Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Headaches? 

Jaw pain.

Swollen and bleeding gums.

Difficulty opening your mouth.

All of these have wisdom teeth written all over them.

However, there are a few things that many of us don’t necessarily associate with wisdom teeth like neck pain and sinus issues. That’s not all – wisdom teeth can also cause headaches. Yes, you read that right. 

It’s a common yet often overlooked symptom that gets buried under all the other obvious signs like swelling and pain in your jaw. So, if you didn’t make the connection, there’s no need to feel bad about it because you are not alone.

Now let’s talk about the connection between wisdom teeth and headaches. 

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Headaches? 

Typically erupting in your late teens or early twenties, wisdom teeth have a knack for making a grand entrance, sometimes bringing headaches along for the ride. 

Here’s how wisdom teeth cause headaches: 

• Impaction and Pressure on the Jaw: Most of the time, your wisdom teeth don’t have enough space to emerge properly. Then they tend to grow out at an angle or emerge partially, resulting in impacted wisdom teeth. This then creates tension and pressure in your mouth, which can eventually lead to headaches. 
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD): Located on either side of your face, the TMJ joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When impacted wisdom teeth put stress on the TMJ joint or cause misalignment and tension in your jaw, it can contribute to headaches. 
• Infection and Inflammation: When wisdom teeth erupt partially, they create pockets ideal for bacteria accumulation. The result? Infections like pericoronitis. The inflammation resulting from such infections can radiate to your jaw, ear and also your head, causing persistent headaches. 
• Crowding and Misalignment: Impacted wisdom teeth can push against other teeth and cause misalignment and crowding. A misaligned bite can put stress on your jawbone and cause headaches. 

Signs that Your Headache May Be Caused by Wisdom Teeth 

Stress, bad posture, lack of sleep, dehydration and even changes in the weather can cause headaches. Headaches are tricky to treat because it’s not easy to always diagnose what or where the exact problem is. 

So, how do you know if your wisdom teeth are causing your headaches? It could be the case if your headaches look like this:

1. Headaches accompanied by Ear Pain: When wisdom teeth put pressure on your jawbone, it can radiate upwards, causing headaches accompanied by ear pain. 
2. Headaches that Worsen when Biting Down: Does your headache worsen when you chew or clench your teeth? It could be your wisdom teeth causing pressure in the surrounding tissue and jawbone. 
3. Sinus Headaches: Located close to your sinus cavities, impacted wisdom teeth can put pressure on these cavities, potentially leading to headaches accompanied by a stuffy nose or sore throat. 
4. Severe Migraines or Tension Headaches: Migraines that arise with no identifiable trigger could result from the stress your impacted wisdom teeth put on your jaw, neck and face. 
5. Jaw Tenderness and Headaches: If your jaw feels sore and your headache starts around the same time, your wisdom teeth could be to blame. 

Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth (to Watch Out For)

Are you convinced your wisdom teeth are causing headaches? If so, here are some other symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth that you should look out for:

• Pain or tenderness towards the back of your mouth
• Stiffness in your jaw or difficulty opening your mouth 
• Swelling in your gums around the wisdom teeth
• Bleeding gums 
• Persistent earaches 
• Pain in your neck

How To Treat Headaches Arising from Wisdom Teeth 

So,  you’ve connected the dots. Now comes the next question – what can you do to resolve this issue? There are a few options and they include: 

• Saltwater Rinses: A warm saltwater rinse may soothe the pain, reduce the inflammation and prevent bacteria from wreaking havoc inside your mouth. Most importantly, it can also reduce the throbbing pain arising from headaches. 
• Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Rinsing your mouth with saltwater not helping? If that’s the case, you can take over-the-counter pain medications like Ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve headaches and pain. However, this is only a temporary solution. 
• Cold and Hot Compress: Apply a hot and cold compress on the area affected by the wisdom tooth to help reduce inflammation and provide relief from pain. It can help relax tense muscles, for which your head will thank you. 
• Improved Oral Hygiene: Maintaining a proper oral care routine with regular brushing and flossing can also help prevent infections that could lead to headaches. 
• Wisdom Tooth Removal: When your wisdom teeth are impacted, removal is often the most effective path to relief. Typically, the extraction procedure can take anywhere between 30-60 minutes and will be done under sedation to ensure you are comfortable. 

At Ashgrove Dental, we know how disruptive impacted wisdom teeth can be. That’s why we offer personalised wisdom tooth removal services to help our patients feel better, faster. With years of experience performing this procedure, our team brings the expertise that will put you at ease. Suspect you may have impacted wisdom teeth? Book your appointment with Ashgrove Dental.