What is the Reason for Jaw Pain?
Because your jaw is such an important part of your head and it is connected to so many other important parts, when you have pain in your jaw it could be caused by your teeth, your muscles, your sinuses or even the joint in your jaw. One major reason for jaw pain is caused by temporomandibular joint disorder. People who struggle with grinding their teeth for longer periods of time, injuries, arthritis, or who are genetically predisposed are the most likely to be diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder.
TMJD is just one reason for jaw pain, but it is not the only one. Some of the other reasons why you have jaw pain are:
- Chewing difficult foods or chewing too hard
- Improperly aligned teeth
- Stress
- Sinus infections
- Wisdom teeth present (which may require extraction)
- Growths or cysts
- Anxiety
- Tooth or other dental infections
- Heart attack
- Uneven jaw alignment
Some of the other symptoms that will come along with your jaw pain will vary based on the core reason for your jaw pain. If you have persistent, sharp pain in your jaw, it is an indication that something is seriously wrong with your jaw. If you have pain that is dull and does not last long, you may not need to worry about making an appointment with the dentist immediately to address the pain.
Where the pain is strongest in your jaw is one of the indicators of what may be causing the pain in the first place. You may notice jaw pain in your upper jaw near your canine teeth if you have a sinus infection and if you have pain in your lower jaw towards the back, your wisdom teeth may be at fault. If your jaw pain is not addressed, it can spread to your ears or down your neck. Even turning your head can be uncomfortable when the cause of your jaw pain is not addressed and generates more inflammation in more places.
When you are experiencing pain in your jaw, listening for sounds when you open and close it can help the dentist diagnose the cause of the pain. Sounds like clicking or popping when you chew or talk can indicate there are problems with the joint connecting your jaw to your head or your temporomandibular joint. You may even remember the dentist holding either side of your jaw while asking you to open and close your mouth. If there are issues with the joint, the dentist should be able to feel a pop and you may even feel it from time to time.
Aside from discomfort as a result of the pain in your jaw, your untreated jaw pain can lead to other problems. You may have issues talking or trying to eat some of your favorite foods. Your jaw may get stuck in an open or closed position or locked in place. The pain may spread to your ears or leave you with a headache. You may notice some swelling in your face or on your lymph nodes when that increases the longer you are in pain. Finally, you may start to feel feverish from the pain and swelling and you should not delay medical treatment any longer.