Since I have been specializing in treating patients with dizziness and vertigo, I have observed an interesting connection between vertigo and teeth.
I have seen multiple patients who experienced vertigo symptoms during daily dental hygiene, at the dentist office and after oral surgery.
I share with you some interesting information that I have learned in this blog on the connection between vertigo and teeth. This blog is not an exhaustive list of all the connections between vertigo and teeth.
Recently I have seen two new patients who told me that dental hygiene was causing their vertigo symptoms.
One patient was feeling a whirling sensation when she used her electric toothbrush.
It turned out that she had BPPV in two out of three canals in her left inner ear. We were able to fix it within two treatment sessions.
Now she can use her electric toothbrush without getting vertigo.
The second patient was feeling vertigo when he flossed and brushed his upper back molars. Once we treated him for BPPV in two out of three canals in one ear, his symptoms with dental hygiene were resolved.
I was thinking about this symptom presentation and I realized it is because the upper teeth are very close to the location of the vestibular system within the bones of the skull.
So if a BPPV crystal is loose, then any dental hygiene could cause the crystals to create a false sense of motion.
The other link that I have observed with vertigo and teeth is that vertigo can occur during or after a visit to the dentist.
Vertigo that occurs when the head is reclined back in the dentist chair could be from the neck circulation – or blood flow to the brain, or it could indicate BPPV.
The way to tell the difference is to place a pillow or neck roll behind the head when reclined in the dentist chair.
- Symptoms that resolve with a pillow or neck roll are likely due to blood flow or circulation issues in the neck that affect the brain.
- Symptoms that persist with the head and neck supported in the reclined position are possibly a positional vertigo from the inner ear, of which BPPV is the most common.
Other cases I have observed that occur immediately following a root canal or other dental surgery can be caused by an activation of the oral herpes virus – or cold sore virus in the mouth area – which can travel along the vestibular nerve to cause a case of “vestibular neuritis.”
Symptoms of vestibular neuritis may not start right away during the dental procedure, but may start within days of oral surgery, are often quite severe, last for days to weeks and sometimes cause permanent damage to the inner ear.
For that reason, I often recommend for patients with repeated breakouts of cold sores around their mouth to request a prescription from their doctor or dentist for anti-viral medications, such as Valcyclovir or Acyclovir, prior to oral surgery.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
Thank you for your article I found it very interesting.
I have recently been to Vietnam and had some dental work done. This involved a tooth extraction a root canal and two bridges fitted. The night following the root canal I woke thinking someone had picked up our bed up then dumped it down the bed then began to spin (well I thought it was)
I then spent the night vomiting and had to lay on the floor as I couldn’t stand due to the feeling of the room spinning.
I have never felt this sick in my life!
I spent most of the next week in bed feeling unwell and dizzy.
The following week I developed a coldsore on my lip and around my mouth.
It has been around 4 weeks since I had my dental work and are now back home.
The vertigo is still there especially when in bed and turning over but hopefully I have notice some improvement.
PS
I did research the clinic I went to and they had a good reputation. I felt the clinics general hygiene and sterile techniques were of a high standard.
I feel like I need a holiday to get over my holiday!
Wow! What a story! Interestingly, it is not necessarily the hygiene of the clinic that can trigger vertigo after dental work unless it is from a bacterial infection.
My top theory based on your description is vestibular neuritis from an activation of the oral herpes virus due to the extensive dental procedures. This would be caused by a viral infection of the vestibular nerve from the very common herpes virus that causes cold sores.
I have met other people who have experienced similar responses to root canals. Those patients have decided to premeditate with an anti-viral medication, like Acyclovir or Valcyclovir, before a future major dental procedure to reduce the likelihood of that happening again. Your doctor or dentist may be able to prescribe that for you, if needed.
With vestibular neuritis, there can be leftover motion sensitivity for up to 12 weeks that should resolve as you remain active in your daily life.
Vestibular neuritis can also be followed by BPPV in the same ear, so it might benefit you to consult a physical therapist who specializes in Vestibular Rehabilitation if your uncomfortable symptoms persist. BPPV often shows up as symptoms with lying in bed and turning over and it can be successfully treated in 1-2 sessions by a skilled provider about 85-90% of the time.
If you are in Southern California, I would be happy to see you. If you are not here or unable to travel here, you can find a physical therapy provider at Vestibular.org.
I have blogs on BPPV, how to track your symptoms for analysis and how to find a Vertigo Doctor in your area, that you may want to check out.
Best wishes for a full recovery!
Hi, I have been dizzy for a year now, it used to be stronger but now light. After going to dentist they discover I had an infection on a upper molar and when I went for root canal I discovered that my tooth is slightly cracked.
Can this be the source to my dizziness. I have been to Dr.’s
ENT been in 14 antibiotic.
But still dizzy at moments.
Hi Jorge,
Infections in your head or mouth area can definitely lead to an inner ear infection, like vestibular neuritis.
It is possible that the drilling can trigger BPPV.
Another possibility is that the cracked tooth could be a result of a TMJ issue.
Those are all possibilities worth looking into with a healthcare provider.
This blog will help you find a Vertigo Doctor in your area.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello! I have been struggling with a vestibular issue in my left ear for almost 2 years now. I’ve had a major loss of balance, constant headaches, the sense of always being in motion never stops. It’s even caused visual disturbances. I have seen every specialist along with ent, western medicine docs, holistic, Endo, etc. it was confirmed by an audiologist that there’s vestibular something going on in my inner ear. Possible neuritis. I have a tooth on my left side that has died and i need to get it pulled. Could this tooth be causing vestibular problems considering it is on the same side ? Thank you for your time!
Hi Dominique,
That sounds terrible! I am so sorry you are feeling so badly.
It sounds like there could be a possible correlation between the dead tooth and the vestibular problems on that side. There could be inflammation or an immune response that has mounted in that area, either one could be affecting your ear.
As you can see in the comments on this blog, many people have gotten relief from vertigo after getting a dead tooth extracted.
It sounds like you may need to see a dentist or an oral surgeon as part of your holistic approach to getting your life back!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve also experienced that oral surgery can trigger the autoimmune system into a healing mode and that increased action by the immune system can trigger a flare of Meniere’s vertigo (not BPPV vertigo.)
Hi can you elaborate? I have Ménière disease and I had a tooth apidectomy and ever since been having vertigo issues related to motion. It is different from my Ménière vertigo. Doctors recently said I have vestibular migraines even though I don’t have head pain. I want to say it was the oral surgery causing the vertigo.
Hi Mary,
I have a few blogs that may be helpful for you as you seek to learn about those conditions.
This blog is about Meniere’s disease. There is also a related condition called Meniere’s syndrome.
This blog is about Vestibular Migraine.
One point of clarification is that Vestibular migraines can occur without head pain.
Although the presentation of Meniere’s and Vestibular Migraine are similar, the management is different. That is why it is important to distinguish.
One of the neurologists I work closely with sometimes labels patients as having a “Meniere’s Migraine Variant” or MMV. He describes this patient as having features of both conditions.
You may also have more than one root cause of your symptoms.
I hope that information is helpful as you sort through to determine the root cause of your discomfort.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Greetings, this article was sent to me by a member of a vertigo Facebook group that I’ve recently joined.
I believe my bouts with vertigo started after I rubbed Oregano oil directly on my gums to help with pain after having 3 teeth extracted. I was trying to avoid taking antibiotics, as my body doesn’t react well to them.
A few days after taking the Oregano oil, I’m now having continuous episodes of vertigo & dizziness. I’ve taken a generic Benadryl, but it’s not really helping. I’m dizzy even as I’m laying here typing this message.
The Facebook member, after hearing my story, thought possibly that the vertigo could be stemming from the tooth extraction in itself. I’m doubtful, but I guess anything is possible.
Anyone have this same issue, and is there any hope in site?
Thanks!
Hello I’ve experience pain a bottom molar that whole side of my face hurts. I’ve had a recent root canal about 1 yr old but it never resolved my pain. I was due to see an endo but because of the corona virus it was postponed. I feel this caused me to have a vertigo episode, where I just got super dizzy and nauseous and proceeded to vomiting. I’ve been dizzy for 4 days pain on molar still continues and I don’t know who to see dentist or health care provider. I’ve had vertigo before but it would go away in 2 hrs. This time I am still super dizzy is hard to do daily life things especially with 2 kids. I have no visible signs of swelling in my molar but that whole side does hurt. Could it be a connection between the vertigo episode.
Hi Jasmin,
It sounds like you have gained a lot of insight by reading the comments other people have shared on this blog!
I am sorry to hear what you are going through especially while trying to care for your kids at home.
My thought is that you will likely need to consult with multiple providers to figure out the root cause of your symptoms.
Your primary care physician may be able to prescribe some medications to give you temporary relief. You may be able to set up a telehealth consultation with your doctor. You can also likely get medications delivered to your home by the pharmacy, if your primary doctor prescribes anything for you.
Once the endodontist office opens back up, it sounds like you may want to get that root canal checked out. This consult is important since you are still in pain.
You will also likely need to consult with a Vestibular Physical Therapist to get assessed for BPPV and other common causes of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting related to the vestibular system like BPPV.
In the meantime, you can use this blog to learn about home remedies that might help.
In this blog and this blog, I describe why it is important to seek professional vertigo care.
You can find a Vestibular Provider in your area with the links in this blog.
This blog explains common pitfalls in trying to treat yourself.
This blog describes why your doctor (or dentist) may not realize you have a vestibular problem.
I hope the resources I have shared are helpful. Best wishes!
Dr Bell, Can you please elaborate on the diet that you think may help relieve symptoms? Also is there a best way to sleep that will help with symptoms.
I am not sure what sets off the off balance with me but am thinking has something to do with some of the prescription meds I take. I last had the horrifying symptom of eyes shifting back & forth when I would turn over and the feeling of the room slowly turning then my eyes would do that. I have very bad off balance most of the time.. left ear fullness – sound is like it’s coming through water and many sounds are very irritating. Thanks for any insight. I am plant based eater.
I have very severe bruxism to the point of breaking teeth and most of my molars are so sharp I constantly hurt my tongue that I think it is partly the cause of my vertigo and meniere’s.
Hi Deb,
That sounds awful! I am sorry for what you are going through.
The diet depends on the individual and the diagnoses, so I cannot make a general recommendation.
For example, a migraine diet is different than a Meniere’s diet.
Some people can tolerate histamine producing foods and other people must avoid them completely.
Some people have to eliminate certain foods like sugar, gluten, dairy, and nightshades to reduce inflammation.
The tricky thing is that food sensitivities can change over time.
My suggestion is that you find a professional dietician, nutritionist, or wellness practitioner who specializes in dietary recommendations to work with you. That wellness practitioner may also be able to help you with your sleep quality.
You may also want to check out this discussion that is taking place on my other very popular blog at BetterBalanceInLife.com called “The Gut and Vertigo.”
It sounds like you would benefit from a comprehensive exam by a Vestibular Physical Therapist as well.
Best wishes Deb
Would love to know if there’s any connection with Meniere’s or Meniere’s Syndrome and rotten teeth with root canals. I started have the visual auroras several years ago and attributed it to rotten teeth that had root canals done but had either crowns or veneers on them. For years I didn’t know how bad they were since there wasn’t pain and were covered. Four months ago the visual stuff turned to constant dizziness with occasional vertigo, ears popping every swallow, constant head pressure and ears buzzing w occasional ringing. At my wits end because getting into a specialist with no specialist coverage during a pandemic, is almost impossible. Well, 6 months out anyway. Thanks…
Did the cracked tooth cause your dizziness? My cracked tooth is lower molar.
I also have pressure in the right side of my face.
Yesterday I had to go to the ER because I had a strange feeling with my head and body but my thinking and awareness what spot on. But it felt like my body was drunk.
I just woke up and turned over and it hit me hard. So the ER doctor said I have vertigo and gave me 3 different meds to take to help with this.
But none of them work. Still really dizzy.
I called my PCP and they want me to come in. But I can’t go in because I can’t drive myself. No one to take me.
I also have one tooth that is fully exposed nerve and it had been hurting a lot for about 3 days and then this vertigo kicked in and now I’m suffering.
I need a dentist but because I can’t get a ride I have to deal with the pain and this new vertigo.
Still waiting for PCP to call me to see what can be done.
I don’t like this at all and it’s now messing with my everyday tasks.
Thanks for reading.
Shaun
I have been dizzy for 2 months and I just had 5 teeth abstracted because some were infected can this be the reason for my dizziness? It’s like when I move my head from side to side my eyes do not match up with my head movement why might that be????
Hi Deshonia,
You found this article on teeth and vertigo – great!
This is another article I wrote about dental vertigo.
My suggestion is to find a vestibular physical therapist.
You can search for a provider using this article.
I hope you feel better soon!
Kimberley: I like what you have to say about the connection between vertigo and teeth. I have both. Vertigo and had my teeth cleaned (at least that is what the hygienist said).
Hi,
I started experiencing two types of vertigo/dizziness during a panic attack seven weeks ago. I have spinning vertigo, nausea, and nystagmus, off and on, and what I now believe is PPPD, 24/7. I had symptoms for four weeks during which time I was assessed for BPPD, which I didn’t have, told I had fluid behind both ears (I have an intermittent beating and whooshing sound in my right ear) and given a nasal steroid and the diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis. By this time I was basically confined to home as I couldn’t drive or safely walk etc.
At the four week mark I had a sudden onset of uncontrollable vertigo and vomiting which landed me in the Emergency Room and, ultimately, in the hospital for eleven days. During this time the doctors told me I would have contracted VN through a viral or bacterial infection of some kind but, as I haven’t had so much of a sniffle in more than three years, I was perplexed.
Since being home I’ve still got both types of vertigo and need to rely on a walker to get around. I haven’t seen any improvement since leaving the hospital but have just started Vestibular Therapy so hopefully this will change. Unfortunately, although I’ve been referred to an ENT, I won’t get an appointment until 2021.
