Sinus infection on one side?

[RealLifeClanger]

I've had one sided upper molar pain, jaw pain, ear pain for a few weeks and now the last couple of days sinus pressure and pain. I have post nasal drip and a bad taste in my mouth. I've been to the dentist last week but he said he wasn't convinced it was coming from a tooth and sent me away with some mouth wash because I had a sore gum around my back molar, which is a bit better now. I'm back at the dentist on Wednesday morning seeing my usual dentist for a something else so I'm going to ask her to have a look as well as I'm not convinced it's not coming from a tooth! The dentist I saw last week said my top molars extend in to my sinuses so any sinus problems will cause more pain but this all seemed to start with tooth, jaw and ear pain. The obvious sinus issues have only really ramped up the last couple of days.

I do have TMJ, which makes everything worse but I do wear a nightguard. Is it possible to have a sinus issue just on the one side and it not come from a tooth problem? I'm getting really fed up with it all now. Doing all the usual things to help, nasal spray, steam etc but obviously these will take time to work. The post nasal drip is horrible and making me feel sick.

Yes it is. Particularly bacterial infections can be one sided, when you get a pocket of infection trapped in one place. My left side is always the one to get infected after a cold. And it pushes down on my teeth. Not to say it couldn't be your teeth, but it could be a sinus problem.

Thank you. I'm really hoping it's not tooth related as I need to avoid antibiotics. Had too many of them for various things and they've ruined me!

@RealLifeClanger - I’ve had exactly the same symptoms as you! I had a very mild cold a couple of weeks ago then started getting one sided tooth, jaw and ear pain (left side ). I don’t have any obvious sinus issues but I have the post nasal drip. I have also been to the dentist but he said everything looks fine. If it carries on much longer I’m going to go to the Dr.

I had something similar a few weeks ago on the left side. The dentist ruled out tooth problems so eventually I went to the GP. I was prescribed antibiotics which shifted it. I don't know what the options would be if you can't have them.

@McCartneyOnTheHeath which antibiotics were you given and how long for? I'll see what the dentist says on Wednesday but if it's definitely not tooth related I'll go to the gp.

@Inastatus ah, hope you get sorted soon. Mine is very obviously in my sinus, my right nostril is really uncomfortable. Nothing is draining from my nose it's so inflamed. The bad taste and smell is awful as well.
Still worried about my teeth though, they're throbbing.

@RealLifeClanger - my teeth are also throbbing but I’m now convinced it’s more of a sinus thing. In the last 10 days I’ve seen my implant specialist (thought I had an infection in recently implanted teeth) and my normal dentist and neither could find anything wrong.
Hope you get sorted soon too.

Sorry I don't remember which ones but I was on them for just 5 days.

You may have sinusitis. On which case there's not much your dentist can do and you are best seeing your GP.

I am prone to sinusitis after a bad cold / flu. GP have previously prescribed me antibiotic ear drops, antibiotic nasal sprays, nasal rinse and antibiotics (amoxicillin). GP told me to keep on top of ibuprofen, paracetamol and decongestants / steam baths with olbas oil.

I found a warm compress (not great weather for that I know) and adult anbesol / bonjela on the gum helped with the sensitivity. Try sleeping with your head slightly upright too. I used a memory foam pillow wedge but a few pillows will do if you need to improvise.

Hope you feel better soon!

Oh, and yes it's entirely normal for sinusitis or sinus problems to only affect one side

Ibuprofen for the inflammation and cough medicine with guaifenesin to thin / clear mucus.

Some good tips here that I'd not previously considered, thank you!

@TabbyBeast I'm at the dentist anyway on Wednesday for a tooth impression (need an onlay on a lower tooth, lots going on!) so I was just going to run it by her to make sure. If it's definitely not tooth related and no better I'll go to the gp. Thanks for all the info!

Have you tried a saline rinse? I had terrible irritation on one side that drove me mad for a week. Had done a saline rinse then in a fit of temper held my other nostril shut and did a big blow….a horrid chunk of grey jelly flew out of my one nostril 🤦‍♀️🤮 I was right as rain after that.

Sounds as if you would feel better if the dentist rules out any dental problem which is sensible.

It really is the worst so I feel your pain. My last bout lasted 23 weeks! But I think that I was just particularly unlucky and it didn't respond much to any treatment.

Fingers crossed you are on the mend soon

Just remembered another tip! When my jaw pain / sensitivity was bad, I would brush my teeth with warm water which really helped

I had similar earlier in the year. I went to the pharmacy under the "pharmacy first" scheme and they prescribed 5 days of antibiotics. Dentist had also suggested nasal rinse which made me feel better too.
I think mine started with a dental infection but I did have a cold too. If I had realised it could be sorted so easily I wouldn't have put up with it for three months.

I went to see the nurse practitioner at my surgery this morning. She has just told me to use otc decongestant spray/tablets and see how I get on for another few weeks. I’m a bit annoyed that she didn’t give me antibiotics, I hate taking them and normally avoid them wherever possible but I’ve had my symptoms for nearly a month and it’s getting me down.

@Inastatus oh a month of this sounds miserable. They don't really like giving antibiotics for sinus infections anymore from what I can gather. I'm doing steam inhalation at the moment! Also sterimar regularly. When I had a similar problem last year a doctor told me to use Beconase spray in the morning and evening. It did help. I started using it yesterday so hoping it kicks in soon. Nothing much is coming out my nose, it's all going down my throat 😬 The constant swallowing, bad taste & smell is really bugging me.

@RealLifeClanger - I’m going to try the nasal rinse thing too.
Interestingly the nurse said she’d seen a lot of patients with this type of sinus issue recently.
Get well soon.

I saw my dentist today who said the tooth is definitely healthy and the issue seems to be more of a sinus problem. She did say there is some inflammation around the gum though so I have to take care of that.
I will persevere with the various sinus treatment and hopefully it will clear up soon.
@Inastatus hope you manage to get on top of it as well.

Did this get any better and clear without antibiotics OP? X

It did, yeah. Just took a while. My gp said antibiotics should be avoided for sinus infections as they're usually viral.