If you are alive in Georgia, then you cannot avoid the effects of pollen. Whether you suffer from miserable allergies or just hate the yellow powder that covers everything, you cannot escape allergy season.
For those who suffer from allergies, you are no stranger to blowing your nose, scratching your eyes, and sneezing. Another unpleasant side effect of allergies is the constant postnasal drip that travels down the back of the throat. While you may not think much about it, allergies can have adverse effects on your oral health. Here’s what to look out for:
Dry Mouth
Allergies can cause you to experience dry mouth in one of two ways. 1) When your nose is stopped up, you will rely on mouth-breathing to ensure that you stay alive. Breathing in and out of your mouth will cause your mouth to dry out. 2) Most allergy medications contain antihistamines to help dry up excess mucus. As they work on drying up your sinuses, they also adversely dry out your mouth. A dry mouth is dangerous to your oral health. Without adequate saliva production, oral bacteria will quickly adhere to your teeth and make you susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. These can occur quickly inside a dry mouth, so make sure you are drinking copious amounts of water every day to keep your mouth moist.
Tooth Pain
Pressure in the sinuses can radiate all over the face. As the nasal passageways and maxillary sinuses fill up with mucus, they will put pressure that pushes down on the roots of the upper teeth. Tooth pain often shifts as you move your head from side to side and up and down. You may also experience severe tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Sore Throat
Postnasal drip can cause a severe sore throat. As mucus drips down the back of the throat, it will cause irritation and inflammation that becomes painful. Again, drinking lots of water will help soothe your throat, and sucking on throat lozenges can help minimize your discomfort.
If you are worried about how allergies are affecting your oral health, contact Jefferson Dental Care today. We can give you personalized recommendations to lessen your symptoms.
Posted on behalf of Jefferson Dental Care