In the meantime, I was trying to educate myself on VN when I came across your page on the link between vertigo and various dental procedures and I suddenly remembered having a swelling on my gum one morning a couple of months ago. By the time I got home and could check it out in a mirror, it was gone and, as I never had any pain with it, I forgot about it. After reading the article I started prodding it and realized it was a bit tender and I made an appointment with my dentist. I just got back and I have what looks to be an infection in the top part of a root canal that’s about 20 years old. Unfortunately, it’s the anchor tooth for a bridge so I have to see an Endodontist which will take another month or more.
All this is a very long way of asking, could this latent infection have caused the original Neuritis and could it also be what is causing my symptoms to continue, albeit, thankfully, no longer in an acute phase?
I’ve placed myself on a waiting list for the Endodontist so hopefully I’ll be able to get this addressed sooner than later.
I love your site, it’s extremely informative and helpful. Thank you!
Hi – do you know if there’s a link between not getting a dental implant and meniere’s symptoms. My upper back tooth on my right side was removed 7 years ago and out of the blue, meniere’s symptoms began in May of 2019.
I’ve been seeing a TMJ/TMD specialist for 10 months and was fitted with dental appliances but have to admit that the treatment isn’t really helping. I’m now considering having a dental implant in hopes that it helps with my meniere’s symptoms.
What are your thoughts…..thanks.
Hi Janet,
I am not currently aware of any link between the teeth and true Meniere’s disease.
If you have a “Meniere’s like syndrome,” then it is possible that issues with your jaw, neck, teeth or other nearby structures are contributing to your episodes.
The diagnostic process for Meniere’s disease is an extensive multi-step process that is often incomplete. I share some about it in this blog.
You can also have more than one cause of your dizziness and vertigo symptoms.
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Where are you located in what city?
Hi Fran,
I am in San Diego County, California.
If you want to find a provider in your area, check out this blog.
Dear Doctor Bell.
I’m a very desperate Mum, trying very desperately to get my beautiful daughters life back.
Long story short, she had braces put on in March this year, then bands put on to change her bite in July… a week later, a massive pop even she went to eat lunch and it has been painful on and off since (about 16weeks)
We could handle the pain, but following this was ‘severe & debilitating lightheadedness’ that has left her completely couch bound and unable to do anything at all. She doesn’t have good days… the lightheadedness starts the moment her head is not supported – which means that she needs to be on a lounge or lying down.
We have had her braces removed 2 weeks ago hoping to bring relief but I am so desperate.
Please help ????
Hi Jemma,
I am so sorry for what you and your family are experiencing! Your daughter is lucky to have you as her medical advocate.
I have met many people with debilitating dizziness who live alone or have no support even with their family in the same home. Your interest in researching this situation on her behalf is wonderful.
First and foremost if you have not already, I always suggest that people notify their primary care provider of new symptoms.
Her primary doctor may want to do some medical tests, like assessing her for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardic Syndrome (POTS) or take some bloodwork. The medical work up provided by her doctor may identify the cause of her discomfort.
The application of orthodontic force to move teeth is described as “controlled trauma” applied over time with rest periods. The orthodontic force can cause changes to the pulp of the tooth, such as inflammation or changes in blood flow. Your orthodontist is a good person to help determine if anything like that is a factor in these symptoms and figure out what to do about it.
I think it is worth evaluating her neck to see if she has a neck sprain or strain, by consulting an orthopedic physiotherapist (physical therapist), or orthopedic specialty physician.
This website has some Q&A with an orthopedic surgeon Medical Doctor talking about cervical sprain and strain.
In the US, treatment for the cervical spine can be done by most orthopedic practitioners. However, I usually suggest for care to be provided by an “upper cervical specialist” in the case of severe and debilitating lightheadedness as a complaint related to the head, neck, or jaw.
To assist any healthcare providers that you see for these complaints, I suggest tracking and recording her symptoms as I describe in this blog.
Also, this blog details some things that can cause dizziness in the body.
Finally, she is at a high risk for experiencing depression due to this new onset of debilitating symptoms, so I encourage you to laugh with her as much as possible for the health benefits of laughter.
She can watch funny animal videos online or you can watch comedies. You can also make sure that she has regular social interaction to keep her spirits up through this recovery.
Best wishes to you and to your daughter!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
My son has vertigo severely, the only connection is that he uses an electric toothbrush ! Any advice? Someone suggested he do exercises to balance the crystals in his ear! Did help some!
Hi Patty,
I have not seen anything published about the connection with the electric toothbrush yet, but it has been my observation that it is sometimes connected to the onset of BPPV.
I suggest for your son to find a vestibular physical therapist in your area by searching the resource lists I share in this blog.
He would benefit most from a vestibular evaluation to determine root cause.
Can clenching your teeth cause vertigo symptoms. A few months ago tinnitus started I put it down to a wax build up then I had a attack of vertigo with vomiting. Now I still have tinnitus but have developed discomfort in my upper jaw and some of my teeth
Hi,
Yes TMJ problems, clenching your jaw, and grinding your teeth at night can all contribute to dizziness problems. That is one of the problems I assess in my comprehensive root cause analysis exam.
The ligaments and muscles of the jaw also connect to the upper cervical spine.
I have found that tinnitus and jaw problems related to dizziness involve the upper cervical spine in many cases.
You may need to consult a provider who specializes in jaw problems and / or an upper cervical care provider.
Other times, clenching your teeth can be a reaction to vertigo, not the cause of the vertigo. I have seen it work both ways.
Certainly your primary doctor should be able to help you with the ear wax buildup, as needed.
I hope you feel better soon!
Had a bottom front tooth desolating. Had oral surgery and root canal in mid March. Was very painful after surgery and hard to heal. About three weeks after surgery I woke up with extreme vertigo and noise. Saw my local doctor and they prescribed medication.didnt associate the vertigo with the surgery. Didn’t help. Next started experiencing extreme weakness if I did any kind ofwork With the vertigo getting worse. My heart rate has also gotten lower into the 40-50’s. My local doctor was concerned more with my heart so have had several heart test, heart catheterization. So far all is good. Still have lower heart rate at times and extra beats. This week the vertigo was so extreme, went to ER. They actually admitted me because of heart rate ar 41. Did ct scan with contrast to rule out any any tumors or aneurysm. Theses all came out good. So here I am again with no answers and extreme vertigo For 6 weeks 24/7. I just want answers. I am a VERY active person and this has really kicked me to the curve.
Hi Joyce,
I can imagine this must be extremely difficult since you are a very active person!
I encourage you to continue to seek medical care until you get answers and relief.
Here are some blogs that might be helpful:
How to Find a Vertigo Doctor in Your Area
How to Track and Report Symptoms
Can I have more than one cause of my symptoms?
Root cause – Why is it important?
Vestibular Problems: Why Didn’t my Doctor Realize Them?
What Causes Dizziness?
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello,
I am experiencing the vertigo/dizziness/noise sensitivity with low tone/tooth nerves pain like symptoms for the past 6months. Consulted with the neurologist for the same and many tests were conducted like MRI, EEG and blood test. MRI and EEG was Normal only the sinus problems was found. Also found vitamin D3 insufficiency of 12.7 in blood test, other blood test was normal. Neurologist prescribed anti vertigo medications for three months as well and recommended to PT for vestibular stabilisation exercises and stop medications after three months. He said no issues with the brain part.
Since then I followed as neurologist said to unfollow the medications after three months. But still I feel vertigo symptoms/other said symptoms some days and then 15-20 days feel better and then again feel symptoms for some days.
I feel some times strain in the back side of the neck and back side of head with twisting like feeling.
Kindly suggest what basically the problem.
Hi Adrienne,
I am sorry for what you are going through!
I am not able to suggest what basically is the problem because you are not my established patient. I cannot give you individual medical advice.
However, I can share some free helpful information I have published. I have linked some articles and pages below for you to check out and sort through.
Migraine Dizziness: What is it?
Vestibular Migraine (Definition)
Vitamin D
Dizziness related to Neck pain
I hope that information gives you some hope and ideas for next steps!
All my best,
Kim Bell, DPT
Check your bite. When it’s off it can cause all these symptoms.
Hope it helps
This happened to me after a root canal in the upper jaw. A week after the root canal, I woke up to the room spinning. I was hospitalized for a week and the spinning lasted for months. Now a year later, I’m still out of balance and slightly dizzy. It’s not fun. Specialists say they think it’s vestibular nerve damage. I was told that the nerve might grow back (that has not happened) or they can burn it, but they only do that in severe cases because that can cause hearing damage. It’s definitely life changing.
I recently had an extraction just a simple extraction, but I have had vertigo since a week after. I passed out in the chair when they pulled the tooth. Now I’ve had vertigo going on a month.
I came across this article I started having dizzy feeling in December and saw my primary care blood tests, MRI and ENT visit they think it’s vertigo (not full spins) caused by viral but what I kept telling them was I am having orthodontic treatment as an adult and I only have my too braces on and after I have them tightened it comes back and I feel worst. Have you heard of this? My primary care thought it was not the cause.
Hi Melissa,
I am sorry to hear that you have been feeling dizzy since December!
Viral cause of vertigo is extremely common and is usually helped with medications and vestibular rehab physical therapy.
I have had other patients who get symptoms related to orthodontics and other devices meant to re-align the teeth. They have benefitted from backing off or slowing down a bit with the tightening and using a more gradual approach to align their teeth.
In our area, we have some orthodontists who are aware of this issue, but very few physicians are familiar with this as a root cause.
You may want to pursue both possibilities to try to get relief.
If you have not already consulted with a Vestibular Physical therapist, you can use this article to find one in your area. I always recommend seeking an opinion from that type of specialty provider for cases of dizziness.
I suggest that you summarize your case using the questions I ask in this blog. That will help you present your story clearly and concisely.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Good article.
I have had three upper right teeth extractions at same time, had serve headache in my temple & was on antibiotics to get infection down. They took them out.
About a week after was dealing with vertigo and now turned into more of my perception is off and I can’t walk far without get dizzy & off balance and need Walker to walk. Almost as if my own motion bothers my eyes which leads to off balance/dizziness. Talking, chewing, & walking
Schedule for MRI but have to wait two weeks to get in.
ENT ruled out inner ear.
I think I have serve nerve damage from tooth extraction.
Hi Nikky,
I am sorry to hear about all this!
I suggest you find a vestibular physical therapist using this article.
Vestibular rehab may be able to help even if you do not get a diagnosis!
I hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have had inner ear nerve pain since I was 4. I have an inner ear nerve defect in my right ear. For the past 5 years when my teeth get infected I have to go to the ER to get penicillin to knock out the infection. The only thing that will work is penicillin. Not Bactin nor ampicillin.Straight ol penicillin. I need the full 30 days and I’m fine for about 6 months. That’s my experience. And to get rid of vertigo? I use meclizine. It’s non addictive & it will clear the vertigo right up. I would get a little dizzy from time to time & or have that feeling to throw up. The meclizine fixed all that. Im fine. but I keep my meclizine around handy.
I had a gum graft in January 2023 and about 5 days later my nightmare started with migraine symptoms but also dizziness and I haven’t been able to work since. Now it’s mainly the light sensitivity and dizziness and ringing in my ears. It gets worse when I move my head side to side but what you have described is the closest thing yet to what I’ve experienced. I’ve shared this article with my doctor and hope that it can help steer my treatment in the right direction. I’ve never had a migraine in my life and thought that was so odd to come up, and it’s mostly the motion sickness and light sensitivity that I’m experiencing these last several weeks. I hope I haven’t caused any permanent damage and can get appropriate treatment and finally get my life back.
Hello Dr. Bell, I had a heart attack in July at age 57 – i’m in shape and a non smoker – after having a stint installed and spending 8 days in ICU, I was moved to a rehab center. During this time i broke a tooth – shortly after that i was diagnosed with a vestibular problem. In short, i have little to no balance and often feel like unseen forces are pulling my head in different directions. I’m doing vestibular therapy and waiting for a clearance from the cardiologist to go off cumadin to get the tooth fixed. Reading your posts prompts me to ask, could this tooth issue be the source of my vestibular problem?
Hi Andrew,
You have been through a lot! I am so sorry for all you have experienced and I am glad you have made it through.
The inner ear portion of vestibular system is housed in the petrous portion of the temporal bone. Your upper teeth are embedded in the right and left maxillary bones of the skull.
There are many structures like muscles and ligaments of the head and neck that connect the skull bones, so it is definitely worth investigating the connection with the broken tooth further if you are not getting relief with traditional Vestibular Rehab physical therapy.
Your vestibular PT will likely have checked you for BPPV crystals at the beginning of your care, which is the most common vestibular problem.
Another possible consideration is that if you received IV antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection while you were in ICU, you might have developed a vestibular loss due to ototoxicity. IV antibiotics can actually destroy the hair cells in the vestibular system and cause a vestibular loss. The names of those IV antibiotics are the -mycin drugs, like vancomycin, gentomycin, etc. There are seven total that end in -mycin.
If that is the case, the Vestibular rehab therapy will need to be focused on teaching you to use your eyes and feet to balance. Your vestibular physical therapist should be able to determine if there is inner ear damage that is causing your symptoms with the head impulse test.
If getting the tooth fixed and vestibular rehabilitation do not provide relief, you might want to consult with a Head and Neck Surgeon. If needed, the Head and Neck Surgeon can request a CT scan to see if there is any superior canal dehiscence or perilymphatic fistula, which is an opening or a small hole that needs to be surgically repaired in the vestibular system.
Another consultation that may be valuable is a manual therapy physical therapist or an osteopath doctor who can assess the alignment of your skull bones and your upper cervical neck bones. It takes a lot of force to break a tooth, so it’s possible that force has also gotten your skull bones or neck out of alignment.
In order to develop my own hypothesis about what might be going on, I would need a lot more information. If you are in California, USA, or able to travel to California, I would be happy to consult with you directly.
Keep going and don’t give up!
You can email me directly at info@BetterBalanceInLife.com.
2 years ago I had an implant of an upper tooth, the canine to the left. It’s never felt right & I’ve even had an apicoectomy due to it. Ever since the implant I’ve had bouts of vertigo in my head & a roller coaster feeling in my abdomen. Could there be a connection?
Hi Carol,
I have met many patients who experience vertigo after dental procedures and surgeries.
