Wisdom Teeth and Migraine
Headaches that keep coming back can wear you down, and migraines can be especially hard to live with. Sometimes the cause is clear, but other times it isn’t so clear what the source of your headache is. One question that our South Perth Dentist gets a lot is whether wisdom teeth could be part of the problem! The fact of the matter is that these back molars can cause several problems in the mouth and jaw, and in some cases, they may even in some cases, play a role in pain that spreads further even into the head! In this article, we want to see how wisdom teeth and migraine may be connected, why it happens in some people, and what signs to watch for if you think your wisdom teeth may be the source of your migraine.
How Wisdom Teeth Can Link to Head Pain (six common pathways)
Let’s take a look at some common ways that dental problems may affect your head:
Gum Infection Around a Partly Erupted Tooth (pericoronitis)
When your wisdom tooth only partly comes through the gum, it can leave a small flap of gum that traps food and bacteria. This can lead to swelling, infection, and soreness in your jaw. That pain doesn’t always stay in one spot — it can spread and feel like a headache on the same side of your head.
Bite Changes and Jaw Strain
If one of your wisdom teeth pushes against its nearby teeth, it may change the way your bite fits together. This puts extra pressure on your jaw muscles, which may then cause pain that reaches into your head.
Nerve Pain/Referral
Because our wisdom teeth are close to important nerves in the jaw, pressure from these molars can spread pain to other areas, like the head. This pain may feel sharp or deep, and sometimes people mistake it for a migraine.
Sinus Irritation (upper wisdom teeth)
Upper wisdom teeth are very close to the sinuses, which are air spaces behind your cheeks and forehead. If a tooth presses into this space or causes infection nearby, it may irritate the sinuses. That irritation may show up as pressure or pain in the face and head.
Muscle Clenching from Pain
Some people may clench or tighten their jaw without even realising it when their wisdom tooth is sore. This ongoing tension may wear out the muscles in the face and head, which may lead to headaches that feel like pressure around the skull.
After Extraction
Headaches sometimes appear after your wisdom teeth extraction. This can happen because your jaw muscles have been stretched during wisdom tooth surgery or from swelling and healing in the area. This type of pain usually eases as your mouth recovers.
Take a look at our complete guide to wisdom teeth removal in Perth for added information.
Signs Your Headache May Be Coming from a Wisdom Tooth
Several reasons may cause you to get headaches. There are some signs telling you that your headache may be a result of problematic wisdom teeth. If you notice these signs along with head pain, it’s a good idea to have your wisdom teeth checked:
Throbbing pain at the back of your mouth: This often shows up when a wisdom tooth is pushing against the gum or another tooth, and the pain can spread into your head.
Swollen or tender gum behind the last molar: Infection around a partly erupted wisdom tooth (pericoronitis) can make the gum red, sore, and sometimes bleed.
Pain that spreads to your ear, jaw, or temple: Wisdom teeth can irritate nearby nerves and make the pain feel like it’s not just in your tooth but in other areas of your head.
Bad taste or ongoing bad breath: Infection or trapped food around a wisdom tooth can cause an unpleasant taste or smell that brushing doesn’t fix.
Jaw stiffness or difficulty opening fully: Swelling and muscle tension from a troublesome wisdom tooth can make it harder to move your mouth comfortably.
Swelling in the gum, cheek, or jawline: This pressure can extend into the face and often brings on a headache or a heavy ache.
Headache on waking, linked with tooth pain the night before: Discomfort from a wisdom tooth may cause you to clench or tense your jaw overnight, which in turn may make both the tooth pain and headache worse by morning.
Headache that doesn’t improve with usual remedies: If rest or painkillers don’t help, and you notice some of these dental signs, your wisdom teeth may be involved.
Signs It’s More Likely a Migraine and not Wisdom Tooth Related
Not every headache that you feel in your face or jaw is caused by your wisdom teeth. They may be migraines instead, particularly if there are no changes with your gums or wisdom teeth:
Head pain that pulses or throbs: Migraines usually bring a pounding or pulsing feeling, often on one side of your head.
Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells: Bright lights, loud noises, or strong scents can make migraine pain worse.
Nausea or vomiting during the headache: Stomach upset is a common migraine symptom, but not a dental one.
Aura before the pain starts: Some people see flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or experience tingling before the headache begins.
Headache lasting for many hours to days: Migraine pain can hang around much longer than pain caused by wisdom teeth.
No dental pain or gum changes: If your gums, jaw, and teeth all seem fine but the headache is intense, it’s more likely a migraine.
Family history of migraines: Having close relatives with migraines increases the chance that your headaches are migraine-related.
Headache that returns in cycles or triggers: Migraines often follow patterns and can be set off by stress, hormones, certain foods, or lack of sleep.
Do I need my wisdom tooth removed to help with headaches?
Taking out a wisdom tooth that is causing trouble in your mouth can stop problems like gum infections, the tooth cutting into the gum, or a cyst forming. But if you already had migraines, removing your wisdom tooth won’t make the migraine condition go away; it can only take away one possible trigger. Whether to remove it depends on your symptoms, your X-rays, and how often the problem comes back. Dr Roya Moulavi, our wisdom tooth specialist in Perth, can help decide what’s best for your specific condition.
