What is the Reason for Jaw Pain?
Jaw pain can make it difficult, or even impossible, to perform everyday tasks like eating and speaking. Jaw pain can range in severity from a minor annoyance to a truly debilitating condition and can even radiate into the rest of the face and head, causing potentially severe headaches and earaches that may also interfere with daily tasks. Many of the tissues and structures in the face and mouth are connected to each other, which can mean that pain can radiate from a tooth into the jaw, face, and neck, and pain can radiate from the jaw into the teeth and elsewhere in the face and head. These are just two examples of the ways that jaw pain can manifest; the takeaway is that there are many reasons jaw pain can arise, and sometimes, the issue isn’t even with the jaw itself.
One of the most common causes of jaw pain is temporomandibular joint disorder, which is also known as TMJ. The temporomandibular joints are the two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull, just in front of each ear, and allow the jaw to move freely. TMJ pain can be caused by injury or trauma to the face, chronic or prolonged grinding or clenching of the teeth, arthritis, or even genetics. Other causes for jaw pain could include behaviors like heavy chewing or behaviors caused by stress or anxiety, improper jaw or tooth alignment, infection in the teeth or sinuses, tumors or cysts in the jaw, or even seemingly unrelated causes like heart attacks.
The clearest symptom of jaw pain is throbbing, unremitting pain in and around the jaw, but it can cause other symptoms as well. When jaw pain is caused by minor trauma, like chewing something hard or biting down improperly, it usually fades within a day or two. If you’re experiencing jaw pain for more than a day or two, however, make sure you see your dentist. Even if the pain is mild, chronic jaw pain could be a sign that something is wrong. To pinpoint the cause of jaw pain and determine the best course of treatment, your dentist will ask you a series of screening questions. These questions will include information about the location of the pain and its intensity and duration, whether there has been any recent trauma to the face or mouth, whether you habitually grind or clench your teeth, and whether there are other symptoms present. Other symptoms that might accompany jaw pain might include earache or headache, a popping noise during jaw movement, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Following this screening, your dentist will examine your teeth and may take an x-ray of the mouth and lower face. Once the cause of the issue has been identified, you and your dentist will review your treatment options and implement a treatment plan.
Sometimes, the solution to jaw pain is as simple as over-the-counter pain medication, and other times, treatment requires tooth extraction or other medical intervention. When jaw pain is caused by stress, stress-reduction practices like yoga or meditation can help relieve symptoms, and addressing stress factors can also help. When jaw pain is caused by sudden injury or trauma, applying ice and heat to the injury site can provide some temporary relief. These home treatments should be thought of as temporary measures and should not replace professional care. See your dentist as soon as you can if you experience jaw pain for more than a day or two; they can help you manage the pain and can also work toward a more holistic, comprehensive solution.