Can a Toothache Cause Ear Pain?
A toothache can cause ear pain. A severely decayed tooth can cause significant pain radiating through the jaw, causing ear pain and headaches. Tooth grinding and clenching can cause temporomandibular joint disorder, resulting to further pain in the jaw, ear, neck, shoulder, and head.
Unfortunately, dental and ear pain can cause massive discomfort and affect your work, sleep, and eating. You should schedule an appointment with your dentist to get it looked at immediately. If your symptoms are severe, please call our dentist for emergency dental treatment in Marshfield, MA. Learn how a toothache can cause ear pain and what to do to alleviate the pain.
Why Can a Toothache Cause Ear Pain?
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Your jaw, teeth, and ear are part of the trigeminal system – a three-prolonged sensory nerve system. The system is responsible for sensations in several body structures, including the eyes, nose, ears, meninges, and mouth.
Ear pain from a toothache could result from trigeminal neuralgia (TN), which happens when your trigeminal nerve is compressed.
- Ear or sinus infection
Similarly, a toothache can accompany an infection in your ear or sinuses. Since the top teeth are right below the sinuses, pressure from an infection or inflammation in these areas can radiate pain in the mouth, causing a toothache.
- Dental problems
Severe tooth decay, cavity, or impacted tooth can cause significant pain in the jaw, which you can feel in the head or ears. Jawbone disorders like TMJ can also cause significant pain in the jaw, ear, and head.
Symptoms of a Toothache and Earache
Sometimes a toothache can be mistaken for an earache and vice versa. Knowing the common symptom of both conditions can help you diagnose your situation better.
Symptoms of a toothache
- Pain, especially when chewing or brushing
- Sensitivity or pain when taking hot or cold items
- Local pain around a specific tooth
- Bad breath or halitosis
- Earache
- Fever
- Dental abscess
- Swollen glands
The symptoms can be caused by numerous factors such as an infection, tooth decay, chronic bruxism, impacted wisdom tooth, sinus infection, dental work, gum disease, and dental trauma. Be sure to seek treatment to determine the primary cause, treat it, and relieve your symptoms.
Symptoms of an Earache
Typically, most symptoms of ear pain mimic those of tooth pain. They include:
- Pain in or around the ear
- Fever
- Sinus issues
- Hearing problems
- Difficulty balancing
- Loss of appetite
The symptoms can be caused by numerous factors, including ear infection, cold or flu, fluid in the eardrum, jaw and tooth problems, ear blockage, or ear injury. While most earache resolves independently, it’s essential to see a doctor to determine and address the primary problem.
How to manage Earache from a Toothache
Fortunately, you can do things to relieve your symptoms as you wait for professional treatment, including:
- Over-the-counter medication: OTC medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help manage pain. Your dentist or doctor can give you a strong painkiller for severe pain.
- Numbing pastes and gels like benzocaine: These products can help numb tooth pain until you find professional help.
- Ice or heat therapy: Use an ice pack to manage tooth pain. Ice and heat compress can help alleviate ear pain.
- Rinse with salt water: Along with pain medication or ice therapy, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can temporarily relieve a toothache. Salt water also helps clear away infections and reduce inflammation.
- Rest adequately: Strenuous activities like heavy lifting and exercises can cause significant pressure on the affected tooth, causing more pain. When resting, be sure to keep your head elevated.
- Avoid hard, cold, acidic, or hot foods and beverages: Taking these items can trigger pressure or sensitivity, worsening the pain.
- Use dental floss or mouth rinse to remove lodged debris between the teeth.
- Stay hydrated and use steam therapy to manage tooth or ear pain from sinus infections.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Do you have severe tooth pain that is causing ear pain? Contact Beautiful South Shore Smiles for emergency dentistry in Marshfield, MA.