Your tooth has been throbbing since yesterday, and now your head hurts too. Or it goes the other way: you wake up with a headache and your upper teeth feel sore. It makes sense to wonder whether the two are connected, and whether you need a dentist, a doctor, or just a pain reliever and some rest.
Here is how tooth pain and head pain are linked, the dental problems that most often cause both, and when to get help quickly.
In this article
Can a toothache cause a headache
Yes. Cleveland Clinic lists headaches among the symptoms of a toothache.
The reason is the wiring. The trigeminal nerve carries feeling from your upper and lower teeth and from large parts of your face (Cleveland Clinic). When a tooth is inflamed or infected, the pain can travel along that nerve and show up in your jaw, temple, ear or the area around your eye. This is called referred pain: you feel it somewhere other than where it starts, which is why a bad tooth can feel like a headache.
Which dental problems can cause headaches
These are the usual suspects when tooth pain and head pain show up together:
- A deep cavity or an infected tooth. When decay or infection reaches the nerve, the throbbing can spread well beyond the tooth. An infection can also bring swelling and fever.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth (bruxism). Cleveland Clinic lists headaches or facial pain, especially in the morning, along with sore jaw muscles, as signs of grinding.
- Jaw joint problems (TMD, often called TMJ). Symptoms include jaw or face pain, headaches, earaches, and clicking or popping when you open your mouth (Cleveland Clinic).
- A cracked tooth, which can hurt when you chew or when something hot or cold touches it.
- A wisdom tooth that is coming in at an angle or is only partly through the gum. The jaw pain and pressure it causes can spread like other tooth pain.
What if the headache came first
Sometimes the cause runs the other way. The roots of your upper back teeth sit just under your sinuses. When the sinuses are congested or infected, the pressure can make those teeth ache (Healthline).
Sinus-related tooth pain tends to:
- affect several upper back teeth rather than one
- get worse when you bend over or jump, and ease when you sit or lie down
- come with a stuffy nose, pressure in your face, or a recent cold
A toothache from a dental problem is more often focused on one tooth and can feel more intense (Healthline). If the tooth still hurts after your congestion clears, have it checked.
How can you tell what is causing the pain
These clues can point you in the right direction. They are not a diagnosis, and an exam (sometimes with an X-ray) is the way to know for sure.
| Clue | Often points toward |
|---|---|
| Pain centered on one tooth, worse with hot, cold or biting | A dental problem such as a cavity, crack or infection |
| Several upper back teeth ache along with congestion | Sinus pressure |
| A headache or sore jaw when you wake up, or teeth that look worn or flat | Grinding or clenching |
| Pain near the ear, or clicking and popping when you open your mouth | The jaw joint (TMD) |
What can you do for the pain right now
Until a dentist can look at it, a few simple steps can make the pain easier to live with:
- Use an over-the-counter pain reliever only at the dose the package lists, and only if it is safe for you to take.
- Wrap ice or a cold pack in a cloth and rest it on your cheek, a few minutes at a time.
- Chew on the opposite side, and avoid food or drinks that are very hot, very cold or sweet.
- Keep aspirin off your gums. Placed there, it can injure the soft tissue.
- If you think you clench, notice your jaw during the day and let your teeth sit slightly apart.
None of this treats the cause. A toothache that lasts longer than two days should be checked by a dentist (Cleveland Clinic).
When is tooth pain with a headache an emergency
Cleveland Clinic advises going to an emergency room if you have:
- swelling below your eye or a knot on your jaw
- a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- unbearable tooth pain that does not get better with medication
- bleeding that will not stop with pressure
Call 911 if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow. A sudden, severe headache, especially with confusion, weakness or changes in your vision, also needs emergency care right away.
For swelling in your face or jaw, or pain when you open your mouth wide, call a dentist promptly (Cleveland Clinic).
Getting seen at Dentique Dental Care
Dr. Xhelo Shuaipaj sees patients at our Downers Grove and Lemont offices. Because one dentist covers both offices, we cannot promise a same-day opening. Call and tell us what is going on, and we will look for the earliest time we can see you. If you reach voicemail, leave a message and we will call you back.
Plenty of people delay a visit because the dentist makes them anxious. We offer laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and oral conscious sedation, which is a pill that helps you relax. However many years it has been, nobody here will make you feel bad about it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tooth infection cause a headache?
Yes. When infection sets in, the throbbing often travels past the tooth into the jaw, ear or head. If you also have a fever or swelling in your face, treat it as urgent.
Can grinding your teeth cause headaches?
Yes. Morning headaches or facial pain, along with sore jaw muscles, are common signs of grinding (Cleveland Clinic). A custom mouth guard made by a dentist protects your teeth and can ease strain on the jaw muscles (Cleveland Clinic).
Can wisdom teeth cause headaches?
They can play a part. A wisdom tooth that is stuck, coming in crooked or infected can cause jaw pain and swelling, and that pain can spread toward the ear or head. An exam and an X-ray show whether your wisdom teeth are the cause.
Should I see a dentist or a doctor first?
If the pain centers on a tooth or your jaw, start with a dentist. If several upper teeth ache along with congestion, your doctor may be the better first stop. If the tooth pain stays after the sinus symptoms clear, see a dentist.