My suggestion is to find a Vertigo Doctor in your area, using the tips I offer in this blog.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had my bottom 6 yr molar extracted a year ago in the summer. Also have had extensive dental work mostly fillings. About a few months after this extractikn I started experiencing tmj symptoms. Dizziness while driving, skme neck stiffness and jaw pain. I have been to my pcp and ent dr and dentist that performed all dental work. They can’t what is my problem but wont say I have tmj. I have had a balance test and full physical. And ct scan. What are my options. I am only able to drive short periods of time bc I get dizzy. Tjis has lasted 9 months so far.
Hi Linda,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through!
For neck and jaw evaluation and skilled treatment, I would recommend searching for a physical therapist in your area with the specific training on this Directory:
https://instituteofphysicalart.com/cfmts-and-ipa-clinics/
For Vestibular Evaluation and treatment, I recommend searching for a Vestibular Physical therapist listed in the Provider directory at Vestibular.org.
Most patients I see with symptoms like you describe benefit from evaluation and treatment recommendations from BOTH types of specialized physical therapists to maximize their recovery.
Dizziness is a sub-specialty within medicine, so it is important to find the right providers to help you.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I recently had a procedure done at the Dentist called a deep cleaning using a lot of watera week later had 2 upper teeth filled,the next day i had vertigo and it lasted 3 days. Could this have been caused from this procedure?char
Hi Char,
Based on the correlation in timing, it is possible that the vertigo could have been as a result of the procedure.
However, there are many different causes of vertigo and it is possible that the vertigo is unrelated.
Correlation does not necessarily establish causation.
It is important to have a comprehensive root cause analysis by a Vertigo Expert if you continue to have uncomfortable symptoms so that you can determine the cause and get appropriate care for your discomfort.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi, around about 2012 I had a vertigo episode while sleeping. This was the only episode that I ever experience. It was intense spinning and very scary for me. I was sick and awfully off balance. Still to this day I have not had an episode. But I have been feeling vertigo like symptoms whenever I lay on a flat surface with my eyes closed. If there is a bright light pointing towards me my vertigo symptoms increase. I’ve only known this to happen because I get my lashes lifted time to time (not anymore due to this). The bed is flat, and she uses a ring light to be able to see. The only way that I can regain my balance is to peek through my eyelids and see that the room is not spinning. I’ve felt almost as if I cannot control my eyes movement and it’s very terrifying. I’ve been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope as a child and grew up with health problems but this one just fell from the tree and I am concerned.
Hi Julia,
I think the following blog may be helpful to you regarding the discomfort you felt while sleeping and still experience when leaning back in the salon chair or lying flat.
Vertigo with Lying Down
To find a provider in your area, you can use this blog on How to Find a Vertigo Doctor.
The lack of control of your eyes that you describe is called nystagmus.
It is definitely worth getting it evaluated and treated by a skilled provider. Most general practitioners will not be able to resolve the problem.
If you are near San Diego and want to travel here, I am happy to work with you.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello,
I’ve come across your blog but continuously searching for some results on how I’m feeling.
I had a root canal treatment down on a lower left molar a couple of weeks ago, the pain first started in August 2020 in which they thought the pain was from a wisdom tooth, so extracted this. The pain continued and after a few more appointments found that I needed a root canal treatment. I was given antibiotics and then sent away to come back and have it done. They open up to tooth and was unable to finish the root canal due to the amount of puss in the tooth.
They closed it up and sent me off with more antibiotics and another appointment. This happened 3 times. All in all I had 15 appointments before having it finished. I still now have a small lump next to the tooth on the gum.
I’ve now had the root camel finished and 6 days after the treatment I started experiencing dizziness 24/7. This started on a Wednesday and by the early hours of Monday morning I was in the emergency department because I was also getting weak feeling in my left arm.
They sent me home as my bloods were ok and didn’t seem concerned to do a head scan and put it down to a migraine. Even though I have no pain in my head, just a pressure feeling. Since coming home I have been feeling sick and tummy upset and my left arm having times where it feels weaker.
I’ve been on the phone to the doctors since and they keep putting it down to anxiety because I’m thinking the worst and that something is going on in my head.
I have also been waiting a year for a ent appointment which got cancelled in the first lockdown and I can feel some pressure in my left ear which has been going on and off now for a year since have an ear infection.
I’m not sleep well as I’m constantly worried and woken up with numbness in my left arm. It’s 4am here in the UK and I have found your blog.
Could my root canal treatment I had a couple of weeks ago be the cause of all this?
Your advise would be so appreciated as I feel my local doctors are just brushing this off as anxiety when my body is trying to tell me they are wrong.
Thank you in advance
Hi Rachel,
I am sorry to hear about all you have been going through!
In this article and this article, I discuss the link between vertigo and anxiety.
This article discusses migraine dizziness.
Your case certainly sounds complex and it is possible to have more than one cause of your discomfort.
You may want to find an orthopedic physiotherapist who can evaluate your neck since you have had so many dental procedures. Sometimes numbness in the arm can be caused by a neck issue.
I trust that your doctors will take care to rule out other possible neurological causes of numbness in the arm.
If you have not already consulted a Vestibular Physiotherapist, that may also be a valuable step.
Finally, the antibiotics can disrupt your gut microbiome, so you may need to consult an integrative doctor who can help you rebuild a healthy gut flora. You may be interested in this blog on the connection between gut and vertigo.
I suggest that you follow up with whatever tests and treatments that your doctors recommend.
Certainly staying up all night worrying is not helping you! Sleep is required to heal from all health problems.
I hope you are able to get some good sleep soon.
I wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I am going through this same thing. Any update?
Hello Dr Bell,
I have just visited the dentist 2 days ago for my wisdom tooth extraction. It was the tooth on the left of my lower jaw. After lying on the dentist chair for about 30 mins, the back of my head on the left side can feel the stiffness the ops. I can feel a bit dizzy after getting up but can still manage to walk. The feeling was like they was a palm sticking on my back of my head for a long time. I try to massage my head and started to use my fingers and thumb to press on the top left on my head and the left bottom skull area just beside the ear level. It was so painful that it has a feeling that my blood vessels in my brain is going to burst that i have to stop.
I am also having dizziness for the past 2 months and on 2 occasions where i couldn’t get out of bed because the world is spinning around me. I have not consulted any specialist so far as i thought it could be due to lack of rest and sleep.
I have tried massaging my head with my thumbs to press on the top and back skull area whenever i experience the dizziness, and its like the blood vessels are going to burst in my brain when i press on it. Sometimes i would also experience a sudden gush of blood to both side of my head when i get too excited over a conversation. Seriously, i do not know what’s happening to me because i also experience dizziness when i try to focus on a near object or talking face to face to someone.
Would appreciate if you could give me some advice
Hi Derrick,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through.The first step I always suggest is to report your symptoms to your primary care physician.
I would be happy to work with you in the future if you want to schedule a consultation with me.
Below are four educational blogs I have written that might help you with your current situation.
This blog from our other website BetterBalanceInLife.com answers the common question: Why do I feel dizzy when I lie down or roll over in bed?
From our Vertigo Detective site, this blog discusses how to find a Vertigo Doctor in your area.
This blog may help you prepare to meet with a Vertigo Doctor in your area by guiding you on how to track and record your symptoms.
This blog discusses that there is often more than one cause for symptoms of dizziness and vertigo.
Best wishes for a full recovery!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Derrick. We’re you able to find answers or relief? I came down with very similar symptoms after dental work with no answer from any doctor I have visited. Any input will be helpful. Thank you!
Hello, On December 20th, 2019 I had a permanent crown put on. On December 21st I began experiencing dizziness. Many of the same description as other comments I have read here. I’m functioning but it really is worrisome. I still have major sensitivities and can not chew food on that tooth and hot and cold hurt. I’ve been back to the dentist and she did some adjustment and said that the dizziness wasn’t caused by the procedure. I’ve also let my doctor & neurologist know and they didn’t think it could be related. I am on meds for complex partial seizures so to try to diagnose I have had an eeg, mri multiple labs, they’ve checked my ears and also done a balance test. I also just had a test on my throat to see if there was any narrowing of the arteries in my neck. So far all tests have been good. I’m still waiting on results for the neck test to come back. As you can see we have been diligent to try to find out what is going on. Initially my dr prescribed meds for vertigo but it only made it worse. My dr says the next step would be an ENT dr. and then cardiology. Because of the high risk of stroke and heart disease in my family I have started taking cholesterol meds (it is just a little high) and I’m monitoring my blood pressure. I’m 51 years. Relative healthy and active. I keep circling back to the Crown because of the timing. Nothing else correlates like it does. My dr now is not ruling it out and is doing some research. Yesterday my friend mentioned a UTI and said it made her dizzy and she didn’t have any other symptoms. I pee a lot and wake to pee but I have for years. Anyway I wanted to give you a bit of my history to see what you thought and if you think it could be related and what my next step should be? As I’m sitting here writing this I feel “off” is the best word I can describe it. I’d really like your input. Thank you.
Hi Ella,
It sounds like you have started asking some good questions and I encourage you not to give up hope.
With such a complex story, I suspect you will need a team of providers who can guide you through the discovery and recovery process, to determine the root cause(s) of your symptoms and create a comprehensive treatment plan for you.
Most practitioners specialize in one “body system” and are not very familiar with the literature or research related to other body systems outside of their specialty.
For example, I had a patient tell me yesterday that her Cardiologist said he “does not believe in BPPV crystals.” That is both laughable and sad at the same time, considering there is a huge body of research supporting evidence-based care that my team and I provide for resolving BPPV crystals.
My patent care and advocacy work are my efforts to help bridge the huge gaps my patients experience and my mission is to rescue misunderstood and mismanaged patients with dizziness, vertigo and imbalance.
Sadly, that turns out to be a lot of people because these problems often span across multiple body systems.
I encourage you to keep working on building a team of providers who understand what you are going through and feel confident they can guide you through it.
If you ever want to travel to San Diego, I would be happy to consult with you.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Ella I had a permanent crown put on Friday March 19th. Today Sunday March 21st having the worst vertigo ever. Upper left 3rd tooth from molar. It was sore yesterday so I took Advil before bed. Very sure this is the root cause of my vertigo since it’s usually my sinuses. Now I am hoping it will pass soon. Been 7 hours of on and off dizziness being very careful how I move my head! Hope you are feeling better.
If you test negative for UTI and continue having symptoms, you may look into the connection between Interstitial Cystitis and Histamine sensitivity or MAST Cell issues. Many people have consistent symptoms of a UTI when they have histamine, Salicylate or MAST Cell issues.
Also, for many people, Aspirin and NSAIDS can increase symptoms of Vertigo.
Hi Dr. Bell,
I had a different experience after having the right side of my lower jaw frozen for a root canal.
First some quick back history. I received chemo therapy for kidney cancer for 6 months in early 2013. All is well but I have a few side effects left over that never resolved as predicted. My biggest problem is that it left me with balance issues. I cannot walk a straight line or balance on one foot. I loose total balance in complete darkness. I also must balance any items I carry or I stagger badly. Lastly, my fear of hieghts, which I finally outgrew years ago, is back with a vengance. I am 60 years old.
Back to the dental work. My jaw was frozen up into to my rear. When I got home my wife asked me to carefully put some plastic bins in the rafters of our garage for storage. I had taken them down in the fall but had a death grip on the ladder the entire time. It took me quite a while but I got a. 6 bins down safely.
When I went to put tbem back up, with my lower jaw frozen, I discover I had lost both my fear of hieghts and my balance issues. I was up and down the ladder one handed and holding a bin in the other hand, no issues what so ever. One the novacain wore off all symtoms returned. Have you heard of this happening before? I was previously diagnosed with BPPV 6 years ago after a neurologist tested me for MS based on my symptoms. An MRI and 2 CAT scans came up negative, leading to the BBPV diagnosis. If I do get a vertigo attack the exercises prescribed for it do help most of the spinning symptoms.
Have you ever heard of novacain temporarily relieving balance and hieght issues?
Thank you,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I have to say that I have never heard anyone tell me that their balance issues or fear of heights was temporarily relieved with novocaine in their lower jaw. Very interesting concept!
I will think through the anatomy a bit more as I chew on this new tidbit of information! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Keep in mind that BPPV has about a 35% recurrence rate in the general population and it spikes up to about 50% among those who also suffer with migraines.
I always educate my patients to get screened for a recurrence of BPPV if they don’t feel stable, especially walking in the dark.
Hi Jeff, I can relate to this. I’ve had a constant spinning sensation inside my head for around 3 years and haver recently been diagnosed with PPPD. The only time it has completely disappeared in the three years was when I had my upper jaw frozen at the dentist for a filling.
Hello , I just had a root canal on a top left molar on the 30th . Several days later I had dizziness . Now for the past five days it’s dizziness and on going painful facial and back of the head headaches. I finally went to the urgent care and was told it was vertigo . Is it normal to have headaches with this? My blood work was normal and they said no sinus infection after looking up my nose . I’m miserable .
Hi Natalie,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through! Root canals are tough enough and now you have to deal with this…
There are a few things that can cause vertigo after a root canal. If you check out my blog above on Vertigo and Teeth, I mention BPPV and the neck issues that are common and I describe those issues in more detail.
I have a lot of information about BPPV in Blog 1, Blog 2 and Blog 3 on this topic.
In such an acute case, it is always possible that you have developed an infection after the procedure, so I suggest you notify the person who performed your root canal of your new symptoms along with your primary care doctor. They will have more questions for you and a procedure to follow if they suspect an infection.
The other question you asked about the headache… I have seen many people who have a headache that co-occurs with BPPV and/or is related to neck issues. Either of those issues can be triggered by extended dental work with your head tipped backwards.
Hopefully once you discover the root cause of the dizziness symptoms and address it, the headache will resolve as well.
The other possibility is that you may be experiencing a migraine headache that is causing the feeling of dizziness. I have a blog called “Migraine Dizziness” that might help you learn more about this possibility.
