Try swallowing, yawning, or chewing sugar-free gum. The same moves that help you open your ears on an airplane might provide temporary relief when your ears are plugged for other reasons.
If a sinus headache is caused by infection, the best treatment is getting rid of the infection, either on its own over time or with medication. In the meantime, home treatments that might help include:
- Warm compresses
- Decongestants
- Saline nasal sprays
One thing to keep in mind — many headaches that seem like sinus headaches may actually be migraine attacks or tension headaches. They aren’t caused by infections. So, they might respond best to pain medicines or other more targeted medicines prescribed by a doctor.
Your headache is more likely to be a migraine if it’s triggered by noise or bright lights, or if you have nausea and vomiting.
It’s more likely to be caused by a sinus infection if it happens with:
- A cold or shortly afterward
- Thick, discolored mucus
- A decreased sense of smell
- Pain in one cheek or your upper teeth
Consult your doctor if you have:
- Nasal congestion and sinus pressure for more than 10 days
- A high fever, which is 103 F in adults and lower in children and babies (check with your pediatrician for guidance)
- A sore throat
- Discolored mucus
- Severe headaches or other pain that doesn’t get better with painkillers
Nasal congestion and sinus pressure can make you feel lousy. But some good self-care, along with over-the-counter medicines if needed, can go a long way toward making you feel better. When your symptoms are caused by colds or other passing infections, they usually go away in a few days. When they’re caused by allergies or nonallergic sensitivities to common irritants, you may need a longer-term strategy to keep breathing clearly.
Can sinus congestion cause tooth pain?
Yes, sinus congestion can cause pressure that spreads to your jaws and teeth. You are most likely to feel it in your upper back teeth because your largest sinuses sit right over them. But always get a persistent toothache checked by a dentist.
Can sinus congestion make you dizzy?
Yes, you can get dizzy when you have sinus congestion. The cause is likely inflammation, swelling, and fluid in your Eustachian tubes, the passages that connect your ears to your sinuses. That fluid and pressure can affect the inner ear structures that maintain your sense of balance.