What Our Dentists Will Check at Perth Wisdom Teeth Clinic
When you come to us worried about whether your wisdom teeth may be behind your headaches, we will look at the full picture. We’ll ask various questions to understand what you’re feeling to be able to give you clear answers. Here’s what you can expect when you visit our Perth Wisdom Teeth Clinic:
Listen to your story: We’ll sit down and talk through your symptoms — where the pain starts, how it feels, and what makes it better or worse. This helps us see if the pattern sounds more like a dental issue or a migraine.
Look at your mouth and gums: We’ll also check for swelling, redness, or signs of infection around your wisdom teeth. Sometimes the gums themselves can give us clues about what’s really going on.
Check your bite and jaw movement: If your wisdom teeth are pushing other teeth out of place, your bite may change. We’ll see if this is putting extra pressure on your jaw, which may lead to tension headaches.
Take X-rays if needed: An X-ray shows us what we can’t see with the eye — for example, if your tooth is trapped under the gum, pressing on a nerve, or sitting too close to your sinuses.
Rule out dental triggers: We carefully check for problems like repeated gum infections (pericoronitis), pressure on nearby teeth, or any early signs of cysts, all of which can play a role in head pain.
Once we understand what’s happening, we will explain everything clearly and answer your questions. Together, we’ll decide whether removal or another treatment is the best way forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wisdom teeth cause migraines? No—wisdom teeth don’t cause migraine; migraine is a brain condition. But a problem with a wisdom tooth (like gum infection, an impacted tooth, or jaw-joint strain) can cause head pain and, if you already get migraine, it can trigger an attack. Fixing the tooth problem can remove that trigger; if attacks keep happening, you’ll still need a migraine plan from your GP.
How do I tell dental pain from migraine? Tooth pain usually stays in one spot near your tooth or gum and gets worse when you chew or have hot or cold drinks. You may also notice swollen gums, a bad taste, or a stiff jaw.
Migraines feel different — the pain throbs, often on one side of your head, and may come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. They can last for hours or even days.
If your mouth feels normal but these symptoms show up, a migraine is more likely. If it keeps happening, see a dentist or your GP.
Do wisdom teeth issues make migraine symptoms worse (e.g. sensitivity to light/noise, nausea)? Sometimes. A sore or infected wisdom tooth—or jaw strain from an impacted tooth—can trigger a migraine if you’re prone to them, which may make attacks happen more often. But it doesn’t change the main migraine symptoms: light or sound sensitivity and nausea come from the migraine itself.
Do migraines caused by wisdom teeth feel different from “regular” migraines? Migraines from wisdom teeth don’t really feel different from other migraines — the pain still throbs and can come with light or sound sensitivity and nausea. The main difference is that you might also notice gum pain, swelling, or jaw stiffness before the headache. If the pain settles once the tooth is treated, it was likely the trigger.
What are “nerve-referral” pains; can wisdom teeth refer pain to the head? “Nerve-referral” pain means you feel pain in a different place from where it starts. Because your teeth, jaw and parts of your head all share the same big nerve (the trigeminal nerve), a sore wisdom tooth can be felt as pain in your temple or ear, or even as a headache. Doctors recognise this as a real thing—there’s a diagnosis called “headache attributed to a disorder of the teeth or jaw”.
What to do if I get a headache after wisdom tooth surgery – is that normal or a complication? Some headache after wisdom tooth surgery can happen in the first couple of days because your jaw was held open and there’s swelling; it should start to ease after 2–3 days.
Get help fast if the pain suddenly gets worse 1–5 days after surgery, spreads to your ear or temple, or you notice a bad taste/smell, fever, or growing swelling — these can be signs of dry socket or infection.
To feel better: follow your after-care, use cold packs in the first 24 hours, then warm packs, take paracetamol/ibuprofen as advised, start salt-water rinses after 24 hours, and avoid smoking or straws.
Are there any tests or scans that can show whether a wisdom tooth is contributing to migraine? There isn’t a single test that “proves” a wisdom tooth is causing a migraine. Dentists usually check your mouth and take a wide mouth X-ray (OPG) to see if your wisdom teeth are stuck, infected, or close to a nerve or sinus; if the 2-D X-ray is unclear or looks higher-risk, a 3-D CBCT scan may be used. Brain scans aren’t needed for most migraines unless there are warning signs—so the best clue is when headaches improve after the tooth problem is treated.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical or dental advice. If you’re worried about headaches or wisdom tooth pain, please see a qualified dentist or healthcare provider for personalised guidance.
Still Wondering If Your Wisdom Teeth Are to Blame?
Headaches are complicated, and sometimes your wisdom teeth may be the cause. If you’d like to know what’s really behind your migraines, a dental check can help rule wisdom teeth in or out as part of the cause. To arrange a time that suits you, call us at (08) 9474 5083.