So. It started as a tooth. Now it's in your ear, it's creeping along your jaw, and there's a headache sat over one temple like it's moved in. You've pressed behind your ear, wiggled your jaw, done a few test swallows, and you're now reading this at an hour when nobody should be reading anything.
First things first: you're not imagining it, and you're definitely not the only one. This is one of the most common things we hear. And the best bit of news? It usually doesn't mean anything is "spreading".
The short answer: tooth pain radiating to your ear, jaw or head is usually referred pain. Your brain gets its wires crossed and feels the pain somewhere other than where it starts. But a tooth that hurts this much still needs looking at, so give our emergency dentist team a ring in Harlow or Enfield. If we're closed or you're not local, call NHS 111.
One important thing: jaw pain can come from your heart. If you've got pain or tightness in your jaw, neck, arm or chest, especially with breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick, don't call a dentist. Call 999.
In pain? Call us and tell reception where it started and where it's gone. We keep same-day appointments for pain and swelling wherever we can.
- Nuffield Dental Practice, Harlow: 01279 424 038
- Church Langley Dental, Harlow: 01279 306 690
- Enfield Smiles, Enfield: 020 8804 4320
Evenings, weekends or nowhere near us? Call NHS 111. If swelling is making it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, call 999.
Why does dental pain travel?
Your teeth, jaw, face and part of your ear all share one big nerve. Think of it as a block of flats with one intercom. Someone presses the buzzer, and your brain, stumbling to the door in its dressing gown, has no idea which flat it was. So it guesses. Sometimes it guesses "ear".
Teeth are especially rubbish at telling you where the pain's coming from. The nerve inside a tooth is a smoke alarm that won't tell you which room. That's why lots of people can't even tell if it's a top tooth or a bottom one.
Lower back teeth and wisdom teeth are the usual culprits for "earache" when your ear is actually fine. The NHS even lists toothache alongside ear pain, with a dental abscess as a possible cause.
To make life more confusing, a few things that aren't teeth can do a very good impression of toothache:
- Clenching or grinding. Your jaw muscles doing a night shift nobody asked them to do. You wake up with an achy jaw, temples and sometimes ears.
- Sinuses. A blocked, bunged-up sinus can make your upper back teeth ache, and it's often worse when you bend over.
- Nerve pain. Rare, but sharp, sudden, electric-shock pain set off by brushing your teeth or washing your face needs checking too.
Here's the thing: you can't sort out which one it is from your sofa, and neither can Google. We can, usually in one visit, with a quick look, a few simple tests and an X-ray if we need one. If it's not your teeth, you'll know, and you'll know where to go next.
Is it infection or referred pain?
I'll keep this bit straight, because it matters.
Referred pain is the crossed wires. It hurts, sometimes a lot, but there's no swelling, no temperature, and apart from the pain you feel fine.
An infection that's spreading looks and feels different. Watch for:
- swelling in your gum, cheek or jaw, especially if it's getting bigger
- a high temperature, or feeling hot, shivery and unwell
- swollen glands in your neck
- a bad taste in your mouth
- struggling to open your mouth, chew or swallow
If you've got any of those, call us today. A dental abscess won't go away on its own, and it's much easier to sort out early.
And if a tooth that's been throbbing for days suddenly goes quiet, please don't take that as the all-clear. It can mean the nerve has died while the infection carries on underneath. Still worth getting it seen.
Which red flags shouldn't wait?
The NHS says to see a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days. If it's already in your ear and your jaw, you don't need to wait that long. Call us today if:
- painkillers aren't touching it
- anything is swelling
- you've got a temperature or feel unwell
- it's keeping you up at night
Call 999 or go to A&E, not a dentist, if:
- you're finding it hard to breathe, swallow or speak
- swelling is spreading towards your eye or down your neck
- your eye is swollen or painful, or your eyesight suddenly changes
- you have chest pain, or jaw pain with breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick
A new headache at your temples with a tender scalp, jaw pain when you chew, or any change in your vision can be temporal arteritis, which isn't dental. Get an urgent GP appointment or call 111.
While you wait to be seen, take paracetamol or ibuprofen as the packet says (never more), stick to soft food and chew on the other side.
If you're near Harlow or Enfield and it's getting worse rather than better, we'd much rather take a look than have you spend another night trying to work out which bit of your head is to blame. Ring your nearest Minti practice and we'll do our best to see you the same day. Anywhere else, or out of hours, call NHS 111. Either way, make the call.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Tooth, jaw, ear and facial pain needs examining in person to find the cause.
