Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Sinus Problems?

Wisdom teeth can be a real pain in the mouth—and sinuses. In addition to the standard issues of overcrowding, misalignment, jaw pain, and more, wisdom teeth can cause significant issues with your sinuses.

Yes, if you still have your wisdom teeth, those persistent sinus issues (including pain, congestion, nasal discharge, and headaches) could be related to your teeth. As your wisdom teeth grow, their roots often press into the maxillary sinuses, causing recurring sinus pain, pressure, congestion, and even infections.

The Connection Between Wisdom Teeth and Sinus Problems

The face and head are a relatively compact landscape with a lot going on. The space between your jaw and nose and sinuses (and all their inner workings) is small, so they can affect each other in unexpected and sometimes unpleasant ways. When it comes to your wisdom teeth (also known as your “third molars” located at the very back of your mouth), the growing teeth and roots in your upper jaw can put pressure on your maxillary sinuses.

The maxillary sinuses are the hollow spaces behind your cheeks, located on either side of your nose. Since they’re so close to your upper jaw, these sinuses can be affected by wisdom teeth. The roots of your wisdom teeth, especially when they’re impacted, can crowd the sinuses, causing pressure and pain in your face. In addition, infections in your wisdom teeth—especially common with partial impactions—can easily travel the short distance between your teeth and sinuses.

Because of these potential complications, sinus issues are a common reason to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Five Symptoms Indicating Wisdom Teeth May Be Causing Issues

If you’re experiencing sinus issues and you still have your upper wisdom teeth, here are five symptoms that may indicate your teeth are to blame.

1. Sinus Pain and Pressure

When wisdom teeth are impacted, they often grow in every direction—except out. Impacted wisdom teeth usually take up more space in the jaw than usual, with the teeth and roots putting extra pressure on the surrounding structures of your face, including your sinus cavities. This crowding often leads to pain or a feeling of pressure in the jaw and cheeks.

2. Nasal Congestion and Postnasal Drip

Nasal congestion and discharge are common occurrences with an infection or irritation in the sinuses. Pressure from impacted wisdom teeth and a high risk of infection spreading from the affected teeth increases the likelihood of nasal congestion being caused by wisdom teeth. 

3. Headaches and Facial Pain

Headaches and pain are already common symptoms of problematic wisdom teeth. When your wisdom teeth hurt, that pain can radiate through the face, especially in the upper jaw and cheeks where the maxillary sinuses live. This pain may be worse if your wisdom teeth are pressing on your sinuses, causing inflammation or infection.

4. Recurring Sinus Infections

Partially impacted wisdom teeth are notorious for trapping bacteria between the tooth and the gums, but nearly all wisdom teeth are prone to infection due to their location in the back of the mouth. Bacteria in and around the tooth can lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and infections in the mouth. Even worse, those infections can also migrate into the sinuses, traveling the relatively short path between the tooth’s root and the sinus cavity. Frequent sinus infections can be caused by your wisdom teeth—and they don’t always respond well to standard treatments.

Related: Types of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

5. Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste

If you’ve noticed a change in your breath or food doesn’t taste like it used to, bacteria in and around your wisdom teeth may be to blame. Even when fully erupted, the location of these teeth makes them difficult to clean properly. If bacteria spreads to your sinuses, it can perpetuate the infection, making the issue even worse.

Importance of Consulting an Oral Surgeon

If your wisdom teeth are causing issues with your sinuses, it may be time to have them extracted. Removing wisdom teeth can relieve sinus pressure, lower your risk of infection, and reduce your pain. But the delicate connection between your teeth and your sinuses means you don’t want to leave this procedure to just anyone—you need an oral surgeon with extensive experience in wisdom teeth removal in NJ.

Our team of oral surgeons at Bergen Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is highly experienced at identifying potential issues between your sinuses and wisdom teeth and can recommend the most effective treatment. With the only dual-degree surgical team in Bergen County, NJ, we’re not just experts in oral surgery. Many of our surgeons are also medical doctors, which makes us even better equipped to understand and respond to any complications caused by your wisdom teeth. We are the area’s most trusted oral surgeons by patients and dentists.

Even more, we have a 70-year history of providing excellent oral care to the residents of North Jersey and parts of New York. Our four locations have a combined total of 2,000+ Google reviews. We’ve worked hard to earn those reviews along with the trust of our patients, striving to make the diagnosis and treatment of your wisdom teeth as painless as possible.

Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Sinus Problems and Wisdom Teeth

If your wisdom teeth are causing sinus problems, schedule a consultation at Bergen Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. I’m happy to see you at our Franklin Lakes or Westwood offices or you can make an appointment with one of my colleagues at our Hackensack or Ridgewood locations.

We will learn about your symptoms and concerns, perform an examination of your wisdom teeth, and recommend the best options for treatment, including wisdom teeth removal if appropriate. From consultation to recovery, your well-being and comfort are our top priority—and we’ve been doing it for more than 70 years, with the trust of both dentists and patients in Bergen County.

To learn more, call or text us at (866) 250-2667 or request an appointment online.

Learn more about wisdom teeth removal:

• What Sedation is Used for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
• What Happens if You Don’t Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
• How to Deal with Wisdom Tooth Pain

FAQ: Sinus Problems and Wisdom Teeth

Here are some of the most common questions our patients ask regarding the relationship between wisdom teeth and sinuses.

Can wisdom teeth cause ear and sinus problems?

Yes. The location of the upper wisdom teeth puts them near your maxillary sinus cavities. Wisdom teeth and their roots may put undue pressure on these cavities, causing pain and other symptoms. Infection in the wisdom teeth can also spread throughout the sinuses and even into the ears.

Can having your wisdom teeth removed cause sinus problems?

In a typical scenario, the removal of your wisdom teeth relieves problems in the sinuses instead of causing them. A skilled oral surgeon is key; the doctors at BOMS use their extensive training in both oral surgery and medicine to extract wisdom teeth with precision. If your teeth are already impacting the surrounding structures and systems, precision and expertise are key to preventing more issues down the line.

Can infected wisdom teeth cause sinus problems?

Because of the close connection between wisdom teeth and the maxillary sinuses, infection in the teeth can easily spread into the sinuses. Because of this, recurring sinus infections are common in patients with impacted and infected wisdom teeth.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth are affecting your sinuses?

If your wisdom teeth are impacting your sinuses, you may experience pain or discomfort in the sinuses, headaches, frequent congestion and sinus infections, and even bad breath. An oral surgeon can help you determine whether it’s really your wisdom teeth causing these issues, and what to do if it is.