In the human body, everything is interconnected. Toothache can give into the ear, because there is irritation of the ends of the trigeminal nerve, which pass near the organs of vision and the oral cavity, and its center is located between the temple and the ear. Or vice versa, with inflammation of the hearing organs, pain is sometimes felt like a toothache. In this article, let's try to figure out: can an ear hurt due to a tooth? We describe the treatment methods and provide recommendations from specialists.
Causes of Ear Pain Related to Disease
The ear hurts most often from the following problems:
- Pulp inflammation. Getting on the tooth cold, hot or pressing on it causes a sharp pain, giving in the temple and ear. Urgent treatment required.
- The appearance of the wisdom tooth. The gum in its vicinity is often inflamed, it becomes painful to move the jaw, open and close the mouth, swallow. The ear hurts, and overall health worsens. The tooth may appear damaged and will have to be removed immediately.
- Purulent-diffuse form of acute pulpitis. The tooth is very sore, gives in the ear and in the temporal part of the head, orbit and jaw. The pain is pulsating in nature, the tooth calms down if you rinse your mouth with cold water. To eliminate the defect, treatment is required.
- The neglected form of decay of molars. When you click on a damaged tooth, there is an increase in pain in the ear, while it gives to the temple and neck. By evening, the condition caused by caries worsens.
Other causes of toothache and ear pain
In some cases, it may seem that a tooth aches and pain gives in the ear:
- Sinusitis - pain occurs in the ear and upper teeth.
- Trigeminal neuralgia - there is a sudden, short-term pain, reminiscent of an electric shock. At the same time, the skin of the face reddens, the facial muscles are reduced, the pain gives to the ear and tooth.
- Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint is a constant, aching pain. She responds in the ear and back teeth, intensifying when eating.
- Violation of the function of the temporomandibular joint - there is aching or sharp pain in the ear, at the same time the individual complains of toothache.
- Otitis media - pain occurs in the ear region and in the chewing teeth.
Pathologies of other organs and systems
In what cases does the tooth and ear ache at the same time? There are pathologies, at first glance, not related to the ear and teeth. Nevertheless, painful sensations arise if a person has diseases associated with:
- with nervous, cardiovascular systems;
- the spine;
- the brain;
- psyche;
- cervical vertebrae.
Teething wisdom
Can an ear hurt from a wisdom tooth? When teething, sometimes very strong unpleasant sensations appear, which they can give to the temple and ear. In addition, pain occurs when swallowing and opening the mouth, a rise in body temperature is possible. The inflammatory process can spread to nearby lymph nodes and muscle tissue, and then the toothache not only gives into the ear, but sharp headaches begin. The developing purulent process causes swelling of the cheeks, a general condition worsens. Inflammation of bone tissue and nerve fibers is possible. In this case, you should consult your dentist to prevent serious consequences.
How to make you feel better before visiting a doctor?
First aid, when a tooth hurts and gives into the ear, consists of mouth rinses:
- infusions of sage, chamomile, calendula, oak bark;
- “Chlorhexidine”, “Furacilin”;
- soda-salt solution. To prepare it, take a glass of warm water and add half a teaspoon of salt and soda.
Unpleasant sensations will help relieve pain medications. At the earliest opportunity, you should visit a doctor who will help eliminate the full pain syndrome.
Delete
Can the ear hurt after tooth extraction? Ear pain begins to be felt in the first hours after the intervention. As a result of manipulations, soft tissue damage occurs and a nerve can be affected. Therefore, the pain extends not only to the damaged gum, but also gives to the ear. A blood clot should form in the tooth well, which prevents infection from entering the wound. All unpleasant symptoms usually disappear in two days. In some cases, the process is delayed: the body temperature rises, pus forms, a bad smell appears. All this indicates the beginning of intoxication, therefore, the help of a doctor is necessary.
Wisdom tooth extraction problems
Can an ear hurt because of a tooth? It turns out maybe. Often this happens after the removal of the wisdom tooth. These are special teeth. Their roots are irregular, curved. Doctors note that pulling out the upper teeth is much easier than those located on the lower jaw. The process is complicated when the tooth partially or completely not erupted.
