Can wisdom teeth cause headaches and earaches

Q: Can wisdom teeth cause ear ache?

If a wisdom tooths path to erupting is blocked, it grows in at an angle and wreaks havoc on your gums and jaw. Some of the signs of an impacted wisdom tooth include: Ear pain. Swelling, tenderness, and pain in gums.

If you’ve started to have mysterious headaches and you’re an older teen or a young adult, it’s possible that your wisdom teeth are the culprit. Wisdom teeth can cause headaches, and this is a relatively common issue that happens as your wisdom teeth emerge.

Table of Contents Show

Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Headaches As They Emerge Between The Ages Of 17-25
Should I Be Worried About My Wisdom Teeth? Signs They May Be Impacted
Worried About Your Wisdom Teeth? Come To Carmel Mountain Dental Care!
Rinse with salt water
Take an aspirin
Apply hot and cold therapy
Can wisdom teeth cause ear ache?
How do you know if your wisdom teeth are causing headaches?
How do you relieve ear pressure from wisdom teeth?
Can wisdom teeth cause ear and sinus problems?

Should you be concerned about headaches caused by wisdom teeth? The answer is yes… and no! We’ll get into detail below, and help you find out whether you should schedule an appointment with the dentists at Carmel Mountain Dental Care.

Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Headaches As They Emerge Between The Ages Of 17-25

First, let’s talk about what wisdom teeth are. They’re our third set of molars, and they usually erupt between the ages of 17-25. This is a lot later than our second set of molars, which erupt by the age of about 12-13.

As wisdom teeth emerge from your jaw, they put pressure on your gums, jaw bone, and the surrounding teeth and structures of your face. Since they’re so large, wisdom teeth can cause some pain and discomfort as they emerge.

This is not necessarily abnormal. If you’re experiencing a little bit of pain and discomfort and a few headaches, you should see a dentist to make sure your wisdom teeth are healthy and are growing into your mouth properly. If they are, they can be left intact, and your symptoms will stop after they’ve erupted fully.

Should I Be Worried About My Wisdom Teeth? Signs They May Be Impacted

If you have serious headaches that won’t go away, you may want to be on the lookout for some other symptoms that may indicate your wisdom teeth are “impacted.”

This means they are not erupting fully and properly. The wisdom teeth may be emerging at an angle, may be pushing against the other molars, or may simply be stuck in the jaw.

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, you may need tooth extractions to preserve your oral health. Here are a few signs that you may want to come to Carmel Mountain Dental Care for an oral health evaluation:

Pain in the rear of your mouth – Serious, prolonged pain in the rear of your mouth is not normal, and could indicate that your wisdom teeth are impacted and/or infected.
Jaw stiffness and soreness – Impacted or infected wisdom teeth can cause your jaw to feel stiff and sore. In some cases, you may have trouble moving your jaw and opening it fully.
Swollen, discolored gums – Gum discoloration near your wisdom teeth is a sign of bacterial buildup. As bacteria build, the gums tend to swell and take on a dark or reddish color, rather than their normal pink color.
Bad breath (halitosis) – Buildup of bacteria in your mouth can also cause bad breath. This is particularly common with impacted wisdom teeth, since it’s nearly impossible to clean them properly while brushing.

Worried About Your Wisdom Teeth? Come To Carmel Mountain Dental Care!

Headaches can be caused by wisdom teeth. Other conditions like TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), teeth grinding, and a bad bite can also contribute to headaches.

If you’re worried about your oral health or you are experiencing mysterious headaches, seeing a dentist at Carmel Mountain Dental Care will give you peace of mind. Our experienced dentists can diagnose your condition and suggest a personalized treatment plan. Whether you need a wisdom tooth extraction or any other dental care, we’re here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (858) 484-4880 to schedule an appointment right away.

Headaches can be traced to a variety of causes, including wisdom teeth that are emerging, impacted, or need to be removed.

Keep reading to learn why wisdom teeth can cause headaches, and how to treat pain from wisdom teeth.

