The pain in your jaw can be a sign of something common such as a toothache or something more serious like a heart attack. Whichever the case, you should find the source of this pain and a possible remedy. In most cases, the pain could be coming from your jaw bone or your temporomandibular joints (TMJs). The TMJs are located a few millimeters in front of your ears. Their main task is to connect the lower jaw and the skull in addition to letting you close or open the mouth. So an injury to your TMJs can cause a condition known as temporomandibular disorder or TMD that can eventually affect your jaws.
Dental Causes
Your jaw could also hurt due to dental problems or oral health concerns. These dental issues may include cavities abscessed teeth, the emergence of wisdom teeth, misaligned or missing teeth, involuntary teeth clenching, and grinding. Teeth clenching can strain your muscles, impact the alignment of your teeth, and break down the TMJ. On the other hand, tooth grinding is more likely to cause a TMJ disorder, which might lead to excruciating pain in your jaws.
Additional dental problems such as sensitive teeth, bleeding gums, and prolonged tooth pain can contribute to painful jaws. A severe tooth infection may cause a lot of pain that can radiate to your jaw and the rest of your face. This type of pain will last as long as the infection remains unchecked for too long.
Another problem related to dental issues is sinus infections. Sinuses are air-filled compartments or cavities found close to your jaw joint. When they become infected with bacteria, they produce excess fluid, which exerts more pressure on your jaws, causing pain in the process. If the pain becomes too much, you can seek medical help from us for further diagnosis and treatment. For more information on why your jaw could hurt, visit our office or call us today.
Dental Blog | Madison Oral Surgery and Dental Implants The doctors at Madison Oral Surgery and Dental Implants have provided this blog to help our patients and the community. We hope our blog will cover the many topics that you and your family may be interested in. Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, 2921 Landmark Place, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53713, (608) 960-7650, madisonoralsurgeons.com, 6/6/2023, Page Terms:Oral Surgeon, Dental Implants, All on 4, Wisdom Teeth Extractions