You can find a provider in your area to assess you for BPPV using this blog.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had a root canal on tooth 14 years ago, it got infected and had to do a retreat. last summer I was eating a grain bar and bit down on a seed or something very hard and heard a pop and sensitivity and pain days later. I went to the dentist and they didn’t seem to think it was anything, she thought I was grinding in my sleep. that became the least of my problems. About a month later I experienced the first symptom which was blurred vision at a distance, I wear contacts and went to the eye doctor, they didn’t see why my vision would be blurred, prescription hadn’t changed. I noticed loss of energy and didn’t feel like myself. Then 3 days later the dizziness started like you wouldn’t believe, followed by anxiety and had 3 or 4 major panic attacks. I thought I was dying.
I’m self-employed and was forced to take a week off of work.
I went to many Doctors, eye doctors, specialists, neurologists, conducted MRI’s, met with ENT’s, did hearing tests, went to a vertigo specialist, (all said it wasn’t vertigo) took meclizine which made things worse. Took antibiotics and steroids, this went on for days, then weeks, then months. Finally my primary dr. wanted me to go to the mayo clinic, but then insurance wanted me to do many weeks of vestibular rehab.
I did a several sessions (at $90 each) and I quickly realized I could just do this stuff at home on my own. I probably saw a dozen doctors and specialists and never got a proper diagnosis, Their best guess was that I was suffering from a vestibular nerve disorder. After 4 or 5 months it got better, and then it all but went away and my vision cleared up.
During this time my tooth would bother me on and off. And so I finally went to my dental specialist to get a CBCT scan and he could immediately see that there was bone loss which paired with what I described led him to believe the tooth was cracked. So a month later we scheduled an extraction & implant.
A few days later, the dizziness is back. Not as severe but definitely a problem.
I have also been very stressed the past few days, but the issue that was causing me great stress has been resolved. I am hoping that this new bout of dizziness is temporary and will only last a few weeks.
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your experience with me!
A lot of people experience anxiety and panic attacks with dizziness and vertigo. I share more information on that subject in this blog, this blog and this blog.
I am also self-employed so I can empathize with the devastating effects of taking off work without sick pay!
It sounds like one of the main problems is what you described – you suspect that you never got a proper diagnosis. The root cause of vertigo and dizziness is the key to customizing the treatment plan.
I am also hoping that this new bout of dizziness is temporary for you, but I encourage you to take action by recording your symptoms to share with your current and future healthcare providers to assist them in making the proper diagnosis for you.
It is important for you to continue to dig into the root cause analysis because unresolved causes of dizziness and vertigo can cause falls with aging.
If you are in San Diego, or able to travel here, I would be happy to consult with you in person.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello, for years I have had several bouts of vertigo. I have had two sinus surgery. One thing I noticed is that when I clinch my teeth I get a dizzy sensation. I have a wisdom tooth on my top right that has just now worked it’s way out. Would that be causing my dizziness?
Hi Sandra,
You hit on a few major points, which are that vertigo and dizziness can be related to sinus issues and TMJ disorders, as well as the other causes discussed in this blog article and in my replies to other people’s comments on this blog.
I am not sure if a wisdom tooth working its way out could be contributing to your dizziness.
I would suggest for you to consult with two different specialized physical therapists (PT): One who specializes in Vestibular Rehab and a second PT who specializes in TMJ (jaw issues).
Once you get their input, I think you will have a more clear picture of what you are dealing with.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello Dr.Bell,
I have previously been diagnosed with bppv. I have not have a bad incident in quite some time. However this weekend I have had two cases of dizziness and nausea that I believe is vertigo. I was thrilled to find this forum because I feel as though it is the use of my electric toothbrush that has caused the bppv to “flare up”. I am keenly aware of the vibrating with the toothbrush and feel like my head is in a bubble when I brush for too long. Today I had to leave a party early and go to bed because of the nausea and dizziness. I was feeling better this evening so I was on my computer with my headphones in listening to a lecture. When it was over and I turned to get up, the dizziness and nausea were back. Have you ever heard of the vibration from headphones perpetuating a bout of bppv?
Thank you
Hi Kelley,
I am glad you came across my blog article about the trend I have noticed – The use of an electric toothbrush can trigger dizziness and vertigo and it may be resolved once BPPV is successfully treated!
The most important thing is that you get this vertigo episode treated as soon as possible, to reduce your discomfort, improve your quality of life, and prevent you from needing to leave parties early!
In this blog and this blog, I share important reasons to get BPPV treated as soon as possible.
If someone competently treated you during the first two cases, you can return to whoever previously treated you for BPPV.
If you were only diagnosed with BPPV, but never successfully treated, I hope you can look for someone who can perform “particle repositioning maneuvers” near you.
I wrote this blog to help people find a Vertigo provider in their area.
In response to your question about headphones – yes, I have one seen one other patient who suspected her BPPV was caused by listening to TV programs loudly on her headphones connected to her computer, while her husband watched another program on their TV.
However, I have not yet identified this as a trend. Now you are the second person who has mentioned this to me! It certainly makes sense.
Thank you for reaching out to me!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Dr. Bell,
I found your page while searching for information on alternatives to dental implants and looking at dental work that can cause vertigo. I have had Meniere’s since I was 16. I was hit in the head during a tennis match and it was mentioned years later that may have been the cause. I am a lot older now and have had lots of experience with vertigo off an on over the years.
I am getting ready to do some major dental work and I am in a bit of a panic as I am in a good place as far as vertigo goes, and I am terrified of the work which includes a root canal, crown and some sort of replacement (now straying away from the implant after reading a bit more).
At this point, I am dealing with the work step by step but the root canal has me a bit stressed worrying it could spark a vertigo episode.
Any steps you would recommend to build up my resistance a bit to not have a full on episode of vertigo?
My dentist is also not familiar at all with Meniere’s either so that makes me a bit more nervous.
Hi Dawn,
I am sorry to hear that you have been suffering with vertigo since you were 16! My story is similar with episodic vertigo started in my adolescence and it has motivated me to study this topic with extreme intellectual curiosity.
I am not surprised that your dentist is not familiar with Meniere’s since it is not his practice area. You can find free educational materials at the Vestibular Disorders Association to share with your dentist and any family, friends, or other healthcare providers who are unaware of what you are going through.
Regarding the initial onset of your suspected Meniere’s disease after the trauma to your head and presumably to your neck from the impact, I can recommend that you check out the very interesting work of Michael Burcon, DC who has presented at many consecutive international Meniere’s conferences. You can find out more about him on this website.
I have found that a certain training among my physical therapy colleagues uniquely prepares them for resolving upper cervical problems as well. If you prefer physical therapy to chiropractic care, you can find a provider in your area who may be uniquely qualified to reduce your Meniere’s type episodes by focusing on your head and neck area on this global directory.
Specifically related to the dental work, I think most people feel stressed about an impending root canal even if they do not have vertigo problems! Extra stress is a very normal in your situation and with any major medical procedure, so I encourage you to be compassionate with yourself and focus on stress management and relaxation more than usual.
You specifically asked about how to prevent vertigo episodes so here are some thoughts…
For Meniere’s disease, maintaining a low salt diet and ensuring adequate potassium levels are common “Tier 1” management strategies.
BPPV has a higher rate of occurrence in people with Meniere’s disease and BPPV may occur from the vibration caused by the drilling related to a root canal.
The only BPPV prevention tips that I can offer are to stay hydrated, ensure adequate Vitamin D level (higher than 30 for most people) and minimize your stress. Other than that, there is not much you can do to prevent BPPV.
If you wake up in the morning or roll over in bed feeling a spin, and it does not feel like your typical Meniere’s episode, then I suggest seeking out BPPV care by a Vestibular Expert as soon as possible.
You can find a Vestibular Provider in your area on the Provider Directory at Vestibular.org.
I hope those tips were helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Hello. I have been experiencing vertigo episodes since 2013. That is nine years. I woke up one day with my head spinning and was told I had viral labyrinthitis. I had a root canal done about 20 years ago now so at that time it was about 10 years in. After the root canal there was a crown done. 20 years later the crown falls off and the dizziness, lightheadedness, cloudiness in my head and vertigo goes away. They wanted to redo the crown but I was afraid to let them do it. My ENT suggested a temporary crown just to see if the vertigo came back. One week after putting on the temporary crown the vertigo is back. For some reason anything on that tooth or around that tooth is causing me to have vertigo. Now the crown fell off again and the vertigo is gone. I wanted to know if anyone has heard of this before and what are my options at this point? Maybe the root canal wasn’t done properly or the crown was just causing problems? Would I have to get the tooth extracted? That scares me because I feel like that could cause problems as well. Right now I feel great with no crown. I don’t have any pain either because it was a root canal done but I just wanna make sure I’m making an informed decision. I really don’t want the tooth to be extracted either but I truly believe that the crown is causing the vertigo there is something not right on that side. It is the last tooth on the upper right. Thank you
Hi Carolyn,
Although I cannot speculate on the answers, I think you are on the right track here with the questions you are asking.
I have met many people – and you can read in the comments on this blog – who felt better after getting a crown fixed or a tooth extracted, etc.
I am just glad to hear that you have found relief from the vertigo.
I suggest you discuss your care plan options with your dentist or oral surgeon.
Best wishes!
Dear Dr. Bell,
Thank you so much for your blog and all the great information.
Recently I had dental treatment, a day after that I got very bad cold sores all over my lips and inside my mouth. A week after I woke up with sever vertigo and vomiting and eventually I ended up in the emergency room. The diagnosis was vestibular neuritis or BPPV. I suffered about 5 weeks from strong weakness, loss of appetite and sleep. After sometime I started to feel heart palpitation as well. All these prevented me from either functioning at home or going to work (very scary scenario).
Since I have to continue with my dental treatment, my doctor prescribed 5 days treatment with Acyclovir before the dental work. I should mention that it would be several dental treatments (several crown replacements). I am wondering what would be the chances of recurring vestibular neuritis or BPVV and severity of recurrent symptoms. I highly appreciate any other suggestion that you might have.
Hi Leila,
I am sorry to hear about your horrible experience!
Thank you for reaching out to chat with me about it. I am sure many other people with a similar story will appreciate your sharing.
I think the diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis sounds right on, based on the concurrent onset of the cold sores immediately after the dental procedure.
The herpes virus which causes cold sores, can often act up after major dental work. Once the herpes virus becomes active, it can travel along the nervous system inside your skull to infect your inner ear with an inflammatory viral infection.
I usually ask people if they had a cold sore breakout before getting vertigo. This type of onset for Vestibular Neuritis is becoming more and more common as the herpes virus becomes more widespread.
Pre-Medicating before dental procedures with an anti-viral medication, like Acyclovir, is an excellent strategy for people who get cold sores. The goal of pre-medicating with the anti-viral before dental procedures is to keep the herpes virus dormant and prevent another Vestibular Neuritis event in the future.
Most dentists are willing to prescribe anti-viral medication, like your Dentist. It sounds like your dentist has experience with this, so that is great news!
I personally also use an over-the-counter Lysine supplement to suppress that viral activity if I feel a cold sore coming on. I am not a Certified Nutritionist or a Medical Doctor, so please do your own research on that over-the-counter option and do not take my word for it.
I also think you made a good choice to go to the emergency room. I often recommend that for people who are actively vomiting, because you may need IV fluids.
There is a risk of dehydration from vomiting. Also, you can get medications at the Emergency Room to relieve the symptoms you are experiencing.
You mentioned heart palpitations. Keep in mind that your uncomfortable symptoms may have more than one root cause.
Anytime something unusual is going on with your heart, you definitely need to report that to your doctor. Your doctor will have a set protocol of testing to ensure nothing is seriously wrong.
Sometimes electrolyte imbalance caused by vomiting can cause heart palpitations. I definitely recommend for people to replenish electrolytes after vomiting.
Other times, heart palpitations can be caused by the stress and anxiety symptoms triggered by such a dramatic and unexpected event. Heart palpitations are one of the physical symptoms of anxiety.
I offer strategies for my patients to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms triggered by vertigo in this blog.
I also discuss PTSD related to vertigo in this blog.
Regarding the BPPV diagnosis, I have a lot of information about BPPV on this website VertigoDetective.com and also on my other website BetterBalanceInLife.com. You can search the term “BPPV” in the search feature to find lots of free, helpful articles.
Sometimes the onset of BPPV co-occurs with the onset of Vestibular Neuritis.
Other times, BPPV can be more frequent in the future for someone who has a history of Vestibular Neuritis.
Either way, you need to educate yourself about BPPV symptoms, BPPV recurrence, and BPPV Treatments so that you can be your own advocate.
The management of BPPV is different from the management of Vestibular Neuritis.
The viral infection caused by the herpes and triggering Vestibular Neuritis is managed by medications and then you may need to consult Vestibular Rehabilitation Physical Therapy for a full recovery if you are noticing residual dizziness, vertigo and balance problems.
You can find a Specialty Provider in your area to evaluate and treat you for BPPV, and offer Vestibular Rehab exercises for any residual effects of Vestibular Neuritis using the links I provide in this blog.
This blog shares what we know right now about preventing recurrences of BPPV.
Of course, drilling from dental work may vibrationally trigger BPPV for any dental patient by shaking the BPPV crystals loose. But the good news is that BPPV can be successfully resolved in 1-2 treatment sessions about 85-90% of the time if you consult a Vestibular Expert Physical Therapist.
I hope that reply was helpful!
Best wishes for a full recovery,
Kim Bell, DPT
Dr Bell, In my opinion Tooth pain can caused by Central vertigo i.e Vestibular Migraines can be caused by an infected tooth that might not even generate pain but needs to be pulled due to decay. Some people might feel pain in jaw bone to ear causing dizzy spells. As we know many people get diagnosed with Vestibular migraines, I was & it was due to upper tooth #3 I had it removed. I also have had episodes of BPPV for years & I have done the Epley maneuver to fix that. The type of dizziness & rocking sensation & pulse sensation in my head & rising falling sensation was different, I had MRI done & conclusion was Vestibular migraines.
Hi,
I appreciate you sharing your experience and your opinion on my blog.
Your story is very interesting!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have Meniere’s, tinnitus plus vertigo, and an ultrasonic teeth cleaning triggered it immediately. It is now an hour later and I have to take three meds to control it so I don’t start vomiting. This was my first ultrasonic. My old dentist sold his practice to a young one with the latest tools. I need another old dentist 🙂
I’m reporting this here because my Google search listed it near the top for ultrasonic dental vertigo search term. Hopefully others will find it.