Your wisdom teeth typically come in between the ages of 17 and 25. They’re your third set of molars, located at the very back of your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two on top and two on the bottom.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), your wisdom teeth begin to move through your jawbone and eventually break through your gum line about 5 years after your second set of molars come in. This movement can cause discomfort, including headaches.

If your wisdom teeth grow in improperly, they’re considered impacted. Impaction is common with wisdom teeth, often because there’s not enough room in the mouth for them to grow in. This may cause them to:

emerge at an angle
get stuck in the jaw
push against the other molars

When wisdom teeth grow into a mouth that doesn’t have enough room for them, it can cause other teeth to shift, resulting in an improper bite. An improper bite can cause your lower jaw to compensate, and this may cause pain and soreness, including headaches.

According to the Mayo Clinic, impacted wisdom teeth can also cause other problems resulting in pain and headaches, such as:

Tooth decay. Compared to your other teeth, decay seems to be a higher risk for partially impacted wisdom teeth.
Cysts. Your wisdom teeth develop in your jawbone in a sac. If the sac fills with fluid and becomes a cyst, it can cause damage to your jawbone, nerves, and teeth.
Gum disease. If you have an impacted wisdom tooth that’s partially erupted, it can be difficult to clean. This can increase your risk of a potentially painful inflammatory gum condition known as pericoronitis.
Damage to neighboring teeth. An impacted wisdom tooth may push against the second molar, causing damage or increasing the risk of infection.

If you’re experiencing gum pain or headaches from emerging or impacted wisdom teeth, here are some home remedies that may provide relief.

Rinse with salt water

Warm water salt rinses are a popular remedy for pain caused by emerging teeth. Research has shown that rinsing with sodium chloride (the scientific name for salt) and warm water can promote healthy gums and kill bacteria.

Keeping your mouth free of bacteria is particularly useful for emerging wisdom teeth. The area is hard to clean and wisdom teeth can cause gum disease when they break through your gums.

Along with warm water salt rinses, proper daily oral hygiene will also keep your mouth clean and bacteria-free. This includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day.

Take an aspirin

Aspirin is a tried and true remedy for headaches, even those caused by wisdom teeth. A 2015 study showed that aspirin is effective at dulling dental pain. Follow label instructions and don’t take more than the recommended dose.

Apply hot and cold therapy

You can also try hot and cold therapy. Applying an ice pack to your cheeks can help reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling, while heat pads can loosen tense muscles and improve blood flow to the area. These benefits can help relieve or avoid headache pain.

Your third molars, or wisdom teeth, can cause discomfort, including headaches, when they’re moving up through your jawbone and emerging from your gum line.

Dental decay or oral surgery to remove impacted wisdom teeth can also cause postoperative headaches.

Although extraction is a typical treatment for impacted wisdom teeth, not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. The ADA recommends that wisdom teeth be X-rayed and monitored for all teenagers and young adults.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you have:

sharp persistent pain
frequent headaches
bloody saliva
swelling

Can wisdom teeth cause ear ache?

If a wisdom tooth's path to erupting is blocked, it grows in at an angle and wreaks havoc on your gums and jaw. Some of the signs of an impacted wisdom tooth include: Ear pain. Swelling, tenderness, and pain in gums.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth are causing headaches?

How Will You Know If Your Headache is Caused By Wisdom Teeth?.

Bad breath that does not go away with brushing..

Jaw pain or soreness..

A dull, throbbing sensation in your back teeth..

Pain when opening your mouth wide..

Swelling in your gums..

Difficulty swallowing..

How do you relieve ear pressure from wisdom teeth?

Over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen, are used to treat pain (in the ear, jaw or teeth). If ear infections are common or severe, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Can wisdom teeth cause ear and sinus problems?

Once again, the answer is yes: wisdom teeth can cause sinus issues, though this does not happen frequently. Sinus problems caused by wisdom teeth can range from pressure in the sinuses to headaches to stuffiness. The issue occurs when the teeth grow in on the upper jaw.