Differences between earache and toothache

For a lot of people, earache and toothache might come with similar symptoms and it might be difficult to tell them apart. While toothache can be caused by infections, cavities, gum disease or trauma to tooth, earaches are often caused by fluid in the eardrum, ear infection, injury or cold and flu.

Symptoms of Toothache

Symptoms of a toothache can include pain inside or around the tooth, an aching sensation after you’ve eaten or consumed a hot/cold beverage, bad breath (halitosis), fever, swollen glands, and earache.

Symptoms of Earache

Symptoms of an earache can include pain in or around the ear, fever, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, sinus problems, hearing difficulty, and trouble balancing.

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.

If you are experiencing pain, get in touch with our Mississauga clinic as we offer dental emergency services and same-day appointments.