Can a Toothache Cause a Headache?

Yes, a toothache can cause a headache. The nerves in your teeth, jaw, and head are closely connected, so pain in one area can easily spread to another. What starts as a dull ache in your tooth can quickly turn into tension or throbbing pain around your temples or behind your eyes.

Many people don’t realize their headaches may be linked to untreated dental issues such as decay, infection, or jaw clenching. Understanding this connection can help you find real relief instead of just masking the pain with medication.

Let’s look at how dental pain triggers headaches and what your dentist can do to stop the cycle for good.

How Tooth Pain and Headaches Are Connected

Tooth pain and headaches often share a common link through the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the body. This nerve carries sensations from your face, teeth, and jaw to the brain. When a tooth becomes inflamed or infected, the nerve can send pain signals that spread to nearby areas of the head and face.

Because these nerves overlap, it’s easy for the brain to confuse where the pain is coming from. What feels like a migraine or tension headache might actually be your body’s way of signaling a dental problem.

Even mild tooth discomfort can trigger tightness in the jaw or temples, especially if you clench or grind your teeth. Over time, this tension can lead to frequent headaches that seem unrelated to oral health.

Common Dental Problems That Can Cause Headaches

Here are the possible causes to help you recognize when a headache might be coming from your teeth or jaw instead of another source:

Tooth Decay and Infection

Untreated cavities or tooth infections can spread inflammation to surrounding tissues and nerves. This pressure can radiate upward, causing dental problems and dull or throbbing pain around the jaw, temples, or even behind the eyes.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth fail to erupt properly, they create pressure in the jaw and gums. This strain often extends to nearby muscles, leading to discomfort that feels like a headache or earache.

Jaw Clenching and TMJ Disorder

Grinding or clenching your teeth puts extra stress on the muscles around your jaw joint. Over time, this tension can cause soreness in the face and neck, often mistaken for tension headaches.

Sinus-Related Tooth Pain

Inflamed sinuses can press on the roots of your upper teeth, making it hard to tell whether the pain starts in your head or your mouth. This is especially common during colds or allergies, when pressure builds up behind the cheeks and eyes.

When to See a Dental Specialist About Tooth and Head Pain

If your headaches seem to come with jaw soreness, tooth sensitivity, or facial tension, your specialist should be your first call. These symptoms often mean that a dental issue is triggering the pain, even if the headache feels unrelated.

You should also seek care if the pain lasts more than two days, worsens when you chew, or comes with swelling, fever, or pressure behind the eyes. These signs may point to an infection or nerve irritation that needs prompt attention.

We use detailed exams and 3D imaging to find the exact source of your pain. Once identified, we create a treatment plan that restores balance, relieves pressure, and protects your overall health.

How We Treat the Cause, Not Just the Pain

Toothache-related headaches usually stop once the underlying dental problem is treated. At Hanna Dental Implant Center, we focus on lasting relief rather than short-term fixes.

If a cavity or infection is to blame, we remove the decay and restore the tooth with a natural-looking filling or crown. For deeper infections, a root canal may be needed to clean and seal the tooth while preserving its structure.

When damage is severe, extraction may be the best option. In those cases, we offer dental implants to replace the missing tooth and restore full chewing strength. Some patients even qualify for same-day implants, leaving with a complete smile after one visit.

We also treat TMJ and bite-related pain by adjusting alignment and reducing tension in the jaw muscles. Each treatment plan is personalized to target the real source of discomfort so you can feel better for good.

Find Relief from Tooth and Head Pain

Headaches caused by tooth problems won’t go away until the source of the pain is treated. Once the infection, decay, or tension is resolved, both your toothache and headache often disappear together.

At Hanna Dental Implant Center in Houston, TX, we identify what’s triggering your discomfort and create a plan that brings lasting relief. Whether it’s a simple filling, jaw adjustment, or a complete tooth restoration, you’ll leave with less pain and a healthier smile.

If you’ve been dealing with ongoing headaches or jaw pain, it may be time to look deeper.
Book your consultation and let our team help you feel better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a headache from a toothache feel like?

A headache caused by a toothache often feels like a dull, throbbing pain that spreads from the jaw or cheeks to the temples or behind the eyes. The discomfort can worsen when you chew or clench your teeth and sometimes feels like pressure around one side of the head.

Why is my toothache spreading to my head?

Tooth pain can spread to the head because the same nerve pathways connect your teeth, jaw, and face. When a tooth is infected or inflamed, the trigeminal nerve can send signals that the brain interprets as head pain. Treating the dental issue usually makes the headache go away too.

How to get rid of a headache from a toothache?

You can use a cold compress and an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort temporarily. However, the only way to stop the pain for good is to treat the cause. Visit your dentist for an exam so they can check for decay, infection, or tension in your jaw and provide the right treatment.

How long will a toothache last before the nerve dies?

It depends on the severity of the infection or decay. Pain may last several days or even weeks before the nerve breaks down. The pain often becomes more intense before it fades, which means the problem is worsening, not improving. Seeing a dentist early can prevent nerve damage and save the tooth.