Can Allergies Impact Your Oral Health?

When you have a nasal allergy, it can impact your oral health as well. After all, the nasal cavity is situated next to the gums and teeth. Therefore, any infection or allergy can increase dental pain and sensitivity. The following information provides you with more details about allergies.

How Allergies Have a Direct Effect on Tooth Pain

Allergies caused by pollen can lead to sinus irritation and tooth pain. If the sinuses are congested, it makes it difficult to breathe through the nose. In turn, a sinus sufferer may start to breathe through the mouth. When you breathe through your mouth, you decrease your saliva flow, which leads to a condition called xerostomia, or dry mouth. When this happens, it is difficult for the mouth to regulate a normal pH, which leads to tooth decay. Breathing through the mouth also triggers the bacteria that cause halitosis.

Gum and Tonsil Swelling

A seasonal allergy also leads to post-nasal drip. When this happens, a patient often experiences swollen tonsils and a sore throat. When these symptoms are combined with xerostomia, the result is sore and swollen gums. Swollen gums can make it a challenge to brush your teeth effectively. You may also develop canker sores inside the mouth. If you have allergy-related issues that are affecting your dental health, you need to get help from an allergist. Also, contact our office about treating the related gum pain and soreness.

Do you have problems with seasonal allergies? Again, you need to contact an allergist to make sure they don’t get out of hand. If you still continue to have difficulties that are affecting your dental health, you can contact us anytime. Make sure you are treating the origin of the problem and getting the dental relief you need. Call us anytime about your dental health concerns, whether they relate to an infection, decay, or an allergy.