{"id":9441,"date":"2023-12-13T22:11:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T15:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9441"},"modified":"2023-12-13T22:11:24","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T15:11:24","slug":"why-do-your-teeth-hurt-when-youre-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9441","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Your Teeth Hurt When You&#8217;re Sick?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">O<\/span>ne of the most uniquely terrible feelings in the world is when you start to realize you\u2019re coming down with the flu. Body aches, exhaustion, and scratchy throat are all just annoying hints of what\u2019s to come. (All the more reason to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/when-does-flu-season-start\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/when-does-flu-season-start\/\">get your flu shot<\/a>.)<\/div>\n<p>I recently came down with the flu myself after a long vacation that I had hoped would leave me recharged and ready to get back to work. Unfortunately, my body had other plans. Between the boxes of tissues, fever, and body aches, I just gave in and rode the wave. That is, until my teeth started aching.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Why are my teeth hurting? What did I do? Do I need to make an emergency dental appointment?&#8221; were the frantic thoughts running through my mind. Thankfully, I quickly learned, my sore teeth were just another symptom of the flu.<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/drbindiyamd.com\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/drbindiyamd.com\/\">Bindiya Gandhi, MD<\/a>, double board-certified functional and integrative family physician with a focus in holistic medicine <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/slateflosser.com\/pages\/about-us\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/slateflosser.com\/pages\/about-us\">Danny Snyder, DDS<\/a>, a dentist and the founder of Slate Electric Flosser <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<h2>Why do your teeth hurt when you\u2019re sick?<\/h2>\n<p>When you\u2019re sick, your body produces white blood cells to fight off the bacteria or virus that\u2019s affecting you. This also leads to inflammation, which can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK279298\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK279298\/\">redness, swelling, pain, and heat in the affected area<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Where<\/em> you have pain, swelling, and other symptoms depends on the illness itself as well as your immune response. When you have a cold or a flu, for example, it\u2019s not uncommon to have body aches.<\/p>\n<p>Well, it turns out that having aching teeth (or gums) are another example of inflammation at work. \u201cTeeth inflammation often finds its way into the ligament space between our tooth roots and the surrounding bone,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/slateflosser.com\/pages\/about-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/slateflosser.com\/pages\/about-us\">Danny Snyder, DDS<\/a>, a dentist and founder of Slate Electric Flosser. Inflammation there has two major outcomes, he says. \u201cOne, the teeth raise slightly, so we bite together our teeth [and] experience a greater force than they otherwise would, and two, the inflammation often hyper-sensitizes the teeth to hot, cold, and chewing pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you have a head cold, you might be more prone to tooth pain. That\u2019s because your sinuses cavities sit in your face underneath your eyes, very close to your teeth and palate. When those sinuses become inflamed (as they do when you\u2019re sick), they might press down on your teeth, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/B9780443100734500197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/B9780443100734500197\">causing aching and throbbing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-do-teeth-hurt-when-sick\/\" current-title=\"Here\u2019s Why Your Teeth May Hurt When You\u2019re Sick\u2014And the 4 Things You Can Do About It\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-why-teeth-hurt-when-sick-JustinCase-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-06-13\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-do-teeth-hurt-when-sick\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-do-teeth-hurt-when-sick\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/why-do-teeth-hurt-when-sick\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are a few other factors that can cause tooth pain when you\u2019re sick, says <a href=\"https:\/\/drbindiyamd.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/drbindiyamd.com\/\">Bindiya Gandhi, MD, <\/a>a double-board certified family and integrative medicine doctor and the medical director at <a href=\"https:\/\/atlantaweightlossdoctor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/atlantaweightlossdoctor.com\/\">Revive Atlanta MD<\/a>. &#8220;These include: sinus infections, strep throat, etc., and are linked to dehydration, side effects to medications, and sometimes an overall immune response,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>How to relieve dental pain when you\u2019re sick, according to experts<\/h2>\n<p>While the tooth pain may be frustrating at first, it won&#8217;t have any long-term effects on your oral health; it&#8217;s a sign that your body\u2019s immune system is working hard. That said, it\u2019s still not fun to deal with. Here are some ways to help soothe the tooth pain while you\u2019re sick.