What does this mean?
The jaw joint sits immediately in front of the ear canal and shares nerve branches with it. Because of that proximity, pain arising from the joint or the back teeth can be interpreted by the brain as earache.
There is a practical way to tell: pain that changes with chewing, yawning or opening the mouth is most likely of jaw origin. If there is discharge, hearing loss or a recent upper respiratory infection, the ear should be assessed first.
The usual jaw-related causes of earache are a joint disorder, an impacted wisdom tooth and an infection in the back of the mouth.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Notice whether the pain changes with chewing; that detail speeds up the distinction
- Eat soft food for a while and avoid opening the mouth to its limit
- A warm compress relaxes the jaw muscles
- Fever and facial swelling alongside it
- Clear difficulty opening the mouth
- Discharge from the ear or hearing loss
- Pain on swallowing
Frequently asked questions
- Is it my ear or my tooth?
- Pain that changes with chewing or opening the mouth tends to be of jaw origin. With discharge or hearing loss the ear is assessed first.
- Can a wisdom tooth cause earache?
- Yes. Pain from an impacted or inflamed wisdom tooth frequently radiates to the ear and temple.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.