Hi Jim,
Thank you for sharing your story here, so other people can read it and benefit!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hey Kim. I have had several bouts of vertigo happening several times a year. One extreme bout lead to some extensive ear and neurological testing. At St Thomases in London. No cause was found. However i suddenly realised that the vertigo was coinciding with gum and tooth pain in my upper back teeth. A long overdue visit to a dentist, a diagnosis of periodontitis and two back teeth removed. That bout immediately cleared up. And, I haven’t had vertigo since and my teeth were removed 4 years ago. I’m pretty convinced there is a connection.
Hi Angie,
Well done!
I want to applaud you for staying the course through the investigation to discover the root cause of your symptoms and staying on track to resolve the cause of the vertigo.
Many people get discouraged and give up before they ever figure out why they are having dizziness or vertigo.
You handled that beautifully, and I am sure you will inspire many other readers of this blog who are losing hope.
Thank you for sharing your story of courage and perseverance, and your positive outcome!
With gratitude,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello,I had a tooth extraction around August of this year and two weeks later I still had excruciating pain but not from the extraction site but from the tooth next to it.I developed extremely dry mouth and throat and no matter how many cups of water I drank the water did not help me at all!!!Its like the water was literally making my mouth drier !!!Then came the numbness in my mouth gums teeth and jawline and it felt like my throat was always closing up giving me problems with breathing I am also feeling dizzy all the time blacking out passing out !!.Come to find out the dentist pulled the wrong tooth she pulled my wisdom tooth at the top in the back!!Went to the er several times for these symptoms kept recurring and they told me I have sinusitis and a respiratory infection !!!Also I am waking up in the middle of the night arms and legs shaking uncontrollable feeling confused whole mouth is numb throat is closed up I’m literally like this for at least 15- 20 minutes before it all stops and when it does it feels like my whole body been through some type of trauma !!I have never had none of these issues prior to getting my tooth pulled!!Doctors ran so many tests and did so much blood work and everything is coming back good everything looks great !!??Please explain all these symptoms I am suddenly having and what can I do to get the proper care for it ?It is now a new month and it’s still occurring !what kind of doctor would I need to go to to get checked out?I am currently on a inhaler that is how bad this is now !!
Hi Nadine,
I am so sorry to hear your story! That sounds miserable.
Seeking an opinion from a Neurologist MD and an ENT MD would likely be valuable in your case.
It is very important for you to stay in close contact with your Primary Care Doctor (MD) about this situation.
This blog might help you track your symptoms so you can advocate for yourself when you meet with your various doctors.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Dr. Bell,
I’m so grateful for this website! I just experienced my first episode of vertigo this morning at 5AM. I had gotten out of bed to use the restroom and when I got back in and laid down everything was spinning and it was terrifying. I also was extremely clammy, sweaty, and nauseous. I’ve been in bed most of the day. After some research, I found the dental connection. I had 2 fillings a week ago. Is that too long for there to be a connection? My 15 month old son has also just started daycare and has had a fever for the past few days. I have never had a cold sore but 2 weeks ago by son was diagnosed with Roseola. Do you think I could be a carrier of virus and not know it? I also take Spironolactone for hormonal acne but Ive been taking the same dose for 10 years with no issues. I scheduled an appointment with an ENT, hopefully he will be familiar with all the therapies you have referenced.
Hi Kary,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry to hear about this new onset of vertigo, and I am hoping your ENT visit was able to give you some relief.
I believe all of your theoretical causes should be investigated by a professional healthcare provider.
Some causes of what you described could include BPPV, a virus, or the preceding dental work.
I hope you are able to find a vertigo doctor in your area.
In this blog, I talk about strategies to manage vertigo caused by lying down.
In the blog, I share some home remedies that might help.
On this page, I discuss common causes of vertigo and treatment options.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi. Kimberley
I experienced vertigo days after my last dentist visit. Had a couple of wisdom teeth extracted surgically and had a deep cleaning. It took me a multiple visit to get everything done. The first time I was there for the cleaning had to wear a mask to receive nitratous oxide. The hygienist said it was supposed to relax me. It was ok that day. On the next visit I felt so dizzy that I had to tell her to remove it. she said it was a little too high and reduced it but I felt it got worse and she had to remove it. Then she gave me some oxygen. Days after my last visit the on set of vertigo started to attack me. I had that feeling one morning years ago but it lasted for few minutes after waking up. After my dental work, it lasted for few days in the mornings when I shift my head in bed or tilt it backwards in a sitting position. Then it stopped for few days but now it’s back again. I’ve diabetes (which is well managed), high blood pressure, Emery Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy and a heart disease(have an ICD implant). All at age 44 🙂 . nice resume, isn’t it? I heard there is a maneuver which is supposed to help people with the condition but couldn’t do it by myself after I YouTubed the instructions. Do you’ve any advice? Thanks.
Hi Addisu,
I am sorry to hear what you experienced!
It sounds like you are describing “positional vertigo” because you can trigger your symptoms in certain positions, like in bed or tilting backwards.
My advice is to find a qualified provider to help you with those symptoms. You can search the Provider Directory at Vestibular.org.
I definitely do not recommend trying to treat yourself with YouTube videos. This blog discusses more about the risks of trying to treat yourself.
This blog talks about how to manage vertigo with lying down.
This blog talks about how to manage an episode of vertigo.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Kimberley, l’m grateful for this website! I had a root canal upper right canine,the next day woke up with a swollen lip above the tooth filled with fluid later become a small sore ,then started filling dizzness in the morning or when turning my head,and my right nostril is blocked,saw a dr was put on antibiotics and antihistamine and my dentist when l called he said l just relax ,have had feelings and root canal with no issues but this time it’s a different stories.thanks
Hi Caroline,
It sounds like you have a responsive physician who prescribed you those two medications, so that is good news.
If the problem is viral in nature, then the medications you were prescribed will not help very much.
Sometimes a “cold sore virus” can get aggravated from dental work, and cause an onset of vertigo. In that case, you may also want to discuss anti-viral medications with your physician.
Also, it is possible that the onset of dizziness in the morning which is worse with head turns, and the swollen lip filled with fluid are unrelated.
The most common vestibular disorder is BPPV, and it typically feels worse in the morning and produces symptoms with head turns in certain directions.
I have a lot of information on BPPV on both of my websites, but here is a start for you:
BPPV overview
BPPV causes
BPPV symptoms
BPPV: What to do?
What is BPPV?
Here is a link to my other website, where you can learn more by using the blog category “BPPV” for the content I have published on the topic.
I hope you are able to sort through this situation to determine the root cause.
The treatment interventions for your symptoms of dizziness should be specific to the root cause in order to be the most effective.
If you want to travel to San Diego, I would be happy to work with you myself.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have been suffering with constant nausea and vertigo for over 4 years. I have seen 2 Gastro Drs, 3 neurologists , 2 primary care Drs, ENT Dr for balance testing, sleep study, gastric emptying, etc. I’ve had 3 colonoscopies, 2 EGDs, 3 MRIs, etc. I’m at my wits end. There is no other testing recommended. This all started after a root canal then an out of state trip. I woke at midnight and vomited for the next 11 hrs. I was taken to hospital, treated for migraine, given treatment for nausea and sent on my way. Immediately came home after 5 hr drive. I could Not lie down due to being dizzy. It got worse And then all the different Drs for the next four years. I’ve taken Meclizine sometimes 3x a day lately. I have a broken tooth now and have not been able to get it fixed. It is in upper right left, next to back molar. I’m going to dentist this week. I am thinking of just getting affected tooth pulled. I can’t do another root canal because the last and only one I had I ended up getting that tooth pulled after all that happened because it bothered me so. As I type this my head is spinning and I feel like I’m in motion. Could all this now be related to broken tooth? I break out in sweats, unable to work and I don’t know where to turn next. I’m desperate for answers. I’ve never been treated for actual vertigo but what Dr would want to take me on after all I’ve seen? Help!
Hi LA Douglas,
What a story! I am glad you found my informational blog so you can keep learning about the possible root causes of your symptoms and seek the right kind of care.
Sadly, I often hear stories like yours which is why I started my specialty practice to rescue patients who are misunderstood and being mismanaged.
I have met many patients like you who have been seeking care for years, have seen multiple specialists, and had many diagnostic tests that still cannot determine the root cause of the problem.
The key is not so much how many providers you have seen, but seeking care from the right providers and assembling the healthcare team you need to get through this situation.
It definitely sounds like pursuing further dental work is appropriate, given your back story.
The additional step would be to seek treatment for “actual vertigo.” I would suggest looking for a Vestibular Physical Therapist in your area using the two online directories I provide in this blog.
The best way you can help your provider to analyze your case is to track and record your symptoms using the suggestions I provide in this blog.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have suffered from many bouts of BPPV over the years and I have also been diagnosed with MS (under control with Tysabri infusions). Last week I had an apiectomy on tooth 19 and the next day I woke up spinning like BPPV. The next night it happened again but it stayed during the day (almost constant dizzy feeling)… I think I had the beginning of a cold sore before the apiectomy so I don’t know if this is BPPV or vestibular neuritis due to herpes virus? What do you think?
Hi Claudia,
I would say it could be either vestibular neuritis or BPPV.
Those are the top two most common vestibular diagnoses and could fit your symptoms description.
My suggestion is to report this problem to your primary doctor in case they want to prescribe any medications and then find a Vestibular Physical Therapist who can further investigate the root cause of your symptoms and treat whatever they find.
I have a blog called “How to Find a Vertigo Doctor in Your Area” that has links to two online directories that you can use to search to find a Vestibular physical therapist in your area.
To help prepare to meet with your vestibular PT, I suggest documenting your symptoms using the information I provide in this blog.
I wish you all the best!
Warmest regards,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi-
I had two large cavities filled(one extremely close to the nerve) and the following day, after bending down and standing back up, I started to experience dizziness. For three days following- the dizzy sensation would hit me out of no where-for example:standing in line at the grocery store, however, from the start of the trigger of bending down, I am now experiencing dizziness and headaches any time I stand up and move or sit down after moving. I’ve seen an ENT(no ear infection, tumor in ear etc) and a PT who did not see the typical nystagmus when doing the maneuvers. What gives??? I am miserable and cannot function. To add I do not feel like objects are spinning but more so my head is spinning like a really bad hangover without the nausea.
Hi Katie,
I am sorry to hear this! It sounds miserable.
My first thought goes to these two possibilities:
Orthostatic hypotension
Symptomatic BPPV
Latest research on Symptomatic BPPV
Here is some information on how to manage:
Dizziness with Standing
Dizziness with Lying down and rolling over
You can find vertigo home remedies that may help by clicking here.
I also cover a bit more about what causes dizziness in the body in this blog.
If you want to seek additional opinions from other providers, I suggest recording your symptoms as I describe in this list.
This blog may help you find another Vestibualar PT for a second opinion.
I wish you well on your journey. Healing is possible for you!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have dealt with positional vertigo for about 20 years. Finally saw an OT lsst who showed me a head maneuver (not the epply, another with a hyphenated name, cannot remember) which miraculously gave me control ovet the vertigo. It has worked mant times since, and always works.
Last week had two crowns installed on implant pins, upper left, both adjacent, a molar and a bicuspid. Thought the contact berween the two was too tight, bur dentist said she did not want to remove any more, tried to convince her, to no avail, she said it was fine. Later in day started in with vague vertigo and nausea…next day nausea was so bad almost vomited several times. Figuring cause may have been result of lying back in chair at dentist, did the head maneuver repeatedly with no improvement. A week later, vertigo and nausea still present. Could the tight contact beteeen teeth cause my vertigo and nausea?
Hi Tom,
That does not sound like fun! I am sorry to hear what you are going through.
There are many possibilities when we are considering the connection between vertigo and teeth.
I don’t know enough about your situation to offer an informed opinion about the pressure between your teeth affecting your new symptoms of vertigo and nausea. They may be related or they may be unrelated, but this definitely calls for a thorough investigation.
New onset of BPPV crystals, post-procedure infection, TMJ issues, and Upper cervical misalignment all come to mind.
I recently wrote another blog about 5 reasons why the Epley Maneuver does not work, which may be helpful to you even if you are using a different maneuver now.
I also have a blog on my other website, called “Should you be treating yourself for BPPV crystals?,” which discusses pitfalls of attempting to treat yourself and some reasons why your treatment may not be working.
The most important thing you can do to help any skilled provider figure out the root cause of your discomfort is to track and report your symptoms as I outline in this blog.
This blog can help you find a Vertigo Doctor in your area.
I hope the information I have provided is helpful.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
I am so glad that I found this article. Thank you for writing it. I have suffered from dizziness for 8 years. At first it was intermittent but the last 3 has become constant. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with BPPV in my left ear. I received treatment but it did not cure my dizziness. About a decade ago I had a root canal on my upper left 2nd molar. A few weeks after the riot canal I told the dentist it did not feel right and was told to give it time to settle down. It felt better but over the years I would experience twinges of pain and cheek numbness. 4 years ago a dentist thought that I needed an apicoectomy and sent me to an endodontist. At that time the endodontist mentioned that he saw a shadow on the xray and thought that the root canal could be cracked. He chose to still do the apicoectomy. I still have twinges of pain, cheek numbness and now have a bit of tenderness on the roof of my mouth near that molar. A few months ago, the dentist thought that the root might be cracked and sent me to an oral surgeon for removal. The oral surgeon does not agree. He wants me to wait a few months to see if anything improves. He thinks I have nice teeth and does not want me to lose a tooth. He said he would either go in and do an exploratory procedure or send me to an endodontist to clean it up. The dentist thought that this tooth could be the cause of my dizziness. This whole experience is confusing. Could this molar be the cause of my 8 year battle with vertigo/dizziness. I just want my dizziness to go away. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Cheri,
It sounds like you are getting the runaround! You are definitely asking the right questions and I applaud you for not giving up.
I think it is possible that a molar could be the source of chronic vertigo/ dizziness especially in the upper teeth, and it sounds like that is what one of your dental professionals is suspecting.