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Stay hydrated<\/h3>\n<p>Drinking enough fluids while you\u2019re sick is critical\u2014and it may help prevent or alleviate tooth pain, too. Dehydration can dry out tooth and mouth tissue, which can be painful.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, breathing through your mouth\u2014as you likely do when you\u2019re congested\u2014can cause dry mouth, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ada.org\/en\/resources\/research\/science-and-research-institute\/oral-health-topics\/xerostomia#:~:text=6-,Reduced%20salivary%20flow%20can%20cause%20difficulties%20in%20tasting%2C%20chewing%2C%20swallowing,%2C%20and%2For%20mucosal%20infections.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ada.org\/en\/resources\/research\/science-and-research-institute\/oral-health-topics\/xerostomia#:~:text=6-,Reduced%20salivary%20flow%20can%20cause%20difficulties%20in%20tasting%2C%20chewing%2C%20swallowing,%2C%20and%2For%20mucosal%20infections.\">can increase tooth sensitivity<\/a>. Certain medications you might take when you\u2019re sick could also cause dry mouth, adds Dr. Snyder. \u201cOut of the top 100 prescribed medications in the US, all 100 have dry mouth as a possible side effect,\u201d says he says. \u201cThe dryer our mouth is, the more likely we will experience poor outcomes from bad breath, soft tissue lesions, to cavities, and gum disease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To address both dehydration and dry mouth, Dr. Gandhi advises drinking water and warm soups. She also loves sipping on bone broth due to its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8618064\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8618064\/\">anti-inflammatory properties<\/a>, which may help with muscle and joint pain.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Use a non-alcoholic mouthwash<\/h3>\n<p>Ditch the alcohol-based mouthwashes, as they tend to be more harsh and cause more irritation and oral discomfort. Alcohol also has a drying effect, which can make you more dehydrated. \u201cRinsing with a non-alcoholic mouth rinse or warm salt water can also help get rid of any bad tastes that are generated which you\u2019re sick,\u201d adds Dr. Snyder.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Take OTC pain meds<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cOver-the-counter [acetaminophen] or ibuprofen, as needed, will help with pain and reduce your fever,\u201d says Dr. Gandhi. Both ibuprofen (found in Advil and Motrin) and acetaminophen (used in Tylenol) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationwidechildrens.org\/family-resources-education\/700childrens\/2022\/02\/acetaminophen-vs-ibuprofen-difference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nationwidechildrens.org\/family-resources-education\/700childrens\/2022\/02\/acetaminophen-vs-ibuprofen-difference\">curb prostaglandin production<\/a>, which is involved in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourhormones.info\/hormones\/prostaglandins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.yourhormones.info\/hormones\/prostaglandins\/\">pain, inflammation, and fever<\/a>. Dr. Gandhi says to take these medications \u201cas needed\u201d to help with pain and fever reduction, making sure to follow packet directions.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Keep up with your usual brushing habits<\/h3>\n<p>While this isn\u2019t going to necessarily help minimize dental pain when unwell, Dr. Snyder says it\u2019s common to see bad oral hygiene during periods of sickness\u2014which can cause issues down the road. \u201cWhen people are sick, they get out of their normal routine, and they often forget or avoid brushing and flossing for one reason or another,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is a time when preventative care is probably the most important, and while you may not feel up to it, your oral environment suffers because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of oral pain should dissipate within a few days of feeling better. However, if they don\u2019t, make an appointment with your dentist. \u201cParticularly if there\u2019s one specific tooth that\u2019s really hurting and possibly keeping you up at night, it\u2019s time to call your dentist,\u201d says Dr. Snyder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<p>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/p>\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Mar-Sol\u00eds, Laura M et al. \u201cAnalysis of the Anti-Inflammatory Capacity of Bone Broth in a Murine Model of Ulcerative Colitis.\u201d\u00a0<i>Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)<\/i>\u00a0vol. 57,11 1138. 20 Oct. 2021, doi:10.3390\/medicina57111138            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most uniquely terrible feelings in the world is when you start to realize you\u2019re coming down with the flu. Body aches, exhaustion, and scratchy throat are all just annoying hints of what\u2019s to come. (All the more reason to get your flu shot.) I recently came down with the flu myself after &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}