Not all toothaches are the same. There are differences in the severity, location, type, frequency, and triggers that determine how your toothache experience will go. Similarly, many people wonder, can toothaches cause headaches?
Understanding the relationship between toothaches and headaches is the first step to finding lasting relief. This article explores why and how a toothache can cause a headache, considering the four leading root causes.
Why Do Toothaches Cause Headaches?
There are two main reasons why toothaches cause headaches: shared nerve connection and underlying issues that affect both the head and tooth.
Shared Nerve Connection
The primary mechanism behind why a toothache causes headaches is the shared nerve connection between the tooth and the rest of the head.[1] Nerves function as the body’s communication network, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Nerves are often grouped based on where they originate: cranial (arising in the brain) and spinal nerves (arising in the spine). The fifth and largest of the 12 cranial nerves is the trigeminal nerve (CN V), and it is a mixed nerve type responsible for facial sensation. Mixed nerves carry signals to and away from the brain.
When someone has a toothache, the trigeminal nerve relays pain signals to the brain. However, because the trigeminal nerve also innervates the rest of the face, pain from a toothache can be directly transferred to a different territory of the head. This kind of pain is known as referred pain, and is the cause of almost all cases of headache and toothache.[2]
Underlying Issues Affecting Both Areas
Another potential reason why toothaches cause headaches is an underlying issue that can affect both the head and the tooth. Essentially, some issues can independently cause both toothaches and headaches.
When these issues occur for long enough, it may seem as though the toothache is causing the headache, even if the pathways are independent. Still, these issues generally increase the risk of having a headache from a toothache.
In general, if you have a long-lasting or frequent headache caused by a toothache, you should see your doctor and a dentist to rule out other more serious problems.
How Do Toothaches Cause Headaches? 4 Root Causes
There are specific root causes that are responsible for toothaches and headaches. These causes still follow the shared nerve connection or may affect both the head and the tooth. They include the following.
1. Nerve Problems
The shared nerve connection of the head and tooth, through the trigeminal nerve, is the primary mechanism for toothache and headache. Therefore, it is unsurprising that one of the root causes of headaches arising from toothaches is problems with the trigeminal nerve.
Many potential problems may affect the trigeminal nerve, with the most typical being compression or irritation of the nerve, causing a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia. This condition is often sudden, causing sharp, shooting, electric-shock-like pain in the teeth or jaws.
As the trigeminal nerve innervates other areas of the face, the pain may radiate to the upper parts of the head, causing headaches. Trigeminal neuralgia also commonly affects one side of the face, so many patients report a one-sided headache-toothache problem.
A typical trigeminal neuralgia attack lasts less than two minutes, but in severe cases, there may be hundreds of attacks a day. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia can also become chronic (lasting for multiple months), significantly affecting the individual’s quality of life. Worst-case scenarios can include it leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
2. Bruxism
Teeth grinding (bruxism) can occur while awake or asleep and is one of the root causes of headaches occurring with toothaches. In itself, teeth grinding is a normal response to stress in some individuals. However, consistent teeth grinding places a lot of tension on the teeth, jaw muscles, and joints, which may cause toothaches.
What’s more, the tension from teeth grinding can also spread to the rest of the head, causing headaches. While both awake and sleep bruxism are associated with headaches, studies reveal that awake bruxism is up to 17 times more likely to cause primary headaches (referring to headaches without an underlying cause).[3]
However, sleep bruxism may cause a headache that is worse in the mornings. Sleep bruxism can also cause poor sleep, which can then worsen existing headaches.
There is no definitive answer to what causes bruxism. However, risk factors include:
- Stress
- Anxiety and depression
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Poor sleep
- High caffeine intake
3. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull, allowing for chewing, yawning, talking, and other movements that involve jaw movement. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJDs or TMDs) are conditions that cause pain and TMJ dysfunction.
There are more than 30 TMDs, classified into three main groups: disorders of the joints, disorders of the chewing muscles, and headaches associated with a TMD. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common headaches that accompany TMD, but any type of painful headache may occur.
The connection between TMDs, toothaches, and headaches is strongly linked to the shared nerve connection between the jaw and the head through the trigeminal nerve. Other supporting mechanisms include stress in the jaw, bruxism, inflammation, misaligned jaws, and arthritis.[4]
People with headaches secondary to TMDs typically notice the pain is worse when chewing or yawning. Even simple activities like talking or opening and closing the mouth can worsen the pain in TMD patients.
