Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Migraines or Headaches – 5 important things to know

A migraine headaches can be a horrible experience. It can leave you unable to function and feeling like there’s no escape from the pain. In addition, migraines often come with nausea and vomiting, making them even more unpleasant. But migraine attack are not just inconvenient, they’re also preventable. Many migraineurs don’t realize that their headaches could be caused by something as common as your dental issues including wisdom teeth or tension headaches.

If you have been getting frequent migraine attacks along with other symptoms, you may want to check if your impacted wisdom teeth is the culprit or not. Read on to know can wisdom teeth Cause Migraines or Headaches and what you can do about it.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a painful condition that affects the entire body and causes a wide array of symptoms. The most common migraine symptoms are intense headache pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to bright light, sound, and smell. Migraines can last for hours or even days, and some people have them frequently. Migraine attacks are thought to be due to changes in the blood vessels in the brain, as well as a change in the way the neurons in the brain communicate.

Migraines are often but not always accompanied by an increase in cortisol (the “stress hormone” that is produced by your adrenal glands). Because of this, women are more likely than men to experience migraines. It is important to remember that migraine headache is different from random headache

What is wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth, also known by their scientific name third set of molars, are located at the back of the mouth in the area where the upper and lower jaws meet. They are present from birth but usually don’t become fully developed until you become a young adults. Sometimes wisdom teeth may erupt before that time and cause problems, including tooth infection or dental pain.

There are two types of wisdom teeth: the primary and secondary. Primary wisdom teeth, or “baby” or “primary” molars, appear in the very back of the mouth (behind the second molar). Secondary wisdom teeth, or “adult” or “permanent” molars, appear in the front of the mouth (between the first and second set of molars). Both types of wisdom teeth are located on either side of a bony ridge called a mesenchyme.

Wisdom teeth are held in place by strong ligaments. If these ligaments weaken due to an injury or other cause, wisdom tooth roots may come out of their sockets. This is called a dental extraction (or surgical removal), and it’s often done when a Wisdom tooth extraction surgery is necessary.

Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Migraines or Headaches?

Wisdom teeth grow at an age when you’re already dealing with a lot of other problems and challenges. That’s when you’re already experiencing the hormonal changes of puberty, the growing pains of adolescence, and the stress of school/college. Your immune system might not be at its best, and you might not be eating the best diet. All of these can contribute to a migraine. But the most common reason why your wisdom teeth may be causing your migraine (that is if you suffer from one) is irritation of the trigeminal nerve.

The trigeminal nerve is one of the largest nerves in your head. It supplies the blood vessels that feed your brain and the blood vessels that drain your brain. It also supplies the feeling receptors (nociceptors) in part of your mouth. It is a very important nerve, and very sensitive. When wisdom teeth push against this nerve, you experience pain.

Irritation of the trigeminal nerve

The trigeminal nerve is a large cranial nerve that is responsible for innervating the lower third of the face, including the gum pouch, the lower teeth, the lower lip, the oral mucosa, and the skin of the lower third of the face. It is also responsible for the sensation of pain in these structures. Because of its wide distribution, the trigeminal nerve is susceptible to many different pathologies.

The most common pathology of the trigeminal nerve is trigeminal neuralgia, a disorder characterized by sudden, brief, lancinating (shooting) pains in the distribution of the nerve. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia is usually unilateral (affecting only one side of the face). The main cause of trigeminal neuralgia is degeneration or injury of the nerve. In the vast majority of cases, the cause is unknown.

Impact on your diet

Migraine sufferers can often be picky eaters, with the pain and nausea making it hard to eat a balanced diet. But when you’re not getting the right nutrients, your body can start to malfunction. The more unbalanced your diet is, the more likely it is that you’ll experience migraines. It’s also very important to keep tabs on your oral microbiome.

Your oral microbiome is the collection of bacteria that live in your mouth, such as on your teeth and gums. It can affect your oral health and even your overall health. The balance of bacteria in your mouth is important for your overall health, including your immune system and ability to fight disease. Certain bacteria are helpful, but others can lead to disease or cause bad breath.

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Imbalance in your oral microbiome

Many people have experienced an “oral emergency” due to an infection in the mouth. This can happen when the oral microbiome gets out of balance. When you’re not taking care of your teeth and gums, they become a breeding ground for bacteria. A healthy oral microbiome can protect you from infections and disease. But when it gets out of balance, it can cause a lot of problems.

When your oral microbiome is out of balance, the microbes in your mouth thrive and grow beyond their normal levels, like an overgrown garden. This can cause oral diseases and conditions, such as gingivitis or periodontitis, that can lead to tooth loss. It may also cause bad breath. It is important to have regular checkups and follow proper daily oral hygiene.

Prolonged inflammation in your brain

Although you can’t see it, your brain is covered in tissue. This tissue contains fluid that helps your brain function properly. But sometimes, that fluid can become inflamed. Prolonged inflammation can cause damage to the brain, which can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

This means that if you have frequent migraines, you may be increasing your risk of developing a degenerative neurological disease. And what’s more, the feelings of pain that come with migraine can make it hard to focus on work or school work. Additionally, if you use painkillers to deal with your migraine, you may be damaging your brain even more. It is important to address the root cause of your migraine rather than just masking the pain.

Natural Remedies for temporary relief

There is no doubt that an infected wisdom tooth would need typical treatment like wisdom tooth extraction surgery but meanwhile some quick home remedies can help reduce pain.

• Warm water Salt rinses
• Cold therapy – apply ice pack on the impacted tooth.
• Eating bananas: Bananas are rich in potassium and fiber, which are excellent for relieving the pain caused by toothaches. Mash a ripe banana and apply it on your child’s aching tooth.
• Putting constant pressure on the tooth: Swab the tooth with a cotton pad dipped in warm water and apply gentle pressure on the tooth.
• Chewing on a clove: Chewing on a clove can help get rid of the pain caused by toothache.
• Using baking soda: Wet a cotton ball and dip it in baking soda. Place it on the tooth for about five minutes to get rid of the pain.
• Swabbing the gums with hydrogen peroxide: Swabbing the gums with hydrogen peroxide can disinfect the area and help get rid of the pain.

Toothache in children can be more traumatic, here are few tips that could help reduce pain

Extraction of the wisdom tooth

As you can see, there are many reasons why your wisdom teeth might be causing your migraine. Wisdom teeth are often impacted, meaning they are unable to break through the gums. They can become a source of irritation and severe pain in your mouth, and they can also damage other teeth and gums. Wisdom teeth growth can also lead to damage of gum tissue, jaw pain, jaw joint pain or other common dental problems.

The best treatment is to do is to get them removed before they cause more damage and trigger more migraines. Did you know that up to 80% of people between 18 and 30 have symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth? While it’s not necessary to remove your wisdom teeth, it can be helpful in some cases. Because wisdom teeth are often impacted, it’s best to have them removed before they cause more problems.