How to tell the difference between toothache and earache

Experiencing a toothache or an earache can be irritating and painful, but not knowing how to identify if its a toothache or earache can be even more frustrating. Many people confuse whether they are suffering from a toothache or an earache. Sometimes, a toothache and an earache can be related or having overlapping qualities.

Toothache Symptoms:

• Experiencing pain inside or around your tooth
• Having an aching sensation after eating or consuming hot or cold beverages
• Bad breath
• Fever
• Swollen glands
• Earache

Toothache Causes:

• Cavities or infections
• Gum disease
• Dental work
• Stuck food
• Wear and tear from grinding your teeth
• Sinus infection

Earache Symptoms:

• Pain in or around the ear
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Sinus problems
• Difficulty hearing
• Loss of balance

  Earache Causes:

  • Fluid in the eardrum
  • Infection
  • Injury
  • Blockage
  • Cold or Flu
  • Tooth or Jaw pain

As you can see, there's some overlap in the symptoms of earaches and toothaches, and this is mainly due to the fact that your sinuses are located very close to your back top teeth. Any pressure or pain in the sinuses can affect these teeth and create the illusion that your tooth is aching when it may be your ear that's actually giving you pain.

Get in touch with our clinic if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and a dentist can properly diagnose the problem.