When you have a cold, experiencing pain in your lower teeth can be a puzzling symptom. While discomfort in the upper teeth is often linked to sinus pressure, lower teeth pain might seem less straightforward. This article explores the biological reasons why a common cold can lead to an aching sensation in your lower jaw and teeth.
Understanding Referred Pain
Pain felt in your lower teeth during a cold is frequently a manifestation of referred pain. This occurs when discomfort originating in one part of the body is perceived in another, seemingly unrelated area. Nerves in the head and neck are intricately interconnected, sharing pathways that lead to the brain. For instance, nerves supplying the ears, throat, and jaw are part of a complex network. When one area is irritated or inflamed due to a cold, the brain can misinterpret the source of the pain, projecting it to nearby regions like the lower teeth.
A sore throat or an ear infection, common cold complications, can trigger this referred sensation. The nerves involved in these areas, such as branches of the trigeminal nerve and cervical spinal nerves, converge in the brainstem’s trigeminocervical nucleus. This convergence means that signals from a sore throat or ear can be perceived by the brain as originating from the jaw or teeth. Consequently, the discomfort feels like a toothache, even though the actual problem lies elsewhere in the head or neck.
General Inflammation and Nerve Sensitivity
A cold triggers a systemic inflammatory response throughout the body. When your immune system fights off a cold virus, it releases various chemical mediators, including cytokines and histamines, which contribute to widespread inflammation. This generalized inflammation can increase the sensitivity of nerves throughout your body, including those that supply your teeth.
Even minor dental issues, such as small cavities, gum sensitivity, or microscopic cracks in tooth enamel, might typically go unnoticed. However, when nerves become hypersensitized by the body’s inflammatory reaction to a cold, these pre-existing conditions can become noticeably painful. This heightened sensitivity contributes to the ache you feel in your teeth during illness.
Jaw Muscle Strain and Teeth Clenching
The general discomfort associated with a cold, including nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, and even fever, can inadvertently lead to increased tension in the jaw muscles. Many people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth, a habit known as bruxism, especially during times of stress or illness. This sustained muscle tension puts mechanical stress on the jaw joints and the teeth themselves.
The constant pressure from clenching or grinding can cause aching and soreness in the lower teeth and jaw, mimicking the sensation of a true toothache. This mechanical strain can be particularly pronounced during sleep, as the unconscious clenching may continue for extended periods. The resulting muscle fatigue and pressure on the teeth contribute to the dental discomfort during a cold.