How Oral Pain Affects Other Health Issues

Orofacial pain affects millions of people every year. Unfortunately, many of these people struggle to find adequate care and spend nearly 1½ years visiting different doctors before they get the answers and relief they need. Oral and facial pain can have far-reaching effects for not just your oral health, but also your overall health.

Researchers studying oral pain have found that about 33 percent of patients with mouth pain tend to have pain in at least two sites. Oral pain such as this is often associated with conditions such as lichen planus but can also be caused by salivary problems. Studies have further linked dental problems with other general health conditions such as digestive problems, heart disease, endocrine disorders and rheumatoid arthritis.

Many things can cause facial pain, including dry mouth, oral sores, canker sores, ulcers, burning mouth, TMJ and dental diseases. To address the pain, we need to find the exact cause of your pain. This can mean treating the sores, lesions and soft tissue abnormalities with laser dentistry or using preventive treatments to reduce dry mouth. If diabetes is causing oral thrush, you might need to get your blood glucose under control while using anti-fungal medications to treat the yeast infection. Those with TMJ might benefit from bite splints, physical therapy and medications.

When systemic conditions are causing oral pain, both issues must be addressed appropriately to reduce the risk of recurrence. This can require a multi-pronged approach. Call our office today to find out more or to schedule your dental appointment with our team.

Back to Blog