“Toothache when flying and having a cold”
I am on my 6th day of my cold, and I am traveling right now. The first 1.5-hour flight was good until 20 minutes before it landed. At first, I had a forehead pain, and after that it all went to one tooth. It was very painful. Why did it happen? How do I prevent it from happening on my next flight?
Male | 18 years old
Complaint duration: 6
Medications: None
Conditions: None
11 Answers
Dentist|GeneralPracticetoothpain
Hello, hope you are doing ok now. When one has cold, the sinuses in the upper jaw area get affected. The roots of upper teeth are very close to the sinuses. When in a plane, especially when fighting a cold due to the pressure changes, these affected sinuses hurt often. This sinus pain can often mimic a toothache. Once the pressure readjusts it can go back to normal. Sometimes some teeth may have some cavities/infection etc and can start hurting due to the pressure changes as well. When you are in flight, please drink some water. The swallowing motion helps in normalizing the pressure in the ear areas and I turn reducing the pain in the sinuses as well. In case there is a tooth cavity or infection problem, then a visit to the dentist would help as well. Hope this helps. Take care.
Hello,
I am sorry for my late response. I am sorry you are dealing with these symptoms. I hope you were able to travel back safely.
I would have your sinus, evaluate for sinusitis. The head-neck region is all connected therefore if you have a sinus infection, that needs antibiotic treatment, a side effect of the infection can assimilate tooth pain.
I hope that helps.
Xoxo Dr. Schick
I am sorry for my late response. I am sorry you are dealing with these symptoms. I hope you were able to travel back safely.
I would have your sinus, evaluate for sinusitis. The head-neck region is all connected therefore if you have a sinus infection, that needs antibiotic treatment, a side effect of the infection can assimilate tooth pain.
I hope that helps.
Xoxo Dr. Schick
The landing the aircraft descending altitude create air pressure that may build-up in your sinus which places pressure along the root-tips where the nerves enters the tooth causing pain. If you have large cavity in a tooth it hurts even more because of the infection.
Get an exam and xrays of the area.
Hi there, lets talk hypothetically here because I don't have any reference right now. Having a cold or flying might cause some discomfort in the sinuses. Sinuses are empty or air filled cavities in our heads that get clogged when there is cold or upper respiratory infection as well as depressurize when flying due to atmospheric changes when in a airship. In both situations, all teeth close to those sinuses might experience some discomfort due to proximity of their roots and therefore nerves to these. I hope I could help you with my answer.
Good bless you.
Good bless you.
Sudden atmospheric pressure changes have been known to aggravate certain dental conditions as sinuses and teeth teeth can be connected. The roots of the top back teeth often extend into the sinus areas. I would recommend seeing your dentist asap to ensure everything is alright. As for preventing the problem in the future, there isn't much that can be done. Fortunately, it is not a common occurrence.
You may have sinus issues, if the tooth is an upper molar, in the back. When in an airplane, pressure changes throughout the flight and it can trigger these issues. If it is not an upper molar, the tooth may have an issue associated with it, which could trigger the same reaction. For sinus pressure relief, you should seen an ENT doctor.
You’re upper teeth are in very close proximity to your sinuses. If you have a sinus infection, you’re teeth can hurt. The source of the problem is most likely sinus related since you have a cold. When flying, pressure changes occur which can lead to pain on teeth if sinus issues are present. I’d seek a medical or dental professional for possible antibiotics. It could be tooth related but most likely sinus related or both.
Hello , sounds like a sinus issue. our roots of the maxillary/top molars sits almost on the floor of our maxillary sinus. it is a rectangular hollow space on top of our upper molars. so when you have sinus issues, you feel also that your upper teeth are hurting. so if there is no cavities or any other issues going on with your teeth, you should be treated for sinus issues with head and neck DR.
Yes, you can get toothaches during a flight. The pain comes from the change in pressure as you climb to higher altitudes. The condition is also known as barodontalgia. When you have a cold, your sinus cavities can get blocked with excess mucus. Since you have sinus cavities near your upper molars, this pressure can make your teeth sore. To relieve the pressure, you can place a warm, damp towel around your nose, cheeks, and eyes. If the pain is lasting or persistent, consult with your doctor to see if you have a sinus or ear infection.
Hello! See a dentist as soon as possible in person. Sounds like you have the beginnings of a tooth infection. Need x-rays to confirm though. Most likely related to a large cavity on one of the teeth in that area. The change in pressure when changing altitude most likely is putting pressure on the abscess you have. Hope this helps. Cheers!
