The worst thing that can happen to you all day is to get a toothache. Tooth pain can range from a bit of discomfort to a continuous, dull ache to severe, stabbing jolts, all of which can be excruciating. A toothache can radiate pain to other parts of the face, including the ear and chin.
A toothache can be both uncomfortable and inconvenient. It can be a subtle ache at first, but it can sometimes be extreme. When a tooth hurts, it can radiate pain to other parts of the body, including the ears. Sometimes a toothache causing ear pain may happen.
This article explains why you should visit a dentist immediately if you experience a toothache that spreads to your ear or face.
CAUSES OF TOOTHACHES
There are a wide variety of possible reasons for toothache. An inflamed nerve in the tooth’s root or the gum tissue around a tooth is the typical culprit for a painful tooth. Tooth decay, infection, and trauma are the most typical causes of tooth pain. A loose dental restoration, be it a crown or filling, can expose the tooth’s nerve to harmful elements like air and saliva, and this can be a problem even if the repair is rather old. Any of these conditions can weaken a tooth, making it susceptible to infection and pain if left untreated, leading to a toothache.
EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF TOOTH PAIN
A toothache can start as a mild sting and progress to a constant ache that won’t let you sleep. If you’re experiencing tooth discomfort, dentists urge you to make an emergency appointment right away. Visits to the dentist at the first sign of pain, no matter how little they may seem, can avoid escalating the problem. Let’s talk about the various causes and treatments for tooth discomfort.
WHAT MAKES AN EARACHE HURT DIFFERENTLY FROM A TOOTHACHE
Pain in or around the ear, fever, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, sinus issues, trouble hearing, and dizziness are all possible symptoms of an ear infection. Pain in or around a tooth, discomfort after eating or drinking something hot or cold, and swollen lymph nodes are all possible manifestations of an underlying dental issue. Having one of our dentists evaluate you is the best way to determine what’s wrong.
EAR PAIN THAT ORIGINATES IN THE TEETH
False alarms from the mouth might occur. An earache might be caused by anything as simple as a cavity or as severe as an abscessed tooth or an impacted wisdom tooth or molar. Pain that originates in the jaw and radiates into the ears is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease and arthritis, as well as other causes of jaw stiffness and clenching. Many individuals who experience ear pain attribute it to an issue like an ear infection or wax buildup when, in reality, they need to see a dentist.
A TOOTHACHE AND EAR PAIN: POSSIBLE OR NOT?
A toothache could lead to ear discomfort. Our teeth and the primary nerve that supplies them are located close to our ears because this nerve travels from the upper and lower jaws, through the jaw joint, and into the brain to connect to the spinal column. The trigeminal nerve is the one in question here. Referred pain originates in a different part of the body but is experienced as if it were the affected one, a common symptom of nerve damage. Pain from a toothache can spread to other parts of your body, including your head, cheeks, neck, and even your ears.
An abscess could also cause a toothache. When a tooth becomes infected, it can cause swelling and excruciating discomfort in the face. When a tooth abscess is not treated, the swelling and bacteria can spread to neighboring teeth and even the ears, causing unbearable pain. Spreading infections to organs like the heart or brain could also be fatal. It is critical to see a dentist immediately if you have an abscessed tooth because of the severity of the infection.
CAN A TOOTHACHE CAUSE EAR PAIN?
A toothache and an earache are common complaints and may share a common cause. How does one tell the two apart? You can tell if the dental problem is to blame for your earache by gently tapping on a tooth or your gums, which your doctor or dentist can do to diagnose the problem.
Some symptoms can also help you distinguish between an actual earache and one brought on by something like a toothache. When you have an earache, you could also have cold-like symptoms, including congestion, a loss of appetite, difficulty hearing, and dizziness; these are not typical signs of a toothache.
SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED IF YOUR EAR OR CHIN HURTS WHEN YOU HAVE A TOOTHACHE?
If you experience this, you may have a dental abscess, a serious infection that causes severe pain in your tooth or teeth. When bacteria from the mouth get into the pulp chamber or the nerve and blood supply of a tooth, it causes an abscess. If the gums have a pimple-like bulge, it’s because pus has been collected in a pocket. A dental abscess typically presents with pain. This pain could originate in the tooth or the gums or spread to other parts of the face, like the ear, the chin, or the jaw. Additionally, abscesses can cause facial edema.
If an abscess isn’t treated, the infection will worsen and spread. Spontaneous intravascular coagulation (SITC) is a life-threatening complication that can occur if contaminated material enters the bloodstream.
That’s why it’s so crucial to know the signs of an abscess, which are:
- If you have a toothache or notice that one of your teeth is loose or is sitting proudly in your mouth, you may have a displaced tooth.
- increased intolerance of heat, cold, or biting pressure
- Lumpy gums, puffy face, swollen neck lymph nodes
- gum disease/bleeding gums
- Sick with a fever
- Having a general malaise
In conclusion, because of the seriousness of this symptom, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to rule out the possibility of a tooth abscess. Abscesses and other unpleasant medical issues don’t pick and choose when they manifest.