Can a Toothache Cause a Headache? Why It Happens and How to Get Relief
Yes, a toothache can cause a headache. Your teeth and much of your head share the same main nerve, so pain from a cavity, a cracked tooth, an infection, or a clenched jaw is often felt in your temple, forehead, or behind your eye. The good news is that a toothache headache usually goes away once the dental problem is treated.
Quick answer
The most common dental causes of headaches are an infected or deeply decayed tooth, grinding or clenching, a TMJ problem, and an impacted wisdom tooth. Sinus infections can also work the other way, making healthy upper teeth ache.
For quick relief, most adults do best with ibuprofen, alone or combined with acetaminophen, if those medicines are safe for them (ADA guidance). After that, see a dentist to fix the cause.
Get emergency care for a sudden, severe headache unlike any you have had, a headache with a stiff neck or confusion, or tooth pain with facial swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing.
Why a Toothache Causes a Headache
The link is a nerve called the trigeminal nerve. Specifically, it carries feeling from your teeth, gums, jaw, face, and parts of your scalp to the brain. Because these areas share the same wiring, the brain cannot always tell exactly where pain starts. As a result, pain from a lower molar may feel like it is in your ear or temple. Doctors call this referred pain.
There is also a muscle connection. For example, when a tooth hurts, you tend to chew on one side and tense your jaw. Then, over a few hours, those tight muscles in the cheek and temple can add a tension-type headache on top of the tooth pain.
Dental Causes of Headaches and How to Tell Them Apart
Where you feel the pain, and what makes it worse, point to different causes:
| Possible cause | What the headache feels like | Other clues |
|---|---|---|
| Infected or abscessed tooth | Throbbing, often one-sided, may reach the ear or eye | Pain when biting, swelling, bad taste, fever |
| Deep cavity | Aching that builds with the toothache | Sharp pain with sweets, hot, or cold |
| Cracked tooth | Comes in waves after chewing | Jolt of pain when you bite or release |
| Grinding or clenching | Dull ache at the temples, often on waking | Sore jaw, worn or chipped teeth |
| TMJ disorder | Aching around the ear and side of the head | Jaw clicking, trouble opening wide |
| Wisdom tooth problem | Pressure at the back of the jaw spreading upward | Swollen gum behind the last molar |
| Sinus infection | Pressure over cheeks and forehead | Several upper teeth ache; worse bending forward |
A Closer Look at Each Cause
Tooth infection. When bacteria reach the nerve inside a tooth, pressure builds at the root. Mayo Clinic describes abscess pain as a severe, throbbing toothache that can spread to the jawbone, neck, or ear (source). Our guide to the signs of a tooth infection explains what else to watch for.
Grinding and clenching. In fact, many people grind their teeth at night without knowing it. According to Mayo Clinic, a common sign is a dull headache starting at the temples, along with a tired jaw and worn teeth. So if your headaches show up first thing in the morning, grinding is a strong suspect.
TMJ disorders. Problems with the jaw joint cause aching around the ear, facial pain, headaches, and tooth pain together with jaw tenderness (Mayo Clinic). Also, stress, clenching, and injuries can all play a part.
Wisdom teeth. A wisdom tooth that only partly comes in leaves a flap of gum where food and bacteria collect. As a result, that area can get swollen and infected, and the pain often spreads up the side of the face.
Sinus infections. The roots of the upper back teeth sit right below the sinuses. That is why aching teeth are a known sinusitis symptom. In this case, treating the sinus problem, not the teeth, brings relief.
How to Relieve a Toothache and Headache at Home
- Take the right pain reliever. The American Dental Association recommends nonopioid medicine first for dental pain, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, alone or combined with acetaminophen. Follow the label and ask your doctor if you have health conditions or take other medicines.
- Use a cold compress. Hold it on your cheek for 15 minutes at a time to calm swelling and throbbing.
- Rinse with warm salt water. It cleans the area and can soothe sore gums.
- Rest your jaw. Meanwhile, eat soft foods, chew on the other side, and avoid gum.
- Keep your head up. Using an extra pillow can ease pressure from an infected tooth at night.
- Avoid triggers. Very hot, cold, or sugary foods can set off a sensitive tooth.
Herbal remedies get a lot of attention online, but most have little proof. We cover the research in our article on natural antibiotics for tooth infections.
When to See a Dentist
Call a dentist soon if any of these apply:
- The toothache and headache last more than a day or two
- Pain wakes you up at night or needs pain relievers around the clock
- One tooth hurts when you bite or tap on it
- You notice gum swelling, a bump on the gum, or a bad taste
- You wake up with jaw pain or headaches most mornings
At Luxe Dental in Lauderhill, we start by finding the source. For instance, that may mean treating an infected tooth with a root canal, which our endodontist Dr. Jonathan Journo performs in the office, or removing a tooth that cannot be saved. Similarly, for grinding, a custom night guard protects your teeth and can ease morning headaches.
Questions
Toothache and Headache FAQs
Is it normal to have a headache with a toothache?
Yes, it is common. Your teeth, jaw, and much of your head share the same main nerve, so pain from one tooth can be felt in the temple, forehead, or behind the eye. Still, it is a sign the tooth needs attention.
Can a tooth infection cause a headache on one side?
Yes. An infected upper or lower back tooth often causes a one-sided headache on the same side, sometimes with ear pain. If you also have swelling or a fever, see a dentist the same day.
How do I know if my headache is from my teeth?
Clues include a headache that starts or worsens when you chew, one tooth that is sore to bite on, sensitivity to hot or cold, or jaw soreness when you wake up. A dental exam and an X-ray can confirm it.
Can wisdom teeth cause headaches?
They can. A wisdom tooth that is partly erupted can trap food and get infected, and a crowded one can press on nearby teeth. Both can cause jaw pain that spreads to the head.
Can sinus problems make my teeth hurt?
Yes. Mayo Clinic lists aching teeth as a symptom of acute sinusitis. Sinus-related tooth pain usually affects several upper back teeth at once and gets worse when you bend forward.
What is the fastest way to relieve a toothache headache?
For most adults, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, with or without acetaminophen, works best, as long as it is safe for you. A cold compress on the cheek helps too. Then book a dental visit, because the pain will return if the cause is not treated.
Toothache and Headache Not Going Away?
Our emergency dentist in Lauderhill can find what is causing the pain and treat it, often the same day you call.
Luxe Dental · 5280 N University Dr, Lauderhill, FL 33351
Sources
- American Dental Association. Oral analgesics for acute dental pain. (link)
- Mayo Clinic. Tooth abscess: symptoms and causes. (link)
- Mayo Clinic. Bruxism (teeth grinding): symptoms and causes. (link)
- Mayo Clinic. TMJ disorders: symptoms and causes. (link)
- Mayo Clinic. Acute sinusitis: symptoms and causes. (link)
Read next
- Signs of a Tooth InfectionHow to tell an infected tooth from a toothache that can wait a few days.
- Why Do Toothaches Feel Worse at Night?Why the ache gets louder at bedtime and what gives you a few hours of sleep.
- Strongest Natural Antibiotic for a Tooth InfectionWhich home remedies actually dull dental pain while you wait for an appointment.