Have you ever had a bothersome headache and wondered if your wisdom teeth could be the cause? First of all, considering how incredibly interconnected our bodies are, that is a sensible question. What is going on in your mouth may affect how the rest of your body or head feels. If you have recurrent migraines, your wisdom teeth may be a contributing factor.
Those late bloomers in the back of your mind could be causing some of your migraine misery. Understanding this connection is the first step in finding a long-term solution to the problem. Migraines are headaches that occur regularly and cause throbbing or pulsing pain, affecting approximately 40 million people nationwide.
While this condition can feel disruptive and isolating, you do not have to deal with it alone. In this article, we will learn how migraines and wisdom teeth may connect and what signs to watch for to seek immediate treatment.
Understanding What Wisdom Teeth Are
Before you learn more about how wisdom teeth could be contributing to your recurrent migraines, you need to understand what they are. Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to erupt or grow in your mouth.
Also known as “third molars," wisdom teeth grow in the back of your mouth. They are referred to as ”wisdom teeth” because they appear later in life than your other permanent teeth. Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five years. Most of us consider ourselves wise or old in our early twenties or late teens.
Occasionally, your wisdom teeth can erupt and grow in perfectly, causing no problems. However, at other times, they can become stuck beneath your jawbone or gumline and grow in as impacted wisdom teeth. In addition to putting you at risk of cavities, malocclusion, and other oral health issues, impacted wisdom teeth could cause recurrent migraines.
That is why your general dentist will recommend removing them to reduce the risk of future dental or oral problems. Regardless of your age, you can have your wisdom teeth removed. However, to reduce the risk of dental health issues, dentists recommend removing them in your early twenties or late teens.
While wisdom teeth cannot grow back in once removed, they provide little chewing or biting power, meaning they do not require replacement.
The Surprising Connection Between Migraines and Wisdom Teeth
Migraines are a neurological condition that affects people of all ages and has no known cure. If you have migraines with no clear cause, the culprit could be at the back of your mouth. Common symptoms of migraines include:
- Brain fog
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to light
- Head pain
While it is easy to blame your diet or stress, the link between your dental health, specifically wisdom teeth, is often overlooked. What feels like a headache could be due to extreme pressure on your jawbone. Recognizing the symptoms or signs of an impacted tooth is key to immediate treatment.
- Tender or swollen gums
- Bad taste or breath
- Jaw stiffness that makes it challenging to open your mouth fully
- Persistent jaw muscle tensions
- Pain and tenderness in your jaws
When left unchecked, impacted teeth can also lead to cyst formation, infection, and damage to the neighboring teeth (the second molar).
How Your Wisdom Teeth Can Trigger Migraines
When a wisdom tooth causes problems, the pain does not always stay in your mouth. It could manifest as a headache or a nagging migraine. The relationship between wisdom teeth and migraines stems from how dental pain can affect the surrounding structures. Understanding the common ways this occurs is your first step towards receiving an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Each of these issues causes pain in different ways and often results in distinct symptoms. By recognizing the following patterns, you can better understand the link between recurrent migraines and a potential dental problem:
Direct Pressure From a Misaligned or Impacted Tooth
The most direct cause of migraine is impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when the third set of molars becomes stuck below the gum line. When wisdom teeth begin to erupt, they can grow sideways into nearby teeth, become trapped underneath your gum line, or push against the roots of other healthy teeth.
That constant pressure can irritate surrounding nerves, including the massive trigeminal nerves, which spread the pain to your brain. A persistent or dull ache behind your eyes or in your temples that does not respond well to painkillers is a symptom to watch for if your migraine is due to nerve pressure from impacted teeth.
TMJ Headaches and Muscle Strain
The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a joint located in front of your ear that connects your skull to your jaw. When a wisdom tooth erupts, it can push the nearby tooth out of balance, causing your jaw muscles to strain when performing simple functions like chewing. This constant and uneven strain on your jaw muscles could trigger a TMJ disorder, a well-known cause of migraines.
The following symptoms could indicate that your migraine is likely due to TMJ dysfunction and muscle strain:
- Pain that radiates — If you notice that the tension spreads from your jaws to your cheeks, it could be due to a TMJ dysfunction
- Morning headaches—An imbalanced or misaligned bite often leads to nighttime teeth grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism. Therefore, if you often wake up with morning headaches, you should consult with a dentist because that could be a sign of teeth grinding or a TMJ-related problem
According to studies, about 21.8% of people with migraines and tension headaches find that dental problems, including the eruption of wisdom teeth, could contribute to the problem.
Sinus Pressure From Your Upper Wisdom Tooth
Your wisdom teeth are located directly underneath your maxillary sinuses. As the teeth begin to erupt above the gumline, their roots can push against the sinus floor, causing inflammation and pressure that mimics a sinus headache. When your wisdom teeth begin to erupt, they can put extreme pressure on the maxillary sinuses, which could trigger migraines.
Watch for constant, dull headaches in your cheeks, forehead, and behind your eyes, especially if you have no other allergy or cold symptoms. If taking sinus medication does not offer any relief, you should consider consulting a dentist to help determine whether your upper wisdom teeth could be the cause.
