What Jaw Pain Means: What Causes It and How to Treat It

Causes of Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can signal that a dental issue such as a toothache, TMJ Disorder, or perhaps a more serious condition has started to develop in your mouth.

TMJ Disorders

One of the most common causes of jaw pain is TMJ Disorder. The temporomandibular joint attaches your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull (located just below your temple, in front of your ear). This hinge plays a large role in your everyday life, allowing you to talk, breathe and eat.

TMJ Disorders occur when there is an issue with your facial and jaw muscles. If the disorder advances to a severe state after you start to experience pain in this area, you may eventually be unable to move the joint.

Causes of TMJ Disorders can sometimes include:

Certain conditions or illnesses such as arthritis
Injury to the jaw
Misalignment of the jaw
Inflammation in the muscles surrounding your jaw

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder may also include:

Pain or ache around your jaw, face or ears
Constant headaches
Locking or popping in your jaw
Dizziness
Vision problems
Ringing in ears

If you're worried that your TMJ isn't working effectively or is causing your pain, contact your dentist right away. Sometimes, prescription drugs or surgery may be required to address the issue.

Certain Diseases

Though we take many routine vaccines in childhood that have fortunately gotten rid of diseases, it’s still possible to get diseases that can cause jaw pain and other symptoms.

Tetanus is a bacterial infection that can cause your jaw muscles to stiffen or feel tight. This serious condition can result in spending weeks in hospital.

Unexpected Trauma

Just like other bones in your body, your jaw can become fractured or dislocated. After taking a blow to the jaw, you may experience:

Loose or missing teeth
Swelling
Pain
Bruises

Depending on the injury, you may need to see your dentist if the pain doesn’t go away, you are missing teeth or you’re unable to chew or open and close your mouth. Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen may help, in addition to dental treatment if necessary.

Oral Health Issues

A variety of dental issues can lead to a sore jaw. These can include:

Fractured or crowded teeth
Teeth grinding
Misaligned teeth
Gum disease (which can cause your jaw bone to become damaged)
Wisdom teeth erupting
Toothache (typically with an abscess or cavity as the underlying cause)

These problems should be addressed as soon as possible, and fractured teeth are dental emergencies, so you should see your dentist right away. Until then, keep the tooth that hurts clean and try rinsing with warm water.

Cysts or Tumors

Not typically cancerous, odontogenic cysts or tumors can quickly begin to impact your teeth. Surgery may be required to remove them.

Cluster Headaches

One of the most painful types of headache, cluster headaches can result in pain around or behind one eye, with pain radiating to reach the jaw.

Osteomyelitis

A type of infection that occurs in the bone, this condition can impact your mandible (lower jaw). Referred to as anaerobic osteomyelitis, it can cut off blood supply to your jaw and damage bone tissue if left untreated.

How To Get Rid Of Jaw Pain

Steps To Take At-Home

Apply a warm, wet washcloth or ice pack covered in cloth to your jaw (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off)
Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Rub the affected joint. Massage the joint using your fingers, pressing the sore areas of your jaw and moving to the side of your neck.
Avoid caffeine (which can potentially contribute to muscle tension)

Dental Care In The Office

If your jaw pain persists after at-home remedies, make an appointment with your dentist.

At Upper Ottawa Dental, our dentists will discuss your symptoms with you, complete a comprehensive oral examination, explain possible treatment options, and develop a custom treatment plan that may include a mouthguard or other measures depending on your needs.

In rare cases, oral surgery for TMJ Disorder may be recommended to correct the problem for those with severe pain that suffer from structural problems in their jaw and haven’t found relief with other remedies or treatments.