Can Earache Give You Toothache?
Ever woken up with an ache in your upper teeth, only to realize later that your ear’s the real cause? Nerves in your ear, jaw, and teeth are close to each other, so your brain mixes the signals. Pain from the ear lands right in your mouth.
That’s the best part—knowing this can cut through the worry. You might skip unnecessary dental panic and head straight to the right help. Imagine the relief.
Why a Earache can feel like Toothache?
Those shared nerves, especially the trigeminal one, run the show for your face. Ear inflammation or pressure? It radiates straight to your jaw or upper teeth. Quick causes:
- Middle ear infections building pressure, hitting teeth hard.
- Sinus congestion pressing on nerves near back molars.
- Jaw tension or grinding, sparking pain in ears and multiple teeth.
Dentist finds nothing wrong with your smile? Check your ears or sinuses next. You’ll notice the difference.
A simple real‑life example
One day, imagine you wake up with a dull ache in your upper back teeth and a heavy feeling on one side of your face. Later in the same day, your ear feels blocked and you changes in your hearing. It is tempting to assume you need a filling or a root canal.
But when a dentist checks your teeth, there is no decay, no broken filling and your gums look healthy. Over the next day or so, your earache and slight fever get worse, while the “toothache” comes and goes with the ear pain. In this situation, the real problem may be an ear infection, with the tooth pain being referred rather than coming from the tooth itself.
Here’s a quick tip: if pain moves around several upper teeth and comes with ear pressure, blocked nose or reduced hearing, it is more likely to be ear or sinus related than a single bad tooth.
Quick checklist: Is it the Ear or Tooth?
This is a simple checklist to help you out with your next steps (this is not a diagnosis):
- Pain in one specific tooth, worse when biting or consuming hot/cold drinks → More likely a dental problem.
- Swollen gum, broken tooth or visible hole in the tooth → More likely a dental problem.
- Pain in several upper teeth on one side, with blocked ear or muffled hearing → May be ear or sinus‑related referred pain.
- Ear feels full, you have buzzing, fluid, or reduced hearing → See your GP or NHS 111 for ear advice.
- If you have a fever, face swelling, or pain that is getting worse quickly → Immediately seek urgent medical/dental help.
If you are unsure, a dental check‑up is a good starting point, because an untreated tooth infection can also spread and cause pain in the ear or jaw.
Common Myths and Worries
- “If I have an earache and toothache together, it must be something serious.”
It is often something simple like an ear infection, sinusitis or a bad tooth, but if it is severe or long‑lasting pain, then it should always be checked. - “Painkillers are enough if the pain settles.”
Painkillers can only ease the symptoms and do not fix an infection in the tooth or ear. If you have ongoing or repeated pain, then it needs proper assessment.
If you are in or near Isleworth and are not sure whether your pain is coming from your teeth, ear or jaw, booking an appointment at Bridge Dental and Cosmetic Studio is a sensible next step so a dentist can examine you, rule out dental problems and guide you if you also need your GP.
FAQs on whether a Earache Give You Toothache
- Can an earache give you a toothache in just one tooth?
Yes, referred pain can sometimes feel like it is from a single tooth, but ear‑related pain often feels more spread out amongst the teeth in the area. - Should I see a dentist or GP first if I have an earache and toothache?
If the pain feels like it started in a tooth or you notice any other dental problems, see a dentist first. If it feels primarily like an ear or hearing issue, start with your GP. - Can tooth problems cause an earache?
Infections or severe decay in back teeth can cause pain to the ear on the same side. - When is the ear and tooth pain an emergency?
If you have face swelling or around the ear, trouble swallowing, high grade fever then seek urgent care straight away.