Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of molars to erupt in the back of your mouth. Usually, they appear between the ages of 17 and 25. For some people, wisdom teeth can cause problems as they develop and emerge from the gums.
One common issue is wisdom teeth headaches. But can wisdom teeth cause headaches? Can wisdom teeth cause headaches and eye pain? Keep reading to learn more about the signs and causes of headaches from wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth often become impacted, meaning they don’t have enough room to properly emerge. This can put pressure on other teeth, the jawbone, nerves, and soft tissues in the mouth.
The pressure and swelling can radiate outward and cause dull, throbbing pain in the jaw, cheeks, and temples. This discomfort is known as a wisdom tooth headache.
So in short, Can wisdom teeth cause headaches? wisdom teeth may cause headaches in some cases. In this article, we’ll explore five signs your headaches may be related to wisdom teeth.
We’ll also provide tips on how to relieve headache pain from emerging or impacted wisdom teeth. Learning to recognize and manage this discomfort can help you determine the next steps, whether that involves seeing your dentist for wisdom tooth removal or trying home remedies.
What Causes Headache from Wisdom Teeth?
If your headaches feel like intense pressure radiating from your jaw, cheeks, or upper teeth, wisdom teeth could be the culprit. Here are five signs your headaches may stem from wisdom tooth pain:
➡️ Location of the Headache
Does the pain originate in your jaw, temples, or upper molars before spreading? This location points to wisdom teeth as the cause. Swelling around emerging teeth puts pressure on nearby nerves, tissues, and bones leading to non-migraine tension headaches.
You may feel like your upper jaw and cheeks are throbbing. Can wisdom teeth cause headaches? This is a telltale sign that they can.
➡️ Headache Timing with Tooth Development
The timeline of when your headache symptoms started can provide clues as to whether wisdom teeth are responsible. If you began experiencing headaches around the same time your dentist mentioned your third molars were developing, that’s a telltale sign. Most people get their wisdom teeth between 17 and 25 years old.
➡️ Pain that Radiates
Wisdom tooth headaches often feel like intense pressure radiating outward. You may notice pain or tenderness in your temples, jaw, sinuses, molars, cheeks, and even up around your eyes. This occurs as inflammation spreads.
➡️ Sensitivity to Pressure
If brushing your back teeth, chewing food, or opening your mouth wide makes your headache worse, wisdom teeth could be the culprit. Any movement or pressure against the impacted or inflamed wisdom teeth can exacerbate nerve irritation and increase headache pain.
Can wisdom teeth cause headaches that worsen with pressure or movement? You bet they can. What does a wisdom tooth headache feel like when triggered by pressure? Typically an increase in throbbing, radiating pain.
➡️ Relief from Wisdom
Tooth Removal If you end up having your impacted wisdom teeth removed, pay attention to your headache symptoms. If the headaches dissipate or greatly improve in frequency and intensity after extraction, that helps confirm wisdom teeth were the root cause. Tracking symptoms before and after removal surgery provides insight.
How to Relieve Headache from Wisdom Teeth?
If you suspect your headaches stem from wisdom tooth pain, you have options to help manage the discomfort until you can see your dentist. Here are six ways to relieve headache symptoms:
- Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can ease wisdom tooth headache pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) also helps alleviate discomfort. Use as directed.
- Rotate using a heating pad, hot pack, or warm compress for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off to bring blood flow to the area, decreasing tension. Use an ice pack for 15-minute intervals to numb nerves and reduce inflammation. Don’t place ice directly on the skin.
- Rinse with Saltwater Gently swish and rinse with warm saltwater which reduces swelling and flushes out food particles that could be lodged near wisdom tooth sites. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon salt into water.
- Avoid Certain Foods Steer clear of hard, chewy, or crunchy foods that require using your back molars. Foods like nuts, seeds, raw veggies, caramel, popcorn, etc can exacerbate pain. Stick to soft foods like broth-based soups, smoothies, applesauce, mashed cauliflower, or sweet potatoes.
- Take Sinus Medication Wisdom tooth pain can mimic sinus and migraine symptoms as it radiates. Taking an OTC nasal decongestant spray or antihistamine may offer additional headache relief by reducing inflammation.
- See Your Dentist Schedule an exam with your dentist if headaches persist for over a week or severely disrupt sleep and daily functioning. They can determine if extraction or other treatment is needed for impacted wisdom teeth. This often provides lasting headache relief.
Also Read: Wisdom Teeth Pain Relief: Try These at-Home Remedies For Soothing Relief
Conclusion
Wisdom teeth can sometimes cause headaches as they erupt or become impacted. Signs your headaches originate from wisdom teeth include centered pain in the upper molars, jaw, temples, and cheeks that pulsates outward. Headaches that start around the same time wisdom teeth grow in or get worse with chewing pressure signal teeth are the issue. Relief after extraction also confirms wisdom teeth as the culprit.
To manage headache symptoms from wisdom teeth, use OTC pain relievers, heat and cold therapy, salt water rinses, avoid hard foods, take sinus meds, and see your dentist. Getting evaluated and determining the next steps for wisdom tooth removal or other treatment can ultimately resolve the discomfort
Catching extractions early often leads to a quick headache resolution and prevention of repeat flair-ups down the road. Can you now spot the signs that point to headache pain from emerging or impacted wisdom teeth? What tips have helped you find relief?