It is hard to say for sure, because correlation does not always equal causation.
I definitely recommend for you to continue to seek appropriate dental care for your molar.
If you truly have BPPV, and that diagnosis is accurate, then it is absolutely possible that you had dizziness/ vertigo issues from BPPV this whole time. I have met many people who got BPPV after major dental surgery, including three new patients who I have treated within the last two weeks.
There are many reasons why your BPPV treatment may not have worked. I have outlined five reasons in this blog.
There can also be multiple causes for symptoms of dizziness and vertigo, which all need to be addressed for the most complete recovery.
You may want to seek a second opinion on the BPPV diagnosis from another Vestibular Physical Therapist, using this blog which has a link to a Provider Directory.
It is very important for you to accurately track and report your symptoms to all your healthcare providers, so you can use the outline I created in this blog.
You can also seek an opinion from an IPA-trained Physical Therapist who may be able to evaluate the bony alignment and muscles around your head, neck, face, and jaw to determine if any of your musculoskeletal tissues are causing your dizziness and vertigo symptoms.
You can find an IPA-trained physical therapist at this Global Directory.
So in summary, you may need two specialty physical therapy opinions, in addition to ongoing care from your dental professionals, to determine the root cause(s) of your symptoms for the last 8 years.
Best wishes for a full recovery,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had a cracked tooth that gave me an abscess. I was feeling very unwell and I got terrible vertigo – could barely sit up without spinning right back onto the bed. Hubby took me to the emergency dentist who pulled the tooth. Immediately I felt a lot better – but the vertigo disappeared completely after the tooth was pulled. I have had Vertigo quite severely two or three times in years since. I had never had it before that tooth got infected.
This article caught my attention because I have had several teeth pulled thinking they were the cause of my vertigo. I am interested in identifying the canal where the vertigo is originating from. You e mailed me a dr in my area that I could contact. You requested that I identify which article I was referring to in my e mail Thank you for your help!!
Hello Dr. Bell,
I am 21 years old. It started from 3 months ago while I was at work. I wasn’t feeling too good. Now remind you, I do work at a factory, just literally got hired in. So I’m on the line, I started feeling dizzy and I had to get off the line to sit down. I started to feel sick and everything, but never vomit so then I finally went to the hospital. They told me I have BPPV. I keep hearing a ringing noise in my right ear all the time. When I go outside to walk or anything, I feel dizzy where I can’t walk and my hands starts sweating. So as of yesterday, I went to the dentist and my tooth ? on upper right sided – it’s been hurting me. They told me it’s a deep cavity hitting my nerve going to my ear ? sending false information of me “moving when I’m really not moving at all” to my brain. ? I still get dizzy when I go outside and try to walk. My right ear rings non stop. I’m just wondering what is this that is wrong with me? What is this really? Please help me! I am scared Dr. Bell! And is it going to stop after I get my tooth pulled today? The ringing noise, the dizziness, the false information, the suffering from vertigo? I feel insane because I’m not normal!
Hi Nastassja,
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through.
It totally makes sense that a deep cavity hitting your nerve in your upper right teeth might cause irritation of the nerves and trigger vertigo.
I cannot say for sure because I have not evaluated you, but that explanation does make sense.
It is possible you have inflammation of the surrounding areas, or even infection that has spread out beyond the tooth.
I think it is very important for you to completely follow the treatment plan and recommendations given by your dentist, including any medications they prescribe after you get your tooth pulled.
You may want to learn more about Vestibular neuritis. That would likely be the closest Vestibular diagnosis that might shed some light on the false information of “moving when you are not moving” that the doctors have told you is the cause of your discomfort.
You mentioned that you feel insane because of these symptoms. You can always call 911 or go the nearest emergency room to get emergency medications to help you calm down, if needed. Vertigo can definitely be very scary, so seeking skilled care is a priority.
I definitely suggest that you notify your primary care doctor about what you are experiencing in case he or she wants to prescribe medications to help you get through this crisis.
If your symptoms do not settle down after your tooth is pulled and you have followed all recommendations by your dentist and doctor, then you may want to consult with a Vestibular Provider in your area.
You can use this blog to find someone near you.
I have a blog on vertigo home remedies that help.
I am very sorry for what you are going through! I am well aware that missing work and lost wages are a common problem among people who suffer with dizziness or vertigo.
I hope you are able to find relief soon!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had root canal done on my 2nd molar almost 3 years ago. That day I had a really bad headache. I felt like my head was in a vise. I thought it was normal since I had spoken to a couple relatives that said they had headaches after having a root canal but that they only lasted a few weeks. My headaches did not go away. I went back to the Endodontist told him about my headaches and he brushed it off. He said it was probably from having my mouth open so long. And that my jaw was likely causing the pain. I then started seeing a Dr for headaches. I convinced my self that I had a tumor or something serious. I’ve often felt a crawling/burning sensation in my head. I had an MRI done and everything came back normal. I’ve had blood work done and everything always come back normal. I was put on several medications that didn’t work and I didn’t like the side effects. I even went the ALL NATURAL route and I’ve been on supplements like Juice Plus & My brain, nerve tonic, etc. All help for a little bit but my headaches come back. I can’t take Ibuprofen or Tylenol very much as I get really bad rebound headaches. My ears will turn really red and get hot when I get a bad headache. Usually its one or the other. It usually never happens to both ears at the same time. I got pregnant with my daughter about 9 months after having the root canal. At the time I was on Nadolol but my Dr had to take me off it due to being pregnant. She said usually when pregnant headaches/migraines go away. I then started taking Juice Plus supplements and they did go away. At the time I was convinced that it was because of the supplements. However about a month after having my daughter I started to have really bad headaches again. So I stopped taking the Juice Plus because it didn’t seem like it was helping and its expensive. I also started having problems with my vision. I’ve become extremely sensitive to light. I cannot be on my phone very long. Or look at a computer screen. Scrolling hurts my eyes or even just the screen. I see floaters that come and go and sometimes flashes. My eyes hurt all the time. I have gone to several Eye Drs and they have all said my eyes are healthy. No changes in my vision. I always feel very fatigued. Lately I’ve been feeling really dizzy, lightheaded, off balance, and nauseous. Do you know what the cause of all this could be? Or know or have heard of anyone that had anything similar going on? Feeling this way makes life very hard. I’m convinced that this is all because of the root canal I had. It was if someone flipped a light switch. I had never had any of these issues before. I also forgot to mention I get neck pain that comes & goes and the back of my head will hurt at the same time. I also recently got a mouth guard appliance because my bite was all wrong and am now seeing a dentist that specializes in TMJ. I really haven’t noticed any improvement in the way I feel since wearing the appliance though.
Hi Ashley,
Wow! You are really having a tough time. I am glad you found my blog.
First of all, floaters with flashes of light can indicate a detached retina so it is good that you already consulted with an eye doctor.
A lot of your symptoms sound like Vestibular Migraine, especially the new sensitivity to light, the potential influence of pregnancy related hormones, and the intermittent neck pain.
I wrote a blog on Migraine Dizziness that you can check out here.
I would suggest for you to consult with two types of specialty providers to determine the root cause of your symptoms. That is the key to recovery.
1) A Vestibular Physical Therapist: You can use this blog to find a vertigo professional in your area. This type of professional can determine if you have any specific inner ear cause of your symptoms, such as BPPV.
2) An IPA-trained Manual Physical Therapist: You can use this link to find a provider in your area with this specialized orthopedic training. They might be able to address the neck pain and jaw issues that are contributing to your discomfort, and potentially causing a vestibular migraine type of dizziness and imbalance.
I have a great team out here in San Diego so you are always welcome to travel out here for a consultation if you are not able to find effective care in your area.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve had some broken teeth, I didn’t do anything about it, I didn’t know if I wanted teeth implants & didn’t understand the procedure, I didn’t know if I got them out if I had time to decide or not, so I did nothing. the first vertigo I did the hearing test but lately it was bad, every time I blinked the room would straighten & then start to spin,
the vertigo that happened off & on , changed to about every other day, I couldn’t tell what was going on . I had pain in the side of my face, up into my temples, my head hurt even to put if on the pillow, I didn’t know if this was the tooth or some brain issue, but I figured, I’m going to get that tooth out. the oral surgeon got me in & on his was was a poster of the nerve from the bottom jaw up past the ear. & I started wondering. Is this it. Well the tooth was pulled last week & no vertigo so far. so 7 days of non spinning. This is excellent.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for sharing your success story!
I think your confusion about the root cause of your symptoms is a common experience among people with vertigo.
I am glad that you found the light at the end of the spinning tunnel!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
My vertigo started on Valentine’s day. Got up after reading my phone in bed and wham. I do wear a nightguard and clench to the point I had mild dizziness in the AM, but never this bad. My nightguard was repaired and now a couple of teeth hurt badly throughout the day, pinching behind my eye and causing shoulder/neck pain. It’s now 5 days later and I am worse. Getting vertigo while doing daily activities and still have tooth pain (been checked for this same tooth many times by endodontist). The vertigo is positional, but the dizziness is constant. I saw a clinician without resolution. Any advice?
Hi Jeanette,
That does not sound like fun! I hope you are feeling better by now.
Just in case you are not, I want to share this blog on how to track your symptoms. That will be important for any professional who you consult with, especially if you have more than one cause of your symptoms.
For example, constant dizziness and positional vertigo can have the same root cause or they can have different root causes.
I understand you have already seen a clinician. You may have to consult with more than one specialized medical professional to completely resolve your complaints.
For example, you may need to see a dental professional, a vestibular physical therapist, and an orthopedic manual physical therapist to address all aspects of your discomfort.
This blog has a link to online directories that can help you find a Vertigo Professional in your area.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery!
Warmly,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Dr Bell.
I have had vertigo very day for the past 3 months now.
I am so drained. I can’t handle it anymore. It’s non stop until I lay down. I got vertigo at the end of Nov 2019. I got my wisdom tooth removed in August 2019. That’s what the chiropractor has put it down too.
The chiropractor lady didn’t help me. She just ended up hurting my neck.
I have seen a Bowen therapy lady after that. And after 1 session my dizziness went away for about 5 days then came back. I seen her again a week later. But no luck. It didn’t go away.
I just don’t know what to do anymore. It’s making me depressed. Please can you help me.
Hi Georgia,
I am so sorry for your discomfort! It sounds like you are really suffering with vertigo.
I want to encourage you not to give up hope.
It sounds like you need to find one or more specialty providers who know how to assess and treat the root cause of your symptoms.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of root cause analysis.
Since you have neck pain and vertigo, you may need to see both a vestibular physical therapist and an orthopedic manual physical therapist.
It sounds like you may also need some mental health support to get through this difficult situation.
I would encourage you to discuss this with your primary care doctor.
You can find a Vestibular Provider using the links in this blog.
You can find an Orthopedic manual physical therapist by searching the directory at Institute of Physical Art.
You may also relate to the content of this blog and this blog, where I discuss the reasons why it is important to seek professional help for vertigo.
I wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Very similar symptoms as well. Root canal and dizziness for a few weeks. Convinced dentist to give me antibiotics. Cleared up Dizzy went away. However it came back full force 6 months later. Dizzy now again and has been a full year with the dizziness. MRI clear save for a small white matter lesion, getting a follow up on that next week. Repeat MRI as initial was 9 months ago. I still feel it all comes back to teeth as well and either i got a new infection and dont realize it. Or could be any number of other things it seems like. ears clear. as well. VNG showed slight vestibular issue. Which again can link back to teeth no? Get no clear answers and I am stuck with the typecast its all in your head but it cant be this or that. Would love to find a doctor that strives to listen. Perhaps takes some bloodwork, and gets me on the right path
Hi Luke,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Dizziness for a full year is no fun at all!
I think you are on the right track with considering all possible root causes and leaving no stone unturned. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to analyzing the root cause of dizziness.
Many patients end up doctor shopping for years without answers and relief. This can cause confusion and frustration for many people with dizziness.
That is why I developed my own comprehensive methodology, which I call “The Bell Method,” for analyzing complaints like yours.
In this blog, I discuss three questions to ask when choosing a healthcare provider. One of the questions is “Do they appear to care about me?”
One of the limitations of the insurance based model of care is that providers have to meet a certain quota of patients per day to make a sufficient income. Unfortunately, working inside the insurance model really limits the amount of time a provider can spend with you.
When I was envisioning my specialized physical therapy private practice to rescue people with dizziness and vertigo, I realized that people with those complaints need more time.
My initial consultation includes a history taking phone call that lasts up to 30 minutes and an initial visit that lasts about 2.5 hours.
My follow up visits last between 75-90 minutes.
In my practice, I do not accept health insurance but I collect payment from my patients at the time of service. I communicate with all my patients in between visits as needed without any additional charges.
You may need to venture into the world of cash-based providers who have a different customer service approach and a more integrative model of care delivery.
If you choose to continue to work within the insurance model and seek care from insurance-based healthcare providers, you will most likely need to become your own “case manager” and “health advocate” in order to navigate through the medical system effectively.
I know firsthand that living with dizziness is difficult. I had a mystery case of dizziness and vertigo for 25 years before I figured out my own root causes and launched this private practice to help other people like myself.
I wish you all the best!
Keep asking questions. Keep going!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello,
This not a recent post, but hope to still get an answer about my vertigo.
A couple of days ago, I woke up with a feeling of head spinning. When I contacted my Dr he told me it was bvvp without further investigation. Today I call my eye doctor, because I thought that somehow the vertigo could be triggered by poor eyesight…only getting worse because my work is very straining on my eyes. He told me he did not think so but toothaches or dental issues could trigger vertigo. Funny enough I have had a very bad toothache lately. However this is a molar on the bottom side. Could bottom molars also be responsible for vertigo? Or is it only top molards that are likely to cause it?
Thanks
Hi Bea,
I agree with your doctor that people with BPPV commonly wake up with a feeling of their head spinning.
I applaud your doctor for knowing about BPPV, since it is not common knowledge among primary care providers!
Vestibular Physical Therapists are highly skilled providers who can treat BPPV.
To find someone in your area, you can use the links in this blog.
To learn more about BPPV, you can check out the articles on this page.
