Tooth Pain & Nausea

When your teeth already hurt, an upset stomach only contributes to your anguish. However, both symptoms can indicate the presence of a medical condition that a physician should treat. Knowing how your symptoms interrelate can help you to get the treatment you need.

Causes

One of the most common causes of tooth pain and nausea is a tooth infection or abscess, according to MayoClinic.com 34. This occurs when bacteria is introduced into the tooth. This can occur when your tooth becomes cracked or chipped or when a cavity progresses without treatment. An abscessed tooth frequently causes general feelings of discomfort and the pain might be so significant that it causes you to experience an upset stomach, according to MedlinePlus 14.

Referred Pain

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Sometimes you can experience tooth pain that actually indicates the presence of another condition altogether, according to MedlinePlus 14. This condition is known as referred or radiating pain. For example, you might experience pain in your teeth and feel nauseated but be experiencing a heart attack, according to Dr. Carl Herrera writing on the Senior Magazine website.

Your Physician Visit

At your physician’s visit, be prepared to answer questions related to these and other symptoms. Your physician will ask you about your current level of pain and how long you have been experiencing the pain. Your physician also may ask under what circumstances the pain worsens, such as after drinking something, eating something spicy or when it is touched, according to MedlinePlus 14. Being prepared to answer these questions ahead of time allows you to give your physician the most precise answers that can lead to a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

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Treatment of your tooth pain often depends on how severe the infection is, according to MayoClinic.com 3. In some instances, antibiotics are all that is needed to kill bacteria. This should help your pain to subside, but antibiotics also can cause an upset stomach. If the abscess is more serious, pulling the extracted tooth or performing a root canal to remove the abscess and bacteria may be necessary to alleviate pain and nausea 4.

Warning

Untreated tooth pain, particularly when the cause is a tooth abscess, can allow the infection to spread, according to MayoClinic.com 34. The infection can spread to your jaw, heart and neck. In severe cases, this level of infection can cause sepsis, a condition that causes the body’s organs to shut down. Experiencing nausea in addition to tooth pain can be a sign that your abscess is more serious 4. Seek treatment immediately.