of smell or taste, ear pressure, and post-nasal drip. These infections often start as a common cold and typically resolve within 7 to 10 days.
Sinus blockage can arise from various factors, including environmental conditions, anatomical issues, or genetics. Swelling of the nasal passages, often caused by a common cold or allergies, is a frequent culprit. More serious cases of sinusitis can result from structural problems like a deviated septum.
Chronic sinusitis features symptoms such as difficulty breathing through the nose, sleep disturbances due to breathing discomfort, increased mucus, nasal congestion, loss of smell and taste, pain in the ears, upper jaw, and teeth, and post-nasal drip.
For more detailed information on sinusitis, visit Harvard Health, Mayo Clinic Health System, Ohio State Health & Discovery, and Harvard Health.
