It’s often challenging to pinpoint what’s causing a headache, but our neuromuscular dentist has a keen eye for spotting headaches related to problems of the jaw and dentition. For instance, you may get headaches due to a misaligned bite, known medically as “malocclusion.” Or, you may get headaches due to dysfunction of the joints on either side of the face, known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD). One factor that makes an accurate headache diagnosis difficult is that TMJ-related headaches mimic sinus headaches. For this reason, many people who say they get sinus headaches may actually be suffering from headaches related to the temporomandibular joint. Sinus headaches and TMJ headaches share many symptoms, but there are also symptoms that set these two painful problems apart. Let’s take a look at what you’ll learn when you visit a Westchester, New York, neuromuscular dentist to discuss your headaches:

  • Shared symptoms of a sinus headache and TMJ headache
  • Symptoms only found in sinus infection
  • Symptoms only found in TMJ

Shared Symptoms of Sinus Infection and TMJ

One of the reasons medical professionals often misdiagnose headaches is that sinus infections and TMJ often present the same symptoms. The most common symptoms found in both of these conditions include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Facial pain and pressure
  • Stiffness in the neck
  • Ear symptoms such as ringing in the ears, pain, and fullness in the ears
  • Vertigo (dizziness)
  • Toothaches

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you may have a sinus infection or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. 

A sinus infection typically will present these symptoms:

  • Pain in the cheeks, forehead, and brow
  • A feeling of pressure or fullness along the cheeks, forehead, nose, and brow
  • Stuffy, congested nose 
  • Upper teeth ache
  • Worsening pain upon lying down or leaning forward
  • Fatigue

The following symptoms will be found with sinus infections but not with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder:

  • Nasal discharge that could be thick and discolored
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal congestion
  • Upset stomach
  • Fever

The following symptoms will be found in TMJ but not in sinus infections:

  • Pain in the jaw joints, cheeks, forehead, back of the head, and/or neck
  • Tight facial muscles, especially in the cheeks and jaw
  • Jaw tightness and restricted movement of the jaw (you can’t open your mouth wide)
  • Muscle spasms in the jaw or cheeks
  • Ear pain
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Clicking/popping noises in the jaw
  • Teeth feel out of alignment

Infected Tooth and Head Pain

If you have an infected tooth and have not sought treatment at our Westchester, New York, dentist’s office, your infection may have progressed to something much more serious. The pain from a toothache is often a sign that tooth decay has penetrated close to or into the tooth’s nerve. When a tooth infection enters the nerve, it can travel through the inside of the tooth into the sinuses. This could result in recurrent sinus infections that produce pain, fever, and many other uncomfortable symptoms. 

The connection between your dentition, jaw, and sinuses is strong, and when minor toothaches are ignored, you will almost always have bigger problems down the road. Once infection reaches the sinus cavity, you will definitely need to see your dentist in Westchester, Dr. Wanda Mejia.

You will find some combination of the following symptoms when a tooth is infected:

  • Discolored tooth
  • Swollen, tender gums around the tooth
  • Discharge from gums or tooth
  • Bad taste in the mouth and persistent bad breath
  • Sores on the gums

Tooth infections will require antibiotics and the skillful hands of a dentist to remove any infection and save your teeth and gums. The longer you wait to get treatment for infected teeth, the bigger the problem becomes.

If you have a sinus infection without an infected tooth, you will likely only experience:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Postnasal drip
  • Swollen, tender nose

Your Westchester County Dentist: Dr. Wanda Mejia

Westchester TMJ & Aesthetics is proud to call Dr. Mejia our dentist. Dr. Wanda Mejia is highly skilled with two dental degrees and over three decades of experience in treating TMJ. Her unique perspective and personalized approach to care set her apart. Dr. Mejia earned her first dental degree in the Dominican Republic and a second degree from New York University, where she also completed a specialized residency in dental implants. She further honed her expertise through a fellowship with Dr. Jay Gerber and training at the Center for Occlusal Studies and the Facial Beauty Institute. Dr. Mejia is a member of prestigious dental organizations, including the American Dental Association and the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics. Her warm and compassionate demeanor makes patients feel at home at Westchester TMJ & Aesthetics.

Get Relief for Headache Pain in Westchester County, New York

Why continue to suffer from headaches when you can see Dr. Wanda Mejia at Westchester TMJ & Aesthetics Wellness in Westchester, NY? Please contact us by phone (914) 594-6854, or fill out our online contact form. One dental team members will reach out to answer your questions or schedule a new patient examination.