Five Ways Allergies Can Impact Your Oral Health

While protecting your teeth and gums is probably the last thing you think about when you’re dealing with seasonal allergy symptoms like congestion, sneezing, or itchy eyes, it’s important to know how these issues can affect your oral health and what you can do to counteract them.

In this article, we’ll look at the surprising connection between allergy season and dental issues, as well as what you can do to protect your smile.

Potential Risks of Allergies on Dental Health:

1. Dry Mouth: Allergies often cause nasal congestion, which can cause you to breathe with your mouth. When you breathe with your mouth, you reduce the flow of saliva, which protects your teeth by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids. 

2. Impact from Allergy Medications: While antihistamines and decongestants can help alleviate your allergy symptoms, they can dry out your mouth even further, compounding the aforementioned reduction in saliva production and causing irritation, which can negatively impact oral health.

3. Increased Risk of Cavities: A dry mouth also provides an ideal setting for bacteria to thrive, as saliva’s natural cleansing effect is diminished. When this happens, you’re at increased risk of tooth decay and enamel erosion.

4. Gum Inflammation: Allergies can cause postnasal drip, where excess mucus runs down the back of your throat and irritates the soft tissues in your mouth. Eventually, you can experience swollen and tender gums, which are more at risk for gingivitis and other forms of gum disease. Swollen gums can also cause pain or discomfort while eating.

5. Tooth Pain and Sensitivity: The largest sinuses in your face are located right above your mouth. When pressure builds there, it can push down on the roots of your upper molars and mimic tooth pain. This can cause both sensitivity and discomfort, making it difficult to distinguish between sinus-related pain and genuine dental issues.

Tips for Prevention:

To prevent fall allergies from affecting your oral health, consider these tips:

1. Be sure to address your allergies by avoiding triggers and consulting your doctor regarding treatment options. If you take allergy medication, ask your doctor to recommend an option that minimizes dry mouth as a side effect.

2. Stay well-hydrated to counteract dry mouth and get rid of extra mucus. (Gargling with salt water can help remove extra mucus, as well.)
3. Use a humidifier while indoors. 

4. Stimulate your saliva production with sugar-free lozenges or gum. 

5. Maintain good oral hygiene habits by brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, and using an alcohol-free mouth rinse. 

6. Attend regular dental check-ups to maintain — and monitor any changes in — your oral health. 
7. If sinus pressure causes you tooth pain, use a warm compress or nasal decongestants to reduce discomfort and protect your teeth.

Ignoring these preventive measures can lead to more severe issues and costly treatments. We welcome you to consult Dr. Brooks regarding any questions you might have about preserving your long-term dental health. Contact us today to make an appointment.