Wisdom teeth can cause pain that spreads towards the jaw and head, but most headaches have other causes. This guide explains how to tell the difference.
Key points
- Wisdom teeth can cause pain that spreads towards the jaw and head, but most headaches have other causes.
- A headache is more likely to be linked if it is on the same side as a sore tooth or swollen gum at the back of the mouth and comes and goes with the dental pain.
- Tension headaches, migraine, sinus problems, eye strain and jaw problems are also common causes.4
- The NHS advises booking a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days or does not ease with painkillers.2
- Swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak needs a hospital emergency department. Call 112.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Many people have no trouble with them, while others have pain, swelling or infection. Because the back of the jaw is close to the temple and ear, wisdom tooth trouble is sometimes felt as a headache. It is worth knowing when that is likely, and when it is not.
How wisdom teeth can cause pain
A wisdom tooth that lacks room to come through can cause pain, swelling, gum infection, trapped food, decay, gum disease, cysts and abscesses.1 The NHS lists infection, often from a wisdom tooth that has broken the skin but lacks room to come through, among the common causes of toothache.2 If the tooth or the gum around it is inflamed, the pain can spread to the jaw, ear and side of the head.
When a headache may be linked
A headache is more likely to be related to a wisdom tooth if:
- it is on the same side as a sore tooth or swollen gum at the back of the mouth;
- it comes and goes with the dental pain;
- you have a bad taste, a swollen flap of gum or trouble opening your mouth;
- it eases when the tooth problem settles.
Keeps coming back, with a sore, swollen flap of gum at the back, is a typical pattern.1
When it is probably something else
Many headaches have nothing to do with teeth. Tension headaches, migraine, sinus problems, eye strain and dehydration are all common. A systematic review sorted toothache with no clinically evident cause in the teeth into eight groups, including pain referred from the jaw muscles, sinus pain and nerve pain, and concluded that unnecessary dental treatment should be avoided.3 So it works the other way as well: head and face pain can feel like toothache, and a dentist will look beyond the tooth if nothing is found.
Jaw problems can also cause headaches. The NHS lists pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking or popping, difficulty opening the mouth, locking, headache and poor sleep as symptoms of temporomandibular disorder, and says it is not usually serious and generally gets better on its own.4 A doctor can refer you to a dentist if teeth grinding is an issue.4
What a dentist will check
The dentist asks where it hurts, how long, what makes it worse, and whether you have swelling, a bad taste, a fever or trouble opening your mouth.1 They check whether the tooth has come through, whether the gum is swollen or infected, and whether food is trapped or the tooth next to it is decayed.1 An X-ray shows the position of the wisdom teeth and any cyst or other change. If the cause is not dental, the dentist may suggest a jaw or medical assessment.3
What helps while you wait
The NHS advises painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, warm salt-water rinses for adults, soft foods, a soft toothbrush, and avoiding sweet, very hot or very cold food and smoking.2 Painkillers ease pain but do not treat the cause, so you still need a dentist.2
When to see a dentist
The NHS advises booking a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days or does not ease with painkillers, or sooner if you have a fever, a swollen cheek or jaw, red gums or a bad taste.2 The NHS also says to seek an urgent dentist appointment if wisdom tooth pain comes with a bad taste, a high temperature or feeling unwell.1
Swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or swelling around the eye or neck, needs a hospital emergency department. Call 112, India's emergency number, or go to one. See our page on a dental emergency.
Treatment options
If the tooth is not causing problems, the NHS says it is usually left alone and checked at routine visits.1 If it keeps causing trouble, it may be removed, usually in no more than 40 minutes, under local anaesthetic, with sedation or a general anaesthetic if it is hard to remove or you are anxious.1 The evidence for removing trouble-free impacted teeth as a precaution is very limited.5 Read more on wisdom tooth removal, and see our pages on wisdom tooth pain and wisdom tooth removal.
Headaches from grinding
Many people clench or grind their teeth, particularly at night, which can cause headaches, jaw ache and tooth wear. If you wake with a sore jaw or a headache at the temples, mention it to your dentist. See our guide to teeth grinding and our page on jaw pain.
Keeping a simple symptom diary
If you are not sure whether your headaches are dental, a diary for a week or two can help you and the dentist. Write down:
- when each headache starts, how long it lasts and where you feel it;
- whether you also have pain, swelling or a bad taste at the back of the mouth;
- whether chewing, yawning or opening your mouth wide makes it worse;
- whether you clench or grind your teeth, or wake with a sore jaw;
- the medicines you take and whether they help;
- stress, sleep, screen time, meals and fluids on the day.
A pattern often appears. Headaches that always come with mouth pain point to the teeth. Headaches that follow poor sleep, long screen time or skipped meals point elsewhere. Bring the diary to your appointment.
Signs that need prompt attention
A wisdom tooth that is partly through the gum can trap food and bacteria under a flap of gum, and the area can become infected. Signs include pain at the back of the mouth, a swollen or red flap of gum, a bad taste, trouble opening your mouth and sometimes a fever. See a dentist promptly if you have these signs, because the infection can spread.12
Do not wait if swelling spreads to the cheek, jaw or neck, if it is hard to swallow, or if you cannot open your mouth. These are signs that the infection is spreading, and they need urgent care.
What to expect if a wisdom tooth has to come out
Removal begins with an examination and an X-ray, which show the position of the tooth and its roots. Most wisdom teeth are taken out under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb but you are awake. The dentist may need to cut the gum or divide the tooth into pieces to remove it, and stitches may be placed.
Afterwards, swelling and tenderness are expected for several days. Protect the blood clot in the socket by avoiding vigorous rinsing and smoking in the first days, eat soft food and follow your dentist's written instructions. Our article on wisdom tooth removal describes the process in more detail.
Myths and facts
Myth: all headaches near the jaw come from wisdom teeth. Many do not, and the tooth is not always the cause.
Myth: removing wisdom teeth prevents headaches. It only helps if the tooth is the cause.
Fact: a dental check finds the cause. The dentist examines the teeth, the gums and the jaw.
Frequently asked questions
Can an impacted wisdom tooth cause a headache without other symptoms?
It is possible but uncommon. Usually there is also local pain, swelling or a bad taste.
Should I have my wisdom teeth out to stop headaches?
Only if your dentist finds that they are the cause. A wisdom tooth that causes no problem is usually left alone.1
Can a tooth infection cause a fever and headache together?
Yes. A dental abscess can cause a high temperature and needs urgent treatment.1
Could my headaches be from my jaw?
Jaw problems can cause pain around the temple and ear, and the NHS lists headache among the symptoms.4
Do wisdom teeth cause migraines?
A wisdom tooth problem can cause head and face pain, but migraine has its own causes. A dentist can check the tooth and, if it is healthy, you can ask your doctor about the headaches.
Can I take painkillers for a wisdom tooth headache?
The NHS advises painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol while you wait to see a dentist, taken as the label directs. They ease symptoms but do not treat the cause.2
About the author
Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.
Sources
- NHS website. Wisdom tooth removal (patient information). Page review date 12 June 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/wisdom-tooth-removal/
- NHS website. Toothache (patient information). Page review date 1 July 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/
- Yatani H, Komiyama O, Matsuka Y, Wajima K, Muraoka W, Ikawa M, et al. Systematic review and recommendations for nonodontogenic toothache. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2014;41(11):843-852. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25040436/
- NHS website. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (patient information). Page review date 20 June 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/
- Hounsome J, Pilkington G, Mahon J, Boland A, Beale S, Kotas E, Renton T, Dickson R. Prophylactic removal of impacted mandibular third molars: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment, 2020;24(30):1-116. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32589125/
Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.