Why jaw hurts

It can develop due to sinus infections, toothaches, issues with the blood vessels or nerves, or other conditions. Most types of jaw pain result from temporomandibular joint disorder. In many cases, jaw pain does not need immediate medical attention, but sometimes, it can indicate a more serious underlying condition that needs treatment.

Jaw pain can result from physical injuries, damage to the nerves or blood vessels, infections, and several other causes. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a cluster of conditions that affect the bones, joints, and muscles responsible for jaw movement. These conditions can cause pain and discomfort.

It is a common complaint and usually goes away without medical treatment, though some types may need treatment. The symptoms tend to vary, but they may include :. The sections below list some of the potential causes. A dislocated jaw : This can result from opening the mouth too wide, such as when yawning.

Dental surgery : This can cause jaw pain because it can take time to recover from a procedure. An injury or strain can cause muscle tension, resulting in jaw pain. How can a person recognize a broken or dislocated jaw? Find out here. Many people grind or clench their teeth while they sleep or at times of emotional stress. This is also known as bruxism. It can lead to significant tooth damage and jaw pain. Learn more about bruxism and what to do about it here.

Osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis can cause the smooth interface between the joints, and eventually the bones themselves, to wear away. Bone pain can develop as a result of this. Tumors and Cysts One cause of jaw pain on one side is from a tumor or cyst.

Sinusitis A more common cause of jaw pain on one side is sinusitis, or inflammation in the nasal cavity. Dental Problems More often than not, pain on one side of your jaw is linked to a dental problem like cavities, an abscess, wisdom teeth, gum disease , missing or misaligned teeth, or clenching and grinding. By Dr. Go to Top. Trauma like a hard hit to your jaw can definitely cause you jaw pain. In this circumstance, you will likely know that trauma is the cause of your pain.

Once your trauma heals, your jaw pain should subside. Another potential cause of jaw pain is untreated dental problems. A number of dental problems can lead to jaw pain such as toothaches from cavities or abscesses, cracked, crowded teeth, teeth that experience sensitivity due to temperature changes, wisdom teeth growing in, misaligned teeth, gum disease , and clenching or grinding your teeth.

Visiting your dentist for cleanings and checkups every six months is a good way to identify and treat these problems before they start causing you problems such as jaw pain. Another cause of jaw pain is arthritis in the jaw, specifically rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack healthy tissue in the body which causes it to swell up.

As a result, it can damage the cartilage that helps your jaw move in a smooth motion and make it feel sore and stiff instead.

However, heart attacks can cause jaw pain but as referred pain. Referred pain is pain felt in the body in a different location than the source.

Some people only experience jaw pain as their only symptom of a heart attack. If you experience sudden jaw pain, it might be worth it to call a doctor to play it safe. If Dr. Kim does find that you are grinding your teeth, they will likely suggest you get a mouth guard to wear while you sleep to avoid damaging your teeth permanently. Although it is not the most obvious reason for jaw pain, cavities can certainly progress to a point where they result in jaw pain.

A cavity can result in jaw pain when the tooth deteriorates to a point where the tooth root becomes infected. This infection can spread to tissues in the jawbone which can cause severe pain if left untreated.

To prevent this, you should be staying up to date with your dental check-ups and consult with our dentist in Redlands to avoid letting any cavity getting this bad. Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, can also cause jaw pain.

Like an untreated cavity, gum tissue will become infected with gum disease with spreads causing mild to severe jaw pain. It is extremely important to monitor the health of your gums by regularly seeing Dr. If you start to experience any symptoms of periodontitis gum disease it is dire to treat it as soon as possible.

Another potential cause of jaw pain is wisdom teeth.