4. Underlying Dental Conditions
Certain conditions affecting the tooth and gum can lead to toothaches, which may later cause headaches. These conditions typically lead to headaches through the shared nerve connection between the head and the tooth.
These conditions include:
- Tooth infection
- Tooth decay
- Cracked tooth
- Broken or loose filling
- Gum disease
Aside from traditional conditions affecting the gum and tooth, conditions that impact other facial areas but cause toothaches can also lead to headaches. For instance, sinusitis is an infection of the sinus (hollow cavities in the skull) and can be experienced as a toothache, despite not specifically affecting the tooth or gum.
Interestingly, some dental conditions do not directly cause headaches. Instead, they lead to other conditions that then cause headaches. An example is cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in the veins behind the eye sockets. The clot usually forms in response to infections from other parts of the face, including dental infections.
How to Naturally Relieve Headaches from Toothaches
Understanding how toothaches cause headaches is the first of multiple steps involved in the holistic management of the headache. The next step is to identify the root cause of the headache, enabling targeted and effective management. Then, natural pain relievers can be considered, as follows.
Stress Management
Stress is an often-overlooked factor for why toothaches cause headaches, particularly in cases of bruxism. The body has its natural stress management system, known as the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. The NEM comprises six circuits, spanning different organs and body systems.
While the NEM is usually efficient in managing latent and everyday stress, its circuits may dysregulate in the presence of chronic stress. If the Neuroaffect circuit dysregulates, the brain and autonomic nervous system (the system that controls involuntary functions) may be affected, potentially causing toothaches and headaches. This theory is supported by science, too.
Research shows that chronic stress can affect the brain pathways responsible for involuntary muscle movements of the jaw, potentially leading to tooth grinding and headaches.[5] Aside from the development of bruxism, chronic stress also plays a critical role in the onset and progression of headaches.
Therefore, stress management practices are essential in relieving and preventing headaches that arise from toothaches. Some common stress management practices are:
- Yoga
- Massage
- Meditation
- Breathing exercises
- Journaling
- Exercise
Home Remedies
Some home remedies can help relieve headaches from toothaches. These remedies are not curative and only target the pain symptoms. As such, they should not replace other preventive strategies or medical advice from your healthcare provider.
- Use a cold compress on the cheeks and side of the head
- Gargle warm saltwater for around 30 seconds and then spit it out
- Slightly elevate your head using a pillow when resting
- Consider diluted hydrogen peroxide mouth rinses
Oral Health Improvement Practices
Practices that improve oral health can reduce the risk of toothaches, which in turn can lower the risk of headaches. They include:
- Limiting intake of sugary foods and beverages
- Using fluoride-containing toothpastes to brush the teeth
- Brushing the teeth twice daily
- Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking
- Regular flossing
- Avoiding too hot or too cold foods
- Eating foods that are easy to chew and swallow
Supplements
Substances that can help reduce the frequency and severity of headache attacks may help manage headaches from toothaches. Two of these substances, ozone and olive oil, have shown promise in reducing migraine headaches in clinical trials due to their anti-inflammatory properties.[6]
You can get both of these substances in clinically useful quantities in the O3 Oil by Dr. Lam™ supplement. However, as with all supplements, ensure you contact your healthcare provider before taking O3 Oil.
How Do You Know Your Headache Is From a Toothache?
While toothaches cause headaches in many cases, not all headaches are from toothaches. Below are some practical ways to know if your headache is from a toothache:
- The headache gets worse when you chew or yawn
- Jaw pain or discomfort
- Pain in the tooth, cheeks, or around the eyes
Conclusion
Toothaches cause headaches primarily due to the trigeminal nerve connection. Common root causes include trigeminal neuralgia, dental issues, temporomandibular joint disorders, and bruxism. Identifying the root cause and using remedies like stress management, cold compresses, saltwater and hydrogen peroxide rinses, and good oral hygiene can help relieve pain. Supplements may also help, but always consult a healthcare provider first.
At Lam Clinic, we believe in Rooted Care that transforms lives and empowers futures. Our team at Lam Clinic is here to walk with you on your journey, offering compassionate, integrative care that helps you restore what’s been lost and build what’s next. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward lasting wellness.
