Can a toothache cause dizziness?

I suddenly feel dizzy when I do certain movements and I lose balance. It just started this morning. I just thought that maybe it’s because of my tooth. I’ve been having a toothache for quite a while now and I just leave it alone. It goes and then comes back. I’ve been told by the dentist that I either have to have it pulled out or have a root canal.

Thanks, Brenda

Dear Brenda,

It sounds like your dentist recommended a root canal or an extraction because your tooth is infected. Leaving an infected tooth with an abscess untreated can cause lightheadedness. This happens when the infection spreads into the nerves of the ears which in turn can cause you to become dizzy. Our ears control our sense of balance so when an infection spreads to this area dizziness or vertigo becomes present.  We recommend that you visit a dentist and at least ask for an antibiotic to reduce the infection. This is only a temporary fix and we highly advise you to either have the root canal completed or get the tooth extracted in order to prevent other health concerns.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Sherwood Dental Care.