I suppose that if an infection is bad enough anywhere in the face, it could affect a larger area with inflammation. However, most of the cases I have heard about related to teeth involve the upper molars.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Thank you for your comments. I want to explain my case because I’ve been having problems with vertigo and dizziness for 4 years and I still don’t not exactly why.
The vertigo started one morning after a day with a lot of nerves. I woke up and everything revolved around me. I was so scared that I went to an ear specialist (as I could because I was dizzy and vomiting) and she told me that I had BPPV in my right ear. I had these symptoms for 3/4 days and then 4/5 days only with dizziness, no vertigo. The second time it happened to me, I went to the hospital and they told me the same thing. But they didn’t do any tests or exercises to make me better, so I went to another ear specialist doctor for the third time, and he told me the problem was in my left ear, not my right. He told me to do Eppley’s exercises and after a few days of vomiting, it went away. Since then it has happened 7/8 times more and Eppley’s exercises don’t take away my vertigo. In the end I stopped doing them because they make me worse.
My doctor sent me to the neurologist and the CT scan is correct. He also sent me to the orthopedist and I have 2 disc protrusions, but the orthopedist doesn’t relate it to vertigo or dizziness, he says that this can’t be the reason. The dentist wants to remove my 4 wisdom teeth because one of them is too close to the nerve and the other are not really in a good direccion growing.
Something that helped me was to sleep with a double pillow, this improved that I had vertigo only once a year, but lately when I turn left to right in bed, for a few seconds I have a little vertigo, and then it goes away. This happens everytime since 1 year ago or more maybe.
Sorry about the whole story but I’m a bit desperate, actually. It’s very hard and long all this. What do you think could be from all this? I don’t know what to think anymore.
Thank you very much Dr. Bell.
Greetings,
Nu
PD: I forgot to say that when I brush my upper/central teeth I also get a bit of vertigo, specially from the back of the teeth. I use an electrical brush.
PD2: I’m a 33 years old woman.
Hi Nu,
I am sorry to hear how you are suffering with vertigo.
First of all, I will say that your care for your neck and your wisdom teeth extraction are all decisions you can make with your healthcare providers. Since you have a dentist and and orthopedist, they are the experts in their findings and can recommend the best course of care for those issues.
Regarding the vertigo and dizziness, I have found that many people with BPPV wake up with spins. After a few days, it may subside to only dizziness and not spins anymore.
I have many patients who had BPPV in one ear and then get BPPV in the other ear later on.
According to some research, there is only about a 30-40% chance that it will go away on its own.
I have met plenty of people who have not found success trying to treat themselves with Epley or exercises on their own. The following blogs may help you.
This blog explains five reasons why the Epley maneuver does not work.
This blog explains what to do when vertigo exercises don’t help.
This blog explains common pitfalls in treating yourself for vertigo.
My suggestions is for you to find a skilled Vestibular Physical Therapist in your area to seek BPPV treatment from a professional.
This blog has links to online directories to find a Vertigo Professional.
It sounds like you have found your own home remedies such as propping up on pillows. This blog has more home remedies that might help you.
The most important thing is that you get it successfully treated now and if it ever comes back again.
Treatment for BPPV is considered one of the most clinically valuable interventions in modern medicine due to its effectiveness.
With proper skilled care, the rate of successful resolution of BPPV vertigo symptoms is very high!
I encourage you to keep a positive attitude as you educate yourself on BPPV and seek proper skilled Vestibular Physical Therapy.
Best regards,
Kim Bell, DPT
Could impacted wisdom teeth trigger vertigo? I had my first and very intense bout of vertigo at 4 am this morning. I was so dizzy I couldn’t seen and even lost conciseness briefly. The Dr at the ER said all my blood work was normal. Said it was just sever vertigo but didn’t go into much detail just mentioned it was something in my inner ear most likely that caused it. And just now thought maybe it’s possibly that my impacted wisdom teeth (that I definitely need out ASAP) could possibly be the culprit, though so far in my searches this is the closest thing I have found to my theory.
Hi Ariele,
Certainly teeth are very close to the ear. Movement of your teeth, inflammation, infection, or mechanical pressure could affect your ear.
I am glad you went to the ER to get checked out.
Most Emergency rooms will instruct you to follow up with your primary doctor afterwards as well. That is a good idea in case your doctor wants to do an independent work up.
Whenever I hear of someone who wakes up in the morning with vertigo, the first thing I think of is BPPV.
I have many blogs on BPPV at this link.
You can find a provider who can assess and treat you for BPPV using this blog.
This blog has home remedies that may help.
This blog will explain how to track and report symptoms.
It is possible that you can have more than one cause of your vertigo symptoms.
I hope you feel better soon!
So i went to the dentist yesterday after a week or two of mouth pain. Swallon gums, hurts to chew and open mouth wide. And a few days ago the dizzy spells kicked in witH nausea following. The whole room would spin even when lying down. Dentist seen no infection or holes etc. just the swallon gums. Sending me for an xray on the jaw so he can see more. But my top left wisdom tooth is sensitive to touch. Not sore just sensitive unlike the other teeth. So he recommended i see the doc about dizzyness and possible ear infection. Doc said ear is fine. Possibly could have vertigo so prescribed me anti nausea and antibiotics incase there was an infection. Any info u can give me about your thoughts on this? Mouth and jaw pain has been two weeks and dizzy spells only 3 days and both dentist and doc arnt sure.
Hi Sha,
I hope you are feeling better by now!
If you are still suffering with vertigo, I would suggest that you check out the following blogs:
Vertigo with Lying Down
BPPV Symptoms: What to Know
How to Find a Vertigo Doctor in Your Area
Vertigo Home Remedies that Help
Vestibular Problems: Why Didn’t My Doctor Realize Them?
I wish you all the best for a full recovery! I encourage you to continue to seek skilled medical care until you feel better.
Hi 🙂
I have a very long vertigo story, so I do apologise in advance.
I’ve had three separate periodontal surgeries (Gum grafts) on the front of my lower jaw. The first one I had November 2019, and a couple of days later I had a filling which turned into a root canal which was a highly painful experience. The dentist had not identified a fourth canal in my tooth which led to an abscess and pain for a year. I first experienced vertigo in November, briefly. It went away. I then had a second session of gum surgery in February, and an infected wisdom tooth. This is also the same week that I had a crown fitted on the root canal that was done in November. I started to experience vertigo for a week, which was weird but went away. The week after I got a kidney infection and had to take co-amoxiclav for it, which was fine for the first 10 days of the course, but on the 10th day, I woke up with severe vertigo which then ensued for three months where I couldn’t get out of bed and had to quit my government job. I was then put on stomach meds after one month as the antibiotics had given me chronic stomach pain. These made the vertigo even worse. My infected root canal has now been sorted, and wisdom teeth extracted and all surgeries completed. I’ve had MRI’s done, endoscopies, colonoscopies, blood tests, and I’ve seen a neurologist who has diagnosed PPPD. Yet I just feel that I can’t live with this dizziness and there must be a proper cause that can lead to my recovery. I also have very mild scoliosis which flared up in that week in February, although have done intense yoga and haven’t had pain since. The doctors have run out of tests to do! I’ve had eye tests as well and ultrasounds etc. I just am really at my wits end, as I used to have a high flying career and am only 25 and now have to live at my mums again. I can only manage a part time shop job, but even that is a struggle.
Hi Megan,
I am sorry to hear what you are going through! It is great that you are able to live with your Mum while you sort this out.
PPPD is an interesting condition. I would encourage you to read more about it here to see if that matches your description.
Many people who truly have PPPD feel better after starting SSRI medication, with their doctor’s recommendation. If you think the article I linked on PPPD sounds like you, then I suggest you discuss that medication option with your doctor.
I have linked some blogs below here that may be helpful to you:
How to Track and Report your Symptoms
Note: If you send me a follow up comment with more information about your vertigo symptoms, as I suggested in that blog linked above, then I can recommend further articles for you to read.
Three Questions for Choosing the Right Healthcare Provider
How to Find a Vertigo Doctor in Your Area
Vertigo Home Remedies
Seven Reasons to Seek Professional Vertigo Help
Five Reasons to Seek Professional Vertigo Care
More About my Practice Focus
Hang in there and keep going! Give your Mum a big thank you for her support.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi glad I found this , I recently got dental work done a root canal and crown on my left side and extraction on my right. Couple days later the dizziness started, and has not stopped, I have never experienced anything like this so after almost two weeks I went to urgent care to see a doctor and was given meds to deal with the vertigo, but she recommended I see a specialist. Any suggestions.
Hi Chris,
I am sorry for what you are going through!
Here are some helpful articles for you to review and sort through:
How to Find a Vertigo Doctor in Your Area
Vestibular Home Remedies that Help
BPPV
Vestibular Neuritis
I hope you are able to find the information you need in the resources I have provided. I encourage you to continue seeking care until you feel better.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi Dr. Bell,
I submitted a comment a few days ago but can’t find it so please excuse me if this post ends up coming up twice.
Yours is the only info I can find that relates Vestibular issues to dental issues.
I have had Vestibular Neuritis for seven weeks without any seeming instigating illness.
Thinking back, I did have some swelling on my upper gum on the affected side just prior to the onset of the neuritis. I was out at the time and by the time I got home a couple of hours later the swelling had gone, I couldn’t see anything when I looked at it in the mirror, and I had no pain or discomfort so I didn’t think anymore about it.
After reading your article I poked the area on my gum and it felt a little different and a bit sore. I went to my dentist Who took an X-ray which she said showed possible signs of infection at the top of an old root canal. Unfortunately, it is also the anchor tooth for a bridge and so I’m waiting to see an Endodontist for treatment.
My question is, do you think that this could be a cause of the neuritis? I hadn’t actually had a dental procedure just this infection. Most healthcare people seem to be skeptical that this could cause it as the condition is usually the result of a viral, not bacterial, infection. But I’m hoping that, if this infection is the cause, my neuritis will start to improve once I get treated.
Should also mention that I have intermittent bouts of vertigo with nystagmus, as well as, constant dizziness, suspected to be PPPD. I also have Pulsatile Tinnitus in the affected ear. I’ve been tested many times for BPPV but I don’t seem to have it.
Thank you!
Hi Suzanne,
An infection in the teeth or gums is definitely something important to address. I believe it could contribute to a neuritis event due to the close proximity of related structures.
In addition to the dental care, I suggest for you to find a Vestibular Physical Therapist to assess you. You can search for a provider using this blog.
Along those lines, you may want to make sure your immune system is functioning well if you do find a chronic tooth, gum, or inner ear infection that has been lingering. That could be accomplished with some bloodwork ordered by your primary doctor or a wellness practitioner.
For the pulsatile tinnitus, I usually recommend an evaluation by an upper cervical specialist. If your upper cervical bones are out of place, it can compress the blood vessels causing a pulse when your heart beats and contributing to a constant dizziness.
It sounds like you have a complex case with a lot of possible root causes. Often, people have multiple overlapping causes which adds up to feeling bad!
You may need a team approach by multiple providers for your best recovery.
I hope you feel better soon.
I’ve had Maxillary Expansion surgery in october last year (2019). Ever since then I’ve been having bouts of dizziness and nausea from days to weeks on end. In episodes lasting from minutes to just over an hour. All in varying severity. I’ve been to a few doctors but no cause has been determined. My ears were physically checked too.
I have had vertigo for years following a concussion I had where I hit my head on the roof of my car that had been manageable by a scopolamine patch until now. I had a root canal done on tooth number 19 and a month before that the tooth on the other side extracted. A week after the root canal the vertigo is back and my patch won’t stop it but it oddly is better if I press down on where my tooth was extracted and fill the gab or take something for the horrible pain. The root canal failed I need that tooth extracted it’s constant pain worse then when it was worked on was prepped for a crown without one on it not even the temp crown. Why would putting pressure on the the gums on the other part work? I also had a dr try the thing you mentioned for Crystals on my ear after my accident with the roof it only lasted a week sadly I was told they thought my issue was do to signals in the brain but the patch always worked before this.
My goodness Mae! You have really been through a lot!
I think you are asking all the right questions at this point.
I really cannot give you medical advice without evaluating your case in detail and examining you in person.
I hope you can find professionals in your area to help you answer your excellent questions.
Hi! This is information is exactly opposite to the reason I was looking for vertigo info. A friend of mine and I get motion sickness during some movies, and we could never go to 3-D movies. He had his wisdom teeth removed and has had no problem since. However, my motion sickness has progressed into severe vertigo episodes a few times a year, so I was wondering if I should have my wisdom teeth out. After reading this, I’m afraid to try it!
My husband has Vertigo and has had spells that have him in sweats, shaking and severely dizzy and nauseated. He was told he has fluid build up.
My question is.. He is also having wisdom teeth taken out soon so will this be an issue for him?
Hi Tammy,
The vertigo can trigger a “sympathetic response” for a lot of people. This is our Fight-or-Flight mode which often includes the shaky, tremors, clammy, sweaty, chills, etc. That is one possibility.
He may also be dealing with an infection which can cause the symptoms you described, so I suggest that you get him checked out at the doctor.
You may have seen comments from other readers in this community who started feeling vertigo after wisdom teeth were removed. Dental work in general can possibly exacerbate existing vertigo.
You can search for a Vertigo Professional in your area using the online directories in this blog.
I hope he feels better soon!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Dr. Bell,
I had a root canal a week ago. Since I’ve been dizzy in the back of my head. I’ve also had a migraine in my jaw that goes up to my forehead. I’m on antibiotics. I have Multiple Sclerosis, facial nerve issues, TMJ, and seizure. I’m going to contact my neurologist. Can you provide any thoughts on this?
Hi Andi,
I am sorry to hear this! I agree that contacting your Neurologist is a good decision.
I also suggest notifying your oral surgeon and your primary care doctor.
You may need a team approach to get on top of this situation. I hope you feel better soon!
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
I had an injection right at the back of my jaw for a wisdom tooth filling. The next day, suddenly the room was spinning around and I was violently sick. Convinced I was having a stroke I phoned the GP. He didn’t know what the cause was and gave me some sea-sicknes tablets. It went away and never returned.
I am really worried what might happen if I have to have the same tooth extracted as there is a peice broken off.
Hello, 2 years ago my dentist put in a lower back left molar crown. I thought it felt right at the time but days later it kept feeling high. I went back multiple times to get it shaved down but my front teeth kept not touching. (i was pushing my front teeth with my tounge i guess.) I wanted my front teeth to touch like they always have. They even shaved the opposite molar’s filling (right back molar) to try and bring my teeth down. That didn’t resolve the issue so they shaved the upper left back tooth down (adjacent to the bottom crown) and since then I’ve had so many posture issues and knee pain. Should I get an onlay put on the upper back tooth that was shaved down?, clearly all I needed to do was see an orthodontist and they didn’t tell me that. My teeth are all straight and good now but I can feel all that extra space in the back that was unnecessarily created.
Thanks
Hi D,
I understand your question. That is very insightful, in terms of root cause analysis!
I suggest that you discuss this situation with an orthopedic physical therapist or chiropractor who can assess you head to toe orthopedically.
If you jaw is uneven or not resting properly, then it can cause additional strain on the muscles of the head, neck, and face, thereby setting off a chain reaction with poor posture and extra stress on the lower joints as you mentioned.
Without evaluating any other potential problems at your other joints from head to toe, I could never be certain if the issue you described with your teeth is the root cause.
However, someone who can examine you in person can figure out if you have multiple co-occurring issues that are related with a common cause of the extra space in the back of your mouth…
Or if the knee pain and posture issues have a different root cause.
Correlation in timing does not always mean causation, but it is always a good reason to investigate a possible link between the height of your teeth and the other problems that have sprung up since then.
I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you for sharing your story.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve been having severe vertigo cyclically (at least once a month – to the day) ever since I had oral surgery to remove a bracket sticking out of my gums from a previous jaw surgery for 4 months now. Additionally, I have severe pain whenever I move my left ear lobe in certain position ie. to clean behind it. I’m seeing an ENT who doesn’t think I have BPPV. A hearing test determined I had slight hearing loss in both ears at high frequencies. The ENT is finally ordering a CT scan & vestibular therapy which have no happened yet. I am suffering a lot and need some answers. Do you have any idea what could be going on with me? Please advise.
Hi Sandra,
I am sorry to hear that you are suffering so badly! I think it is great that you will go to Vestibular Therapy.
I suggest you consult with BOTH a Vestibular Physical Therapist and an Orthopedic Physical Therapist.
I would also suggest a consultation with an orthopedic manual physical therapist that is listed on this referral directory. I have found good success with providers who have that specialized type of training and the techniques that they use.
Your past jaw surgery and current upper cervical area alignment may be contributing to the overall complexity of your case.
If you are working a lot on a laptop, tablet or phone, then you may also need to improve the ergonomic set up of your workstation. This page has a good reference for proper ergonomics.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello!
5 years ago I had wisdom tooth extraction and the next morning I woke up with vestibular neuritis. It lasted for months. It turned out that I have MS and probably the lesions combined with the trauma from wisdom tooth removal were the reason for neuritis.
In 10 days I have to extract another wisdom tooth, on a different side and now I’m freaking out.
I’m afraid of the dentist and the trauma so I decided to go with conscious sedation for the first time now.
What is the possibility of having vestibular neuritis twice? Do you think my neuritis was caused by ms, or wisdom tooth removal, or both?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Vanja,
Wow! What a story! Vestibular Neuritis is miserable.
I suggest that you discuss your concerns about another viral attack with your surgeon or dentist.
Many people pre-medicate with anti-viral medications prescribed by the dentist or surgeon before any oral surgery.
I hope that helps!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
3 weeks ago I went to the dentist for a periodontitis clean-up, I stood 2 hours on the chair, and in the end I was very dizzy, we thought maybe low blood sugar or maybe anemia, however I have been dizzy for 3 weeks now, my blood panel is perfect, no anemia or anything else, went to a cardiologist and everything is fine, went to a neurologist because I have some herniated discs in my neck and thought maybe those are to blame.. but still nothing, I will go to an ENT doctor tomorrow for further investigation.
The first week was really bad, now I only get dizzy while in bed, but I have a baby and it is really hard to care for him, I am always very attentive when picking him up, and I also breastfeed, which makes it hard to find suitable treatment.
Hi Alexandra,
I hope that the ENT has been able to help you by now!
If not, you may want to review this blog and this blog.
This blog and this blog may also be helpful.
I hope you feel better soon!
Congratulations on your new baby! That is a wonderful blessing.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve have had vertigo for years now my right ear always feels like its numb. Could this be causing my vertigo?
Hi Donna,
My suggestion is that you outline your case using the questions I share in this blog.
Then find a Vertigo provider in your area using the directories I share in this blog.
Bring your case summary with you to the consultation. The history plus the exam will determine the likely cause of your vertigo.
Without examining you in person, I cannot speculate on the potential link between the two symptoms you mentioned.
I hope you feel better soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had a crown done recently (1 week ago) and 5 days following the initial procedure I woke up to extreme spinning. It felt like a merry go round! It takes more anesthesia than usual to numb me and this is my 3rd crown but have never experienced this before with the other two. I am having some pain still, left upper jaw near the ear and my left ear has been itching. The vertigo was its worst the first day I had experienced it, but slight/occasional dizziness continues. I’m hopeful that everything is improving! But if you’ve never experienced vertigo before, it was quite scary.
Hi, can this issue cause problems with very bad motion sickness while riding in a car?
Hi Stephanie,
For some people, car sickness is genetic and they have suffered since childhood.
If you have not felt that way since childhood, then car sickness could very well be a symptom of vertigo.
I hope that helps!
This blog has home remedies.
This blog has links to search for Vestibular providers in your area.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve had issues with bppv since having a upper tooth removed in December 2020. I had it for 6 weeks straight before going to therapist. He cured it after 2 treatments in March 2020 then it came back in late April after I bent over to far and got spinning sensation. Last week which is May now it came back I went to therapist on Friday recheck on Tuesday following week and it was gone. Wednesday morning I woke up with full blown vertigo again and I didn’t do anything to bring it on again. Therapy appointment again this week hopefully he can fix this I really don’t know what else to do. Any suggestions?
Hi Judy,
It sound like you are on the right track.
Whenever you wake up with vertigo, you need to get it treated ASAP by a vestibular physical therapist.
You can get your Vitamin D level checked to make sure it is not below 30 (deficient), as that is the only variable we know to correct that can possibly reduce the rate of BPPV recurrence.
You may also want to familiarize yourself with these home remedies for the waiting period between onset of any symptoms and the treatment.
I hope you are feeling better by now!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
I had recent root canal and developed vertigo after which I have now had about 5 days! Also developed sore on tongue following procedure! What action should I take?
Hi Tina,
I suggest you notify both the oral surgeon who performed the root canal and your primary care doctor. They may be able to prescribe some medication to give you relief.
If your vertigo is lingering, you can find a Vestibular provider using this blog.
This blog has some home remedies.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Good Afternoon Dr. Bell,
About 3 years ago I suffered a traumatic event which turned out to be Vestibular Neuritis due to the semicircular canals in my left ear not working. I was off work for 3 months and it took around 8 months to get back to any sort of normality. I know that it is permanent and do exercises everyday to keep the ‘spinning’ at bay.
Today I have had an attack of the spins which is so debilitating.
The only thing that I can think I have changed from my normal routine is that about a week ago, I have started to use an electric toothbrush instead of a manual one.
With the vibrations coming from the electric toothbrush, could this have caused the symptoms I have felt?
Thank you for your help
Hi Tony,
You are very insightful!
Yes I see many patients who noticed they had BPPV after starting to use an electric toothbrush or a water pick for their oral hygiene.
Many patients have recurrent BPPV after they recover from vestibular neuritis, so getting assessed for BPPV is the first step to seeking proper vestibular care.
Of course, I always suggest that you notify your primary care provider or GP since you had a vertigo attack today. They may be able to help you find a vestibular physical therapist or an Otoneurologist for assessment of any BPPV you may have.
It is possible that you have a new onset of BPPV, or that you stirred up crystals that have been loose for awhile.
This article has some home remedies that may help you.
This article can help you find a vestibular provider in your area.
This article is one of many that I have on this blog about BPPV, so you can certainly search for more information on this blog and my other website BetterBalanceInLife.com.
I wrote this article about vestibular neuritis and this article about vestibular decompensation, which might be beneficial to your learning.
If you recently decreased your daily activity level or skipped your daily exercises, you may be in a “decompensated state.”
Whether you have BPPV or you are decompensated, vestibular physical therapy should be valuable for your recovery.
I hope that helps!
I hope you feel better soon.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello Dr. Bell,
I’m so happy I found your article. I recently had a root canal started, had an infection, had to go back to get my tooth filed down because the dentist said my bite was bothering the tooth, a top molar. That was 2 days ago. Today I woke up with Vertigo.
I had vertigo 11 years ago after my son was born, but I am convinced this bout is due to the root canal. I was in fear the Endodontist may have been inexperienced, or the tools were contaminated.
I did read that in patients with vertigo after a root canal, Drs have found that 2 out of 3 of the Vestibular canals were blocked, who would I go to have them checked and unblocked, an ENT?
Any light you can shed would be so appreciated.
Than you.
Hi Kristy,
I am glad that you are piecing this all together like a detective!
I suggest that you look for (1) an Otologist or Neurotologist and then also look for (2) a Vestibular physical therapist using the two online directories I share in this blog.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hello Dr. Bell,
I have been dealing with a condition which has been off and on for nearly a year. The tinnitus had become overwhelming and the balance issues were disturbing as well. I went to a GP in July 2021 who diagnosed vertigo as the primary condidion. I then saw an ENT, under went hearing testing, and was then recommended getting and MRI which revealed nothing. After a couple of months I began having problems with a dental implant (upper right #3) that ultimately failed. My endo found infected bone surrounding the implant, which prompted me to using Peridex. After 1 week of use the tinnitus/vertigo subsided. I have since had the implant removed and jawbone built-up again for implant round 2. Then last January, the tinnitus reoccurred and this time my endo found an infected necrotic nerves for which I had root canal treatment and a new crown. Tinnitus went away for a 2 month period, but has now returned but not as severe as the 1st or 2nd occurrences. I have had a recent CBCT scan and I am hoping my endo can spot something else. All practitioners have found my condition perplexing. Primary dentist still think it may be TMJ related. I’m not convinced of that diagnosis.
Do you have any suggestions. I live in Southern Orange County and would really like to determine why and how to best treat and hopefully prevent new occurrences of this condition.
Thank you.
Hi Bill,
I think you are on to something with the link between your teeth problems and these other symptoms.
You may need to seek out an orthopedic manual physical therapist who can treat upper cervical issues and TMJ.
Problems in those areas can cause dizziness and tinnitus.
I suggest you search the directory on this website to find a provider.
You may also want to consult with my trusted OtoNeurology colleague Dr. Ian Purcell, MD, PhD who is excellent for vestibular diagnostics. You can find his office here. Please tell him I referred you, but that you are not my patient.
I hope that helps!
Dr. Bell
Thank you for your reply and the referrals. Any suggestions as to which specialist I should consult with for starters? I spoke with my Endo after the recent CBCT scan of both upper and lower teeth, and he apparently could not find any obvious problems.
Unfortunately, my tinnitus has worsened and getting close to what I was experiencing last summer before the discovery of my failed implant.
Hi Bill,
I think both of the consultations I suggested will be valuable and appropriate, as you seek to determine the root cause of your symptoms.
The order is entirely up to you, but the providers may have a few weeks waiting list. So I encourage you to call to schedule with them both as soon as possible.
I hope you feel better soon!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Over the counter teeth whitening and vertigo?
I don’t have any experience with that Mike. Sorry I cannot comment further.
My son went to the dentist 8 years ago for a deep cavity filling and came home with vertigo.
It has been non stop since, completely disrupting his life. We were told that it was not BPPV and no one can figure it out.
Reading this blog post and some of the comments and your answers have intrigued me.
He has tinnitus along with the vertigo and in the past few years he says his vertigo has split into two separate spinning motions, the right side going in one direction and the left in a different direction.
He currently sees a NUCCA Chiropractor and a Functional Neurologist. We have seen some improvement but not enough to get his life back.
Hi Tricia,
I am sorry to hear about this.
There are too many variables in this case creating too many possibilities for me to speculate on the root cause, based on what you shared.
My suggestion is for you to work with your son to answer the questions I share in this blog.
Once you have that case summary, you should be able to present his case efficiently and succinctly to any healthcare provider that you consult.
If you have not already seen a vestibular PT, you can use this blog to search for a provider in your area.
I hope that helps!
I have had vertigo and menieres symptoms for 15 years. Recently my symptoms increased in frequency and intensity to the point of not being able to function normally. Coincidentally, I had my back upper molar tooth (#15) extracted. Miraculously, my hearing and stability returned. It’s only been two weeks but the difference is life changing.
I have battled menieres symptoms for 15 years. Recently, symptoms of hearing loss, vertigo, nausea and imbalance intensified and happened more frequently. I could not stand, walk, drive or hear at times. Coincidentally, I had a tooth removed on August 20. Immediately, ALL symptoms have gone away. It’s a miracle. There is little doubt the tooth was causing my symptoms.
Hi,
2 years ago I completely replaced all my natural teeth with porcelain ones, by rooting 6 implants per jaw. The result is great: I like my new comfortable chewing “mechanism”, people like my new toothy smile – everything is fine … only I do NOT recognize the ground under my feet. My gait became wobbly, UNSTABLE, my perception is as if I am constantly walking on a colossal spread out WATER mattress!
I had an upper jaw bone graft 2019.
I still have vertigo.
I was falling down 2xs a month, only reason not more is because I was recuperating.
I always landed on my left and never tried to stop myself.
I just watched myself and popped right back up.
No doubt that any infection in the mouth can cause vertigo. After suffering from vertigo, ears ringing and a general feeling of what i call (watermelon head), every time I swallowed my ears crackled. Finally after removing yet another failed implant in addition to a root left behind both of which became infected, the vertigo has greatly improved in two days, my sinus pressure is much better and generally feel better and have more energy.