Can a Tooth Infection Cause a Sore Throat?

Yes, a toothache can cause ear pain too. When a tooth has decayed or is infected, pain and inflammation can radiate throughout the area, causing inflamed gums, sore throat, and ear pain.

Infections and abscesses – the root causes of a toothache – often cause ear pain, leading the patient to suspect an ear infection. Conversely, an earache can also lead to tooth pain.

Just like how a wisdom tooth infection can cause a sore throat, a toothache can be the cause of ear pain in some patients.

Since your molars are located on the sides of your head, closer to the ears, an abscessed molar can be felt in the corresponding ear leaving patients to think they have an ear infection – but it’s really the infected tooth causing the toothache and associated ear pain.

When a tooth has decayed or is infected, pain and inflammation can radiate throughout the area, causing inflamed gums, sore throat, and earache symptoms.

Experiencing a toothache and sore throat on one side? This could be a sign that an infection is localized to a specific tooth or area, potentially spreading to nearby tissues if left untreated.

If you have inflamed gums, a sore throat, or ear pain in addition to the symptoms listed above on this page, we recommend getting in to see us as soon as possible.

Infections can spread quickly, and in addition to being incredibly painful, can also be incredibly dangerous.

It’s always advisable to look for additional symptoms to determine whether you have a tooth infection. Refer to our list of symptoms below.

9 Common Toothache Symptoms

Although everyone knows when they have a toothache, there are some symptoms of tooth infection that patients might not realize are caused by a toothache, sore throat is a common one.

Here are nine more:

• Pain around a tooth or anywhere in the jaw
• Pain while chewing
• Tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, sugar, or toothbrush
• Bleeding or swelling around a tooth, gums, or anywhere in the mouth
• Pus or a pimple around a tooth or gums
• Pain in or around the ear
• Difficulty or painful swallowing
• Pain or swelling felt outside the mouth such as the throat, eyes, lips, or cheeks
• Inflamed gums, sore throat, and earache

Although many people try to put off going to the dentist as long as they can with a toothache, it’s important to get your symptoms checked out as soon as possible.

Sometimes tooth, jaw, or cheekbone pain may be the result of a different health issue, such as gum disease, TMJ, a sinus infection, ear infection, or even something more serious, such as a heart attack. If you’re having TMJ pain, contact a TMJ specialist near you today.

There are a number of reasons that a person could be experiencing the pain of a toothache, including;

• Cavity
• Tooth abscess (infection)
• Gum disease
• Tumors (benign or malignant)
• Trauma
• Cracked tooth
• Wisdom teeth
• Sinus, ear, or throat infection

• Do try over-the-counter pain medication such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen (check with your doctor first)
• Do apply oral numbing gels around the affected tooth
• Do apply ice packs for swelling
• Do apply moist heat for soreness
• Don’t place aspirin on your tooth, gums, or cheek (it may burn the tissue)
• Don’t take any medication such as antibiotics or narcotics that were not prescribed for you or for your toothache
• Don’t ignore your symptoms