Jaw pain can be caused by primary issues with the jaw or secondary issues with other parts of the body. Causes include trauma, TMD, sinus infections, and heart attacks. Prevention and treatment options vary depending on the cause.
Jaw pain can be caused by a wide variety of medical issues. It is usually classified as primary pain, caused by problems with the jaw itself, or secondary pain, caused by problems with other parts of the body. Some types of pain can be prevented and many can be treated, although getting treatment early is important. Some of the more common causes of jaw pain include trauma, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and sinus infections. Some people also experience jaw pain when they have a heart attack or migraine.
Primary pain
Trauma to the jaw is one of the most common primary causes of jaw pain. This often happens due to bruxism, which is the frequent grinding and unconscious clenching of the teeth. An abscess, tumor or gum infection can also cause pain, as can dental problems. For example, if a person’s teeth are misaligned or spaced unevenly — called malocclusion — they may have trouble biting or chewing properly, which can lead to severe pain and facial deformities.
Bruxism and malocclusion can also lead to TMD, which is long-term, chronic inflammation of the jaw. This causes intense and prolonged pain along with frequent headaches. Stress and anxiety also play a role in the development of this condition, as bruxism often increases when a person is stressed. Another serious cause of jaw pain is tetanus, which can cause the muscles working on the jaw to contract continuously; this is why this condition is also called lockjaw.
Primary jaw pain can also be caused by bone spurs and deep-seated wisdom teeth. Habits that put pressure on your jaw — nail biting, chewing gum, thumb sucking, holding your phone between your shoulder and jaw, or sleeping on your back or side — can also cause pain over time. Joint diseases, such as arthritis, can also affect the jaw because they can be accompanied by bone degeneration. Also, many people experience pain after oral surgery or a tooth extraction.
Secondary pain
One of the more serious secondary causes of jaw pain is a heart attack, which can cause pain that radiates from the jaw down the arm and shoulder. Trigeminal neuralgia, a facial nerve disorder, can also cause debilitating pain. Carotidynia, a type of migraine, can cause problems, particularly if the person grinds their teeth in response to the pain. Many people experience pressure or pain in the jaw when they have an ear or sinus infection due to increased pressure in the ear and sinus cavities. Swollen glands in the neck can cause similar pain. Scurvy, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C, and jawbone, caused by exposure to white phosphorus, can also damage the jaw, although these conditions are rare in developed countries.
Prevention
Prevention of jaw pain largely depends on the cause. While there is no way to prevent some things, such as arthritis or trigeminal neuralgia, some causes can be avoided. For example, people can often prevent TMD by mindfully relaxing their face and jaw, reducing stress, and avoiding things that put pressure on the jaw. If TMD is caused or worsened by a malocclusion, realigning the teeth or jaw may also help. This is especially effective when done in children who are not in pain yet.
Common-sense precautions can also help prevent many jaw problems. For example, good dental hygiene can help prevent gum infections and other dental problems that can cause pain. Sleeping on your back with a supportive pillow and using a headset instead of holding a phone between your shoulders and your ear can help avoid putting pressure on your jaw.
Treatment
Jaw pain is usually initially treated with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For pain caused by bruxism or TMD, dentists may advise people to use splints that help keep them from clenching their teeth while sleeping, or they may recommend exercises to reduce stress. TMD can also be treated with intra-aural devices, which are small plastic inserts that are inserted into the ear, where they relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint. For chronic or severe cases, dentists may choose to use a procedure called arthrocentesis, which involves injecting an anti-inflammatory solution into the joint or doing surgery to reposition the jaw.
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