It is possible that a toothache can run up and

[ravyou]

down the whole side of your face?

[happy1here]

Very true,had it happen to me and the tooth was infected bad!

[Pahukatawa]

Yes, but it might indicate a nasty infection. Get it checked out.

[Gable]

it sure can.good luck

[jupyter_flew]

Yes, particularly if it's infected.

[bobthe0b]

Yes. Well yes and no. Its not the actual toothache that is running up and down your face but more a long the lines of an infection. i went to the dentist two weeks ago with a bad tooth that had the entire right side of my face hurting from the top of my head down into my throat. She gave me some penicillin for the infection and darvocet for the pain.The next week after the infection was removed I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon to have the tooth removed.

[lakey98]

An infection is a possibility but not the most likely cause. The most common cause of toothache is traumatic occlusion meaning you grind or clench your teeth or you bit down on something wrong. If you grind or clench your teeth you can send your jaw muscles into spasm. Just like other muscles, they need rest to heal. But we use our mouths all day to talk, eat, breath, and sometimes chew gum or grind and clench. The muscles most likely to be involved are the masseter and temporalis which basically run up the side of your face. One way to determine whether or not it is your muscles is to grab the muscle on the side of your jaw (masseter) between your fingers. If it really hurts (in a good way) it is probably in spasms. Take some antiinflammatories, rest, alternate ice and heat (whichever feels better), and massage it. Do a web search on the masseter and temporalis to find out where they are. Masseter - attaches on the outside of the angle and body of the mandible and runs upward and forward to attache to the cheek bone and maxilla. Temporalis attaches to the mandible at the coronoid process and runs up to the top of the temple at the side of the head.