In this case, the gum is cut. The tooth is removed in parts. After such operations, of course, there is pain radiating to the ear. Sometimes, after such manipulation, a complication occurs, called an alveolitis or a dry hole. In a wound after pulling out a wisdom tooth, a protective blood clot does not form. As a result, the damaged tissue dries and the process of inflammation begins. Severe pain and fever indicate a visit to the dentist. He will take all necessary measures.
Recommendations of the doctor in the postoperative period
Can an ear hurt because of a tooth? After the operation, there are discomfort in the mouth and often in the ear. This is explained by the effect on the nerve endings of damaged tissues in the oral cavity. To prevent the development of painful sensations, it is necessary:
- Remove the gauze swab no earlier than 30 minutes after pulling out the tooth.
- Do not rinse your mouth for the first two days.
- To make baths. To do this, collect an antiseptic solution in your mouth, you can salt or soda, tilt your head to the side of the wound and hold for five minutes without rinsing, then gently release it.
- Do not touch the blood clot in the wound. If food gets into it, do not get it.
- On the first day you can’t brush your teeth, blow your nose, spit, smoke.
- On the second day, you can do baths after eating, brush your teeth with a soft brush.
- On the third day, rinsing the mouth is allowed, taking only soft food. Do not consume hot foods and drinks. Chewing on the healthy side.
- Exclude visits to the baths, hot baths, sauna, large physical exertion.
Subject to all recommendations, healing will be successful.
Treatment after tooth extraction
To accelerate wound healing and relieve pain, you should:
- Rinse your mouth with soda-saline solution, chamomile broth.
- Use ready-made solutions of medicines for rinsing: “Chlorhexidine”, “Miramistin”, “Furacilin”.
- Use cold to reduce pain. To do this, pour cold water into a bottle, wrap in a towel and attach to the cheek.
- To relieve pain, use: Naproxen, Ketanov, Indomethacin.
Two days after removal, in the absence of complications, the pain should pass.
The appearance of teeth in babies
A small child who does not know how to talk, sometimes begins to refuse food, continuously act up, rub his ears and cheeks. What is the reason for this? Parents need to be very careful to understand the situation. Otitis with the manifestation of pain in the ears often occurs in babies up to two years. At the same time, the appearance of milk teeth. Do teething ears hurt? Increased irritability, refusal of food and throbbing pain in the ears are the main symptoms of both otitis media and the appearance of milk teeth. The occurrence of ear pain is associated with irritation of the nerve endings as a result of the inflammatory process that occurs in the jaw muscles. How to distinguish what happened in the baby?
Symptoms of teething in a child:
- not capricious all the time;
- the gums are red and swollen;
- strong salivation.
Signs of otitis media:
- catarrhal disease and runny nose preceded by a cold;
- cries for a long time.
To find out the exact cause of the baby’s unusual behavior, you need to contact a doctor who will help to cope with the problem.
How to help a child when teeth are cut?
Can an ear hurt because of a tooth? Painful sensations can be experienced not only by adults, but also by babies. This happens when their teeth are cut. To alleviate suffering:
- Use a teether for teeth - rubber or plastic rings. The child's itch disappears when he bites the teether, which leads him to calm.
- The use of gels. They include the analgesic substance lidocaine in small quantities, menthol to cool the gums and flavors. It is recommended to use the following gels: “Kalgel”, “Dentinox”, “Mundizal”, “Doctor Baby”. All of them were subjected to clinical trials in which no side effects were detected. Drugs are used to lubricate the gums to reduce pain. The procedure is repeated no more than four times a day.
- Gum massage. It is done with the index finger, wrapped in a sterile swab and dipped in cold boiled water.
All these manipulations will help reduce pain in the gum, and therefore in the ear.
Preventive actions
For the prevention of oral diseases, it is recommended:
- Regular hygiene.
- Check with the dentist. Twice a year, each person should visit this doctor. A tooth disease develops for a long period, so regular inspection will help to avoid serious complications and cure the disease in its initial form.
- Strict implementation of the recommendations of the dentist. Do not neglect the advice of a doctor after visiting him. Medical appointments and simple procedures will prevent serious complications.
It should be noted that most dental diseases occur due to non-compliance with basic oral hygiene and poorly cured tooth decay. Preventive measures help get rid of many unpleasant problems.