Everything in the face and head is interconnected. When something hurts, it usually means that it will affect another area of the face. So, it is possible that having tooth pain can cause a migraine or a headache.
Depending on how severe the tooth pain is, it can turn into an even worse migraine, and anyone who suffers from these debilitating headaches will tell you, they leave you feeling weak. In many patients, having a migraine can mean missing work or school because it hurts to move, let alone get out of bed.
Migraines Caused by Oral Health Problems
There can be several reasons why tooth pain can cause a migraine. One of the most common ones is due to a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD or TMJ). People who suffer from bruxism, the grinding, and clenching of the teeth at night, can also suffer from chronic headaches or migraines due to the pressure in their jaw.
A migraine can also develop from an abscess, a severe dental infection that causes severe pain and swelling and should be treated as soon as possible.
The reverse can also happen. Many times, when you suffer from a sinus infection, you could get a migraine from the pressure in the nasal passages. If you think about it, the root of the upper teeth are found very close to the nostrils and any pressure there could result in a headache.
If you have an unexplained migraine along with a toothache or fever, you may want to call us, so we can examine you and make sure your headache is not related to an infection in the mouth. On the other hand, if you have a sinus infection that is causing your tooth pain, you can try taking over-the-counter decongestants to relieve the pressure on your head. Chances are that once the medication kicks in, you will start feeling better.
