You learn something new everyday in this business. That’s for sure. I spoke with an elderly lady last week who told me her dentist had advised her to get a dust mite proof cover for her mattress. Yes, the dentist was able to diagnose a sinus infection from her dental x-ray!
We discussed how to measure the mattress for the cover and about the different type of fabric. We decided that she would be most happy with the AllergyCare 100% Cotton. Still, during the entire conversation, I kept hearing a little voice in my head saying “Seriously, the dentist told her to do this?”
As soon as we ended our conversation I fired up the trusty Google search and looked for the connection between dust mites and dentists. I was amazed.
Dentists frequently see patients with a toothache that is not a toothache. The person has a sinus infection, usually caused by uncontrolled allergies or a recent head cold that has not been resolved. But, they think it is a tooth that hurts when it is a sinus infection that is the source of pain.
From a dental x-ray, the dentist can see the maxillary sinus. Because it runs next to the upper teeth, pain from this sinus area is frequently confused with a toothache.
So, if you have a toothache in that area, ask yourself if you have had a cold recently and if you are prone to sinus infections. If you have taken an antihistamine or decongestant and the toothache went away, then your problem is probably a sinus infection. You need to see the doctor, not a dentist.
The Allergy Store