Why a tooth can make your ear or head hurt
The nerves that supply the teeth, jaw, ear and temple area come from the same large facial nerve. The brain does not always place the source of pain accurately, so pain from a lower back tooth is often felt in the ear or along the jaw. This is called referred pain.
The lower wisdom tooth is close to the jaw joint and the muscles that close the jaw, and infection around it can make those muscles tighten and ache. That gives a headache in the temple and a jaw that opens less.
So an earache with a normal-looking ear, and a sore back tooth on the same side, is often dental. The wisdom tooth pain page lists the other causes of pain in this area.
The wisdom tooth problems that do it
Mostly pericoronitis: an infected gum flap over a partly erupted lower tooth. It can cause pain towards the ear, discomfort on swallowing and a stiff jaw.
An impacted tooth pressing on the one in front, decay in the wisdom tooth, or a cyst that has become infected. Upper wisdom teeth, which sit near the sinus, can give a dull ache in the cheek and head.
Clenching and grinding around a sore, high or ill-fitting tooth can also tire the jaw muscles, and lead to headaches on waking.
Clues that point to the tooth, and clues that do not
Dental clues: pain on biting or touching the back tooth, a swollen or bad-tasting gum behind the last molar, pain on the same side as the sore tooth, and pain that is worse when you chew.
Clues pointing elsewhere: a discharging or blocked ear, hearing loss, fever with a runny nose and facial pressure that suggest sinus trouble, jaw clicking and pain in front of the ear that suggest the jaw joint. A teen or adult with a healthy back of the mouth and persistent ear pain should see a doctor. See jaw pain for the joint causes.
Not every headache involves the teeth. Many headaches are tension, migraine or sinus related, and treating a healthy wisdom tooth does not cure them.
What to do, and when to be seen urgently
Book a dental exam with an X-ray. If a wisdom tooth is the source, treating the flap or removing the tooth settles the referred pain. Until then, warm salt water rinses and paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed on the label can help. Avoid ibuprofen if you have stomach ulcers, kidney disease or asthma that it triggers, if you are on blood thinners, or if you are pregnant, unless your doctor says otherwise.
Same-day care: facial swelling that is spreading, difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing, or a fever. If breathing or swallowing is affected, go to a hospital emergency department. Face swelling due to tooth infection explains this.
See a doctor promptly for a sudden severe headache unlike your usual ones, headache with a stiff neck, confusion, weakness or changes in vision. Those are not dental problems.
If the tooth does need to come out, what to expect is in do wisdom teeth need removing.
Common questions
Can wisdom teeth cause earache?
Yes. Pain from a lower wisdom tooth, especially an infected gum flap over it, is commonly felt in the ear on the same side, because the nerves are shared. If the ear itself looks normal and the back tooth is sore, the tooth is a likely source.
Can wisdom teeth cause headaches?
They can. Infection or an impacted tooth can tighten the jaw muscles and refer pain to the temple and side of the head. Many headaches have other causes, though, and removing a healthy wisdom tooth will not cure them.
Will the headache go away after removal?
If the wisdom tooth was the source, the referred pain usually settles once the infection is treated or the tooth is removed. If the headache continues, another cause such as tension, migraine, sinus or jaw joint trouble is likely, and needs a doctor's review.
How do I know whether my ear pain is from a tooth or an ear infection?
Dental ear pain comes with a sore back tooth, a tender gum or pain on biting, and a normal-looking ear. An ear infection often brings discharge, blocked hearing or fever. A dentist and a doctor can each rule out their half.
Can wisdom teeth cause jaw pain and a stiff jaw?
Yes. An infected gum flap or impacted tooth makes the nearby jaw muscles tighten, so the mouth opens less and the jaw aches. If you cannot open your mouth properly or the swelling spreads, you need same-day care.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Prices are prevailing Lucknow market ranges. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.