Can a toothache cause a headache?

Can a toothache cause a headache?

Yes, in several ways. Cleveland Clinic says a tooth abscess can cause severe tooth pain that is shooting or throbbing and may radiate to the ear, jaw or neck, and lists headaches among the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, with pain that radiates to the jaw, face and head. NIDCR describes headaches linked to temporomandibular disorders. Because teeth, jaw and head share nearby nerves, pain from one area can be felt in another.

Can sinuses cause a toothache?

Yes. Healthline says the roots of the upper teeth sit close to the sinuses, so sinus inflammation can cause pain in the upper rear teeth, usually several at once, with congestion or facial pressure. Healthline's page on cheekbone and tooth pain says a sinus infection involves inflammation of the maxillary sinus near the cheekbones, with a runny nose, congestion, headache and cheek pain that can spread to the teeth. Sinus infections can also cause headache on their own.

How to tell the causes apart

Healthline gives general patterns, not diagnostic rules, and says only a clinician can confirm the cause.

• Nasal congestion, a runny nose and pain that is worse when bending over suggest a sinus infection.
• Pain in one tooth, with swelling, fever, a bad taste or discharge, suggests a tooth abscess.
• Pain with jaw movement, clicking or popping suggests a TMJ disorder.
• Brief, electric-like pain triggered by touch or chewing suggests trigeminal neuralgia.
• Morning headaches or jaw soreness may come from grinding teeth.

A tooth infection can spread

Cleveland Clinic says a tooth abscess can cause fever, swollen lymph nodes and swelling of the jaw, and Healthline says that if untreated, an abscess can spread to the jawbone and cause severe jaw pain with fever, chills, sweating or fatigue. Headache with a dental infection, fever or facial swelling should be treated as urgent, as our guide on tooth infections explains.

Can a toothache cause a headache in a child?

The sources we read do not describe this specifically. If a child has tooth pain with fever, swelling or headache, see a dentist or doctor promptly.

When it could be your heart

Healthline says jaw, cheek or neck pain can be a symptom of coronary artery disease, and to seek emergency care for chest pain, shortness of breath, arm discomfort or weakness. The NHS says pain spreading to the jaw with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or pale skin needs a 999 call. Do not assume tooth pain with these symptoms is dental.

What helps until you are seen

Cleveland Clinic lists warm salt water rinses, a wrapped ice pack on the jaw and over-the-counter pain relief as temporary measures for toothache, and Healthline lists saline rinses and steam for sinus pressure. Home care does not fix the cause. Cleveland Clinic advises calling a dentist for a toothache lasting longer than two days.

What a dentist or doctor will do

A dentist will examine the tooth and take X-rays to look for decay, an abscess or an impacted tooth, and may check the jaw joint. A doctor can assess the sinuses. Healthline says to see a doctor if a dentist finds no dental cause, and to see a dentist if the toothache persists after sinus symptoms clear.

Questions to ask your dentist or doctor

If you often get headaches with tooth or jaw pain, these questions help find the cause.

• Is my pain coming from a tooth, my jaw joint, my sinuses or something else?
• Do I grind or clench my teeth, and would a night guard help?
• Do I need X-rays or a referral to a doctor for my sinuses or headaches?
• Which symptoms mean I should come in the same day?
• Could a medicine or habit be contributing?

Frequently asked questions