I’ve had the worst cold I have ever had this fall. I don’t know if this is related, but for some reason my teeth are really hurting. Is this because of my cold, or is there something wrong with my teeth?
Ben- Washington
Ben,
A cold, flu, or sinus infection can cause tooth discomfort, because the roots of your top teeth are very close to your sinus cavity. Some tooth roots even penetrate the cavity. When you’re sick the pressure for the stuffiness can make your teeth hurt.
Be aware, a cold will usually be better in four or five days. Any longer than that, I recommend going in to be checked for a sinus infection. That will need to be treated with antibiotics.
If you think the pain is unrelated to what I described, you may want to get seen by your dentist or call an emergency dentist.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.
I wanted to get amalgam fillings removed, but it is more expensive than I expected. I was thinking I could just get those teeth pulled, which my dental insurance covers. Can I remove teeth with amalgam fillings?
Carol G. from Little Rock, AR
Carol,
If you don’t have a legitimate dental reason to remove your teeth, your insurance probably will not cover it. To be honest, it is not a great idea to have your teeth removed without cause. It will cause other problems in the long run. It is better just to wait and save up to have your amalgams replaced with white fillings, even if you just do it one at a time. If you’re worried about the mercury in your amalgam fillings, you’ll be safe doing it a little at a time. If you have any that are leaking, I’d start with those.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.
Questions about dentistry answered.