Toothache and headache on one side medicine

A tooth with pulp inflammation can send pain through branches of the trigeminal nerve, so the forehead, cheek, ear, or jaw may also ache on that side. Upper tooth pain can also be referred from an inflamed maxillary sinus, while clenching can overload the temporalis and masseter muscles.

Rinse gently with warm water, clean around the painful tooth, and use an over-the-counter pain reliever only as directed on its label and appropriate for your health history. Avoid placing aspirin or concentrated chemicals on the gum, and avoid chewing on that side until the cause is assessed.

Arrange a dental examination promptly if pain persists, returns after medicine wears off, or is triggered by biting, heat, or cold. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, spreading redness, or inability to open the mouth normally.

Ask whether the pain is coming from the tooth, sinus, gum, or jaw joint and whether testing shows pulp inflammation, decay, a crack, or an abscess. Ask which treatment addresses the cause, what symptoms require urgent review, and which pain medicines fit your medical history.