Toothaches and earaches are common complaints that can cause significant discomfort and affect a person’s quality of life at any age. But did you know these two issues can be connected? Understanding the relationship between toothache and earache can help you identify the root cause of your pain and seek the appropriate treatment.
Here we explore how dental problems can lead to ear pain, the signs to watch for, and when it’s time to consult a professional. Conversely, we’ll also look at how ear issues can end up causing tooth pain, and what you can do about it.
The Connection Between Your Teeth And Ears
It’s easy to overlook any link between your teeth and ears, but they’re probably more interconnected than you think. Due to their close proximity to one another and shared nerve pathways, pain from a dental infection or similar issue in your mouth can radiate to your ears, and vice versa. That’s why it’s always a good idea to visit a healthcare professional when you have tooth pain or ear discomfort, so you can pinpoint the root cause and get the appropriate medical attention.
Examples Of Tooth Problems That Can Cause Ear Pain
There are a variety of different tooth issues that can cause ear pain. These include:
Tooth Abscess: An untreated tooth infection can lead to an abscess, causing pain that radiates to the ear.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth: When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to grow or develop normally, they can press on nearby teeth or nerves, leading to pain that extends to your ear.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Problems with your jaw joints can cause pain in the ear. TMJ disorders are often linked to teeth grinding, misalignment, or arthritis.
Tooth Decay and Cavities: Deep cavities can reach the inner layers of the tooth, affecting nerves and causing pain that can be felt in the ear.
Gum Disease: Advanced gum disease can affect the surrounding tissues and bone, leading to pain that may radiate to the ear area.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Grinding or clenching your teeth can cause muscle tension and pain in the jaw, which can extend to your ears.
Sinus Infections: Your upper teeth share nerve pathways with the sinuses, so an infection in the sinus cavities can cause pain in both the teeth and ears.
Examples Of Ear Problems That Can Cause Tooth Pain
Some common ear issues that may end up causing pain in your teeth include:
Ear Infections: Inflammation and infection in the middle ear can cause referred pain to your teeth and jaw due to the shared nerve pathways.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Issues with the Temporomandibular Joint, located near the ear, can cause pain that radiates to your teeth. Symptoms often include ear pain, headaches, and jaw discomfort.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: When the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, is blocked or doesn’t function properly, it can cause pressure and pain that extends to the teeth and jaws.
Mastoiditis: An infection of the mastoid bone, located just behind the ear, can cause severe pain that may be felt in the teeth and jaw area. This condition often follows untreated ear infections.
Earwax Buildup: Excessive earwax can cause pressure and discomfort in your ear, which may radiate to the jaw and teeth, leading to pain and discomfort.
Tinnitus: Persistent ringing or noise in your ears can sometimes be associated with jaw and tooth pain, especially if it’s linked to TMJ disorders.
Meniere’s Disease: This inner ear disorder can cause vertigo, tinnitus, and ear pressure, which may be accompanied by referred pain in your jaw and/or teeth.
Common Ear Infection Symptoms
When you have an ear infection, some of the common symptoms you may notice include:
Ear Pain: This can range from mild discomfort to severe pain.
Hearing Loss: Affected hearing in the infected ear.
Fluid Drainage: Clear, yellow, or bloody fluid draining from the ear.
Pressure or Fullness: A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear.
Fever: Especially in children.
Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the ear.
Vertigo: A sense of spinning or loss of balance.
Irritability: Particularly in infants and young children.
Common Tooth Infection Symptoms
Here are some of the common symptoms of a tooth infection to watch for:
Severe, Persistent Toothache: Pain that may radiate to the jawbone, neck, or ear.
Sensitivity to Hot and Cold: Discomfort when eating or drinking hot or cold foods.
Swelling: Swelling in the face, cheek, or lymph nodes in the neck.
Fever: Elevated body temperature.
Bad Breath: Foul smell or taste in the mouth.
Redness and Swelling of Gums: Particularly around the affected tooth.
Difficulty Chewing or Biting: Pain when pressure is applied to the tooth, as in chewing or biting.
Which Nerves Might Be Affected?
The teeth and ears share connections through several nerves that can contribute to referred pain between these areas. The primary nerves involved include:
Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V)
- The trigeminal nerve is the main sensory nerve for the face, teeth, and mouth. It has three major branches:
Ophthalmic Branch
- Provides sensation to the forehead and eye area.
Maxillary Branch
- Provides sensation to the upper teeth, sinuses, and middle part of the face.
Mandibular Branch
- Provides sensation to the lower teeth, jaw, and part of the ear.
- Referred pain from dental issues can travel along the maxillary or mandibular branches and be felt in the ear area.
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
- The facial nerve controls muscles of facial expression and provides some sensory information from the ear.
- Problems with the facial nerve, such as Bell’s palsy or infections, can sometimes cause pain that radiates to the teeth.
Glossopharyngeal Nerve (Cranial Nerve IX)
- This nerve provides sensation to parts of the throat and the back of the tongue, as well as the middle ear.
- Pain from issues in the throat or ear can sometimes be referred to the teeth via the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Vagus Nerve (Cranial Nerve X)
- The vagus nerve innervates various structures in the ear, throat, and some internal organs.
- Referred pain can sometimes occur if the vagus nerve is irritated, potentially causing discomfort in the teeth and jaw.
Auriculotemporal Nerve
- This is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3) that provides sensation to the ear and temple area.
- Dental issues or TMJ disorders can cause referred pain through this nerve, leading to ear pain.
Working With Us At Li Family Dental
If you have issues with your teeth, whether they include ear pain or not, reach out to us here at Li Family Dental to get the help you need. We have a wide range of dental services available to protect your oral health and keep your smile bright.
Give us a call at 416-232-2033 or request an appointment by clicking here.