Social Question

FluffyChicken's avatar

Why does one's teeth hurt when one has been crying?

Asked by FluffyChicken (5521points) July 14th, 2011

What a strange thing! Why does it happen?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

16 Answers

Berserker's avatar

I’ve never experienced that…do you mean the sort of bloated feeling your teeth get when you cry, but try not to let any sound come out? I’ve had that happen, but it doesn’t hurt. For me it’s usually my temples that start hurting a bit. More detail?

atomicmonkey's avatar

I’ve never noticed that!

But then, I have never once cried, being an Australian male.

FluffyChicken's avatar

@Symbeline No, when I cry all my teeth ache. Especially if I’ve been crying for some time.

Berserker's avatar

@FluffyChicken Weird…I’ve never heard of that. This isn’t an offending question; how healthy are your teeth? This might help us try to find something out.

josie's avatar

When you cry, histamine causes the mucous membranes in your nasal cavity to swell. This closes the ostium from the maxillary sinus. Fluid in the sinus builds up and exerts pressure against the apices of your maxillary teeth, which is uncomfortable or even painful.

Berserker's avatar

@josie That’s probably something I should already know. Thanks for teaching me something today. :)

FluffyChicken's avatar

Wow! Exactly what I was wondering. Thank you @josie
@Symbeline Yeah they aren’t the healthiest of teeth, but they’re the ones I have.

Berserker's avatar

@FluffyChicken Yeah, I wasn’t hacking on the case of your teeth. But people with not so healthy teeth may feel pain, or disturbing sensations through things like loud and high pitched noises, or having something really cold or really hot in their mouth. I thought that perhaps it might be related to the crying thing.

FluffyChicken's avatar

Yeah, I’m not fantastic about remembering to brush, and have a few small cavities, but I’ve had sensitive teeth all my life.

Berserker's avatar

Maybe what @josie explained might accomodate your teeth situation. Or maybe that just happens to everyone. Well, no matter, his answer is a good lead, so far.

Only138's avatar

My teeth don’t hurt either.

FluffyChicken's avatar

@Only138 Well, have you been crying?

anartist's avatar

Swollen sinuses can press on tooth-root nerve endings. Any serious congestion of the sinuses located near the teeth can do this. Is it particularly your upper teeth.

FluffyChicken's avatar

@anartist Yes, indeed it is.

Bellatrix's avatar

Wow, thank you for that lesson @josie…. never knew that either. My teeth don’t hurt when I cry.

Only138's avatar

@FluffyChicken No, I have not been crying, but when I have in the past, my teeth did NOT hurt.

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