Jaw Pain Causes

Jaw pain causes are numerous. Interestingly, some of the most common causes of jaw pain don't originate in the jaw. The pain radiates to the jaw from other areas, and may be the result of some totally unrelated disease, disorder or illness. 

The goal of this article is to give the reader an overview of the most common causes of jaw pain.

The medical name for the jaw joint is the temporomandibular joint. It is often simply abbreviated as TMJ. The parts include the mandible, which is the bone below the mouth, and the maxilla, which is the bone just above the mouth. 

Since we use the jaw joint when we talk and chew, it is one of the frequently used joints in the body.

Injuries like fractures and bruises are common causes of jaw pain, especially in accidents and sports competition. In such circumstances, you usually know why your jaw hurts and how the injury happened. We won't spend time in this article on this topic.

What causes pain in the jaws?

TMJ - Any pain resulting problems with the muscles, joint, bones, tendons and ligaments of the jaw joint is often called temporomandibular joint pain, or simply TMJ. TMJ pain usually results when too much stress is placed on the joint. You might bite down too hard on something, or chew something that's too tough. Stretching your jaw too much when you yawn can cause TMJ pain.

Chewing only on one side of your mouth has also been known to cause TMJ pain.

Heart problems - When you have heart disease or a heart attack, pain sometimes radiates up from the chest into the jaw. If you suffer occasional jaw pain that doesn't seem to have any obvious reason, you should probably have yourself checked for heart disease. Also see angina chest pain.

Arthritis - Inflammatory conditions like arthritis affect the joints, including the TMJ. These inflammatory joint conditions are typical as we grow older.

Headaches - Migraine headaches often cause pain around the temples and in the jaw area.

Tumors - Jaw pain can also be caused by tumors in the area that press down on the nerves near the jaw or on the jaw itself. If you have recurrent headaches and pain in the TMJ area, talk to your doctor.

Ear aches - Ear infections, including swimmer's ear, are a frequent cause of pain around the jaw. Also, ear wax sometimes becomes impacted, causing ear pain that radiated to the jaw and the side of the head.

Teeth - There are a number of possible causes of jaw pain related to the teeth. One can be a simple toothache. Another can be an infection near a nerve at the end of the root of a tooth.

Misaligned teeth can cause you to chew in a way that strains the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your jaw.

You may also have a condition called bruxism. This means you grind, clench or gnash your teeth. Many people who are under stress do this in sleep without knowing it (although if you're married, your spouse will probably bring it to your attention, since the noise can be loud enough to wake him or her up).

If you wake up in the morning and your jaw hurts around the temples, you may have bruxism.

Sinus infection - Sinus infections can cause swelling and discomfort in the facial area that radiates to the jaw.

Trigeminal neuralgia - This is an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Myofascial pain is a type of pain caused by injuries which often result from excessive strain or overuse. The pain can be intense. It often presents as headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, low back pain, pelvic pain, and arm and leg pain.

Dislocation - Dislocation can cause an aching jaw. You may or may not know what caused your jaw to dislocate.

Posture - This was more common before ear pedicels became popular for telephones. People who worked in jobs that required them to spend a lot of time holding a phone between their ear and shoulder were prone to jaw pain.

Conclusion

Obviously, there are a lot of conditions and disorders that can cause jaw pain. To get the best possible diagnosis, of course, you should talk to your doctor or dentist.

He or she may refer you to other specialists for testing or treatment.