Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Headaches?

Headaches of the Wisdom Teeth

If your head is exploding and you’re in your late teens, then most likely the cause is the last erupting tooth, i.e., the wisdom tooth. Some of you might be looking for ways to get rid of your headache, while some might want to know more about wisdom teeth headaches.

Sit tight as we’ll cover both the aspects mentioned above.

Can wisdom teeth cause headaches?

The answer to this is a yes and a no – as it varies from person to person. If wisdom teeth compress a nerve or put pressure on the jaw and adjacent teeth, it’s more likely to develop a headache. Such headaches are usually tension-type headaches that form a pressure band around your forehead. However, case reports also show evidence of piercing pain (cluster headache) associated with wisdom teeth on one side of the face.

If wisdom teeth are casually erupting in a straight path, the chances of a headache or migraine are minimal. But you might experience mild to moderate discomfort for some time which is totally normal.

How can you tell whether a headache you have is a wisdom tooth headache?

Wisdom teeth headaches tend to be associated with certain signs and symptoms. These are as follows:

• Disturbed bite– If your teeth don’t make contact on clenching, there is a chance that your headache is associated with the emerging wisdom teeth.
• Pain in back tooth– Dull pain in the eruption area of the last molar is also an indication of wisdom teeth headache.
• Pain on opening and closing – Opening and closing of the jaw is something that can trigger a wisdom tooth headache, especially if there is no arch space.
• Decayed tooth– The erupting last molar develops caries in the adjacent tooth by exerting pressure on it. This decay, after reaching the pulp, can lead to an excruciating pain response in the head as well as the jaw.
• Swollen gums– Gum swelling points out the presence of bacteria in the area of wisdom tooth eruption.

How to get rid of wisdom teeth migraine or headache?

1. Home remedies:

• Aspirin therapy– Clinical studies show that this medication can be used in cases of headache due to wisdom teeth removal.
• Salty rinses– Saltwater is proven to be efficacious against pain. In addition, it fights the harmful bacteria in the mouth resulting in healthy gums. Salt water rinses must be done in conjunction with an smart toothbrush to enhance its results.
• Cloth tightly tied around the head– The tying of cloth around the head can relieve pain. This must be done in conjunction with hot and cold pad placement on the extra oral wisdom tooth area. This will relieve muscle soreness and ultimately reduce headaches.

2. Professional remedy and treatment:

After thorough clinical examination and investigation, if the cause of headache is localized to the area of the wisdom tooth or multiple wisdom teeth, then extraction is performed by a dental professional. This usually is the case of impacted wisdom tooth headache. Here, the word impacted refers to a tooth stuck in the bone or gum tissue.

• Extraction of wisdom teeth- In certain cases, extraction is the only option to relieve migraine associated with wisdom molars. However, headaches and migraines can also occur after wisdom teeth removal. Need not to worry as they can be instantly relieved by aspirin therapy.

In addition to all the above remedies, it is very important for you to maintain oral hygiene. For this purpose, the use of a sonic electric toothbrush is encouraged as it removes more plaque and bacteria from the tooth – a fact proven from research. Moreover, water flossers must also be used after toothbrushing.

Both these oral care products are available at Oclean. The products at oclean are user-friendly, as they have been positively reviewed by hundreds of users.

What can happen if you leave a problematic wisdom tooth untreated?

Thinking wisely about wisdom teeth is very important. If one such problematic tooth is left as it is, it can lead to multiple complications, namely:

• Persistent headache with increasing pain
• Cyst or Tumor
• Pericoronitis – inflammation around the crown of an impacted tooth
• Dental Decay
• Periodontal problems
• Adjacent tooth damage

Bottom line:

Wisdom teeth can cause headaches during the phase of eruption. The pain associated with these headaches can be treated at home by aspirin therapy, salt water rinses, and tying a cloth around the forehead. In cases of persistent pain and impacted last molar, usually, extraction is done.

Maintenance of oral hygiene is of utmost importance for pain associated with the oral region. Thus, the use of portable water flosser and sonic electric toothbrushes must be consistent,  i.e., brushing twice and flossing once to prevent the origin of pain and headache.

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