Pain from Cysts and infections
Impacted wisdom teeth can be challenging to clean effectively with daily brushing, creating an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria to thrive. When left unchecked, the bacteria could accumulate around the tooth, leading to infection, swelling, pain, and migraines as your body's natural response to the infection.
If you have persistent bad breath (halitosis) or inflammation or swelling around the back gums, you should consult a dentist, as these are signs of infection. When left untreated for a prolonged period, the infection could lead to other oral health issues and even spread to the bloodstream, resulting in other health problems.
Learning to distinguish between a typical migraine and one caused by wisdom teeth is the first step toward receiving appropriate treatment. Common symptoms of a typical migraine include nausea, light sensitivity, and visual auras. However, if your wisdom teeth are the cause of your migraine, your migraine will seem directly related to a physical issue with your jaw.
A Look at the Diagnostic Process for Migrainees Linked to Wisdom Teeth
When you visit your dentist, he/she will need X-ray images of your mouth to understand what is happening below your gumline. These pictures help reveal the exact health, angle, and position of each of your teeth. During this vital evaluation, the dentist will focus on looking for your specific migraine triggers, such as:
- Impaction — The dentist will check whether your teeth are stuck or growing sideways. If your other molars have shifted out of position, he/she could recommend the extraction of your wisdom teeth to prevent the associated symptoms, including migraines
- Nerve proximity — Your dentist will determine how close your wisdom tooth roots are to major nerves, including the trigeminal nerve. The proximity of the roots to the nerves could directly trigger migraines
- Sinus involvement — To determine whether your upper wisdom teeth are the cause of your problem, the dentist will examine whether the roots are pressing on the sinus cavity
- Signs of infection — In addition to checking your gums for visible signs, your dentist will also rely on X-ray images to check for cysts and infection
This thorough examination is essential because it helps your dentist determine whether a wisdom tooth is the source of your frequent migraines. When your dentist confirms that the wisdom teeth are the cause of your problem, he/she will recommend appropriate treatment. However, in other instances, your dentist could recommend a neurologist if you exhibit some other symptoms, including the following:
- Changes in vision
- A migraine lasting for many days
- Migraine occurring suddenly
Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth for Migraines?
Removing your wisdom teeth is not necessarily compulsory; however, it may be considered essential if your dentist finds that your wisdom teeth are causing migraines. The removal of wisdom teeth can help prevent various dental and oral health complications, including the formation of cysts, gum tissue infections, and irritation of the gum tissues.
Whether you should remove your wisdom teeth depends on the symptoms you are experiencing, X-ray images, and how often the issue recurs. While the idea of a surgical tooth extraction may seem daunting, modern dentistry technology and anesthesia options make the procedure more comfortable than you could imagine.
The speed at which teeth can be extracted and the ease with which the healing process can be handled with the right care frequently surprise people, all thanks to modern technology. Here is what to expect during your wisdom tooth extraction process:
Preparation
Your dental surgeon or dentist will discuss and explain the extraction process, anesthesia options, and what to expect. Depending on your comfort level and the complexity of the extraction, your dentist could recommend general anesthesia, sedation, or local anesthesia.
Because the effects of the anesthesia may linger for a few hours following the procedure and could impair your ability to drive safely, the dentist may ask you to make arrangements for someone to drive you home.
The Procedure
As part of this extraction procedure, the dentist will make a cut in your gums to reach the impacted teeth. If there is a bone obstructing access to the affected teeth, the bone may need to be removed to allow access. If your wisdom teeth are severely impacted, the dentist may even break them into pieces to facilitate easier extraction.
The whole procedure takes around 45 minutes to one hour. After completing the procedure, the doctor will clean the area and stitch it. To help with blood clotting and control bleeding, the dentist will ask you to bite on gauze over the extraction site.
Postoperative Guidelines for Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Unless the procedure only requires local anesthesia, after the surgical removal of your wisdom teeth, the dentist will require you to remain in the recovery room until the anesthesia wears off. Generally speaking, most people can return home soon after surgery, and your dentist will provide you with post-operative instructions to help you heal faster. For example, the dentist could recommend that you do the following:
- Keep the gauze on your teeth for the first day
- Apply ice cubes wrapped in a soft cloth on your cheeks to reduce swelling and any discomfort
- Avoid excessive physical activity because resting is important for recovery
- Do not drink carbonated, alcoholic, or caffeinated beverages for at least twenty-four hours after the extraction of your wisdom teeth
- Incorporate soft foods into diets, including yogurt, mashed potatoes, pudding, and applesauce.
- Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco products
- Rinse your mouth with warm salty water at least 24 hours after the procedure
- Avoid rubbing your extraction site with your tongue or fingers
If your incision requires stitches, your dentist will inform you when you schedule an appointment to have them removed. Normally, you can resume your usual activities after a wisdom tooth removal as long as they are not strenuous.
Find a Credible Dentist Near Me
Wisdom teeth migraines are common, and understanding the relationship between your wisdom teeth and migraines can help you take the necessary steps to find relief. At Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we have skilled dentists who can help extract your wisdom teeth to help lessen or prevent the issues they can cause, including migraines.
Our skilled dentists are committed to providing excellent service through consistent, warm, and personable patient care. We invite you to call us at 818-751-5100 to schedule your consultation with us today, wherever you are in Encino.
