Why Is My Jaw in Pain? Causes, Relief & Treatment
Jaw pain can make even simple things like eating, talking or yawning surprisingly uncomfortable. It can even make opening and closing your mouth a challenge. It may feel like a dull ache, a sharp pain or a tight, sore sensation around the jaw. Sometimes the discomfort comes and goes. If your jaw is in pain, it could be caused by conditions like teeth grinding, jaw joint problems, dental infections or even sinus issues.
The good news is that many causes of jaw pain are treatable. The first step is identifying where the pain is coming from.
What Causes Jaw Pain?
The jaw itself is not always the culprit behind jaw pain. Your teeth, gums, muscles and joints surrounding the jaw can all contribute to discomfort. Some of the most common causes of jaw pain include the following.
Teeth Grinding or Clenching
Many people clench or grind their teeth without realising it. This can happen during the day, particularly when you are stressed or concentrating, or unknowingly while you are asleep.
Repeated grinding places extra pressure on your teeth and jaw muscles, which can lead to:
- Jaw soreness or tightness
- Pain around the temples or ears
- Headaches, particularly in the morning
- Worn or damaged teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
If you regularly wake up with a sore jaw or headaches, teeth grinding may be the reason. Depending on the cause and severity, we may recommend a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and reduce the pressure placed on your jaw.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Your temporomandibular joints, often called TMJs, connect your lower jaw to your skull. You have one on each side of your face, just in front of your ears. Problems affecting these joints can cause pain and difficulty moving your jaw. This is sometimes referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Clicking, popping or grinding sounds
- Difficulty opening your mouth fully
- A feeling that your jaw is locking
- Pain around the ears or temples
- Headaches
TMD can be linked to teeth grinding, muscle tension, injury, arthritis or problems with how the teeth and jaw fit together. Not everyone with a clicking jaw needs treatment. However, if clicking is accompanied by pain, restