Jaw pain is one of the common problems that many people experience during their life. This pain can be mild and transient or long-term affecting daily life. It may have happened to you that you feel pain in the jaw area while chewing food or even while resting, and you don't know what the cause is.
The reality is that many things can be listed as the cause of jaw pain, from simple dental problems to more complex issues like temporomandibular joint disorder. In this article, we explain in simple language what jaw pain is a symptom and what symptoms it usually appears with, which doctor to see for jaw pain and what home and medical methods can be used to quickly reduce this pain.
7 common causes of jaw pain
When it comes to jaw pain, many people only think of dental problems. While this discomfort can have various reasons. Sometimes it is caused by simple habits such as teeth grinding, and sometimes it can be related to a tooth abscess or even a serious disorder such as temporomandibular joint problems. If you are wondering what the symptoms of jaw pain are and why we sometimes have this problem while chewing or even while resting, don't miss the next article.
temporal joint disorder
One of the most common causes of jaw pain is a disorder of the temporal joint. This joint acts like a hinge and makes it possible to move the jaw while chewing, talking or yawning.
When this joint becomes inflamed or dysfunctional, in addition to pain in the jaw when chewing, a person may experience a clicking sound in the jaw, locking of the mouth or frequent headaches.
grinding teeth
Grinding teeth or bruxism means pressing or grinding the teeth against each other, which usually occurs in sleep. This unconscious habit causes a lot of pressure on the jaw joint and the muscles around it and over time it causes jaw pain and even wear of the teeth.
People who grind their teeth may wake up in the morning with pain in the jaw or headache. Stress management is one of the effective ways to control this problem.
wisdom tooth pain hidden in the jaw
Hidden wisdom teeth occur when there is not enough space for this tooth to grow. The pressure caused by the tooth trying to come out causes pain, inflammation of the gums and even swelling in the jaw area. In this situation, in addition to jaw pain, a person may also feel discomfort when opening the mouth or chewing food.
neural jaw pain
Sometimes the causes of jaw pain should be looked for in neurological problems. Inflammation or damage to the jaw nerves can cause sharp, shooting, or burning pain that often comes on suddenly.
This type of pain may be aggravated by stress or temperature changes. The treatment of nerve pain in the jaw often requires specialized drugs to control the nerve or referral to the relevant specialist, and it does not improve with home remedies.
Physical injury to the jaw
A direct blow, fall or sports events can cause damage to the jaw bone or surrounding tissues. These injuries range from simple bruises to fractures and are almost always accompanied by pain in the jaw area.
In addition to pain, bruising, swelling and difficulty in opening and closing the mouth are also common symptoms. In such a situation, it is necessary to see a doctor or dentist immediately to avoid more serious complications.
Dental abscess
A dental abscess is a purulent infection caused by severe decay or gum infection. This condition can quickly spread to the jaw area and cause severe pain. A person may also experience swelling, fever or bad breath.
Dental abscess cannot be cured by home treatment, and to prevent the spread of infection, you should immediately visit a dentist to treat the root or drain the infection.
Misalignment of jaws
When the upper and lower jaws are not aligned correctly, a lot of pressure is placed on the temporal joint and the teeth. This condition, which creates one of the types of malocclusion, can be present since childhood or be caused by tooth extraction and changing the position of the teeth.
Misalignment is one of the causes of jaw pain in the long term, which causes problems in chewing and speech in addition to pain.
symptoms that usually appear with jaw pain
The feeling of pain in the jaw alone is annoying, but it is usually accompanied by other symptoms that can be clues to the root cause of the problem.
Being familiar with these symptoms will help you to understand faster where the jaw pain originates from and when you should see a doctor:
- jaw popping with pain: jaw popping is often related to temporomandibular joint disorder and indicates that the joint is not functioning properly.
- jaw lock: If the mouth gets stuck in opening or closing, it usually indicates a problem with the temporomandibular joint or misalignment of the jaws.
- Headache and neck pain: Pain in the jaw can be transmitted to the muscles around the head and neck and is a sign of excessive pressure on the joint or grinding teeth.
- Jaw pain when chewing: increased jaw pain when eating or talking, usually indicates inflammation of the joint, impacted wisdom teeth or even tooth abscess.
Which doctor should we see for jaw pain?
If your jaw hurts, the best thing to do is to see a dentist and, if necessary, refer to an orthodontist or jaw orthopedics. These specialists can identify the cause of the problem by carefully examining the structure of the jaw and teeth.
It is recommended not to postpone the treatment in case of persistence of symptoms or worsening of pain to avoid more serious complications. To diagnose the cause of jaw pain, the following steps are performed:
- Physical examination by the dentist: The dentist examines the jaw range of motion with a physical examination and pays attention to the sound of the joint, swelling or sensitivity and the presence of pain in the muscles. This initial evaluation will reveal to a large extent the type of problem and disorder of the jaw.
- Photography of the jaw position: For a more detailed observation and a more detailed examination, photography of the jaw is prescribed. These images, as needed, include simple radiography, CT scan to examine bones, and MRI to observe soft tissues and the temporal joint.
- Checking the patient's medical records: Finally, the patient's medical records and habits such as teeth grinding, medications, history of physical damage to the jaw, stress level or systemic diseases are checked to obtain accurate clues and identify the main cause of the pain.
5 quick treatment for jaw pain
Since many things are known as the cause of jaw pain, different methods are used to treat it, the most common of which are:
| treatment method | effects |
| Using tooth protection to treat grinding teeth | A tooth guard or night guard is a simple plastic device that is placed between the teeth while sleeping to protect the jaw joint by reducing the contact and pressure of the teeth. |
| jaw physiotherapy | Targeted strengthening, stretching and massage exercises reduce pain, inflammation and muscle tension and improve the range of motion of the jaw. |
| Prescription of muscle relaxants by a specialist | The specialist may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen or muscle relaxants to reduce jaw muscle spasms and pain. |
| home treatment of jaw pain with lifestyle changes | Avoid hard foods, control stress with the help of relaxation exercises, warm compresses and avoid harmful habits such as chewing gum are effective for quick treatment of jaw pain without visiting a doctor. |
| Jaw surgery in complex cases | If the cause of jaw pain is structural problems of the jaw or severe damage to the temporal joint, medical intervention and aggressive treatments such as surgery orthosurgery are needed to correct the condition of the jaw. |
frequently asked questions about jaw pain
Next, we will answer your frequently asked questions.
How can we prevent jaw pain?
With the help of simple solutions such as avoiding continuous chewing gum, biting nails and opening bottle caps with teeth, controlling stress with exercises such as meditation and yoga, and timely treatment of dental problems, the possibility of jaw pain can be reduced.
Also, visiting the dentist regularly for periodical check-ups helps identify and treat jaw and teeth problems in the early stages.
Can grinding teeth cause jaw pain?
Yes, teeth grinding and grinding together with a lot of pressure on the temporal joint and jaw muscles is one of the most common causes of jaw pain and even morning headaches. Using dental protection and stress management help to a great extent to control this bad oral habit.
When should we see a specialist for jaw pain?
If the pain continues for more than a few days and is accompanied by other symptoms such as locking and making noise when talking and eating or swelling and fever, it is necessary to see a specialist.
Is home treatment of jaw pain possible?
In the early stages, the pain can be relieved with a warm compress, resting the jaw, avoiding hard foods and massaging the jaw. But if the pain and discomfort continues or becomes severe, it becomes necessary to see a specialist doctor.
Does jaw pain aggravate migraine?
In some people, tension and pressure caused by jaw joint problems or grinding teeth can cause pain similar to migraine headaches. Also, if facial and jaw nerve pains occur simultaneously, these two may be mistaken for each other and the person will experience more and longer discomfort.
Jaw pain can be caused by various factors, from teeth grinding and temporomandibular joint disorder to impacted wisdom teeth or even dental abscess. Knowing the cause of jaw pain and seeing a doctor on time is very important; Because quick treatment of jaw pain can prevent more serious problems.
Home methods are only palliative in the early stages, and if the symptoms continue or intensify, you should consult a specialist. If you are looking for accurate diagnosis and specialized treatment, Dr. Khedevi, as the most experienced orthodontic specialist in Tehran, can provide you with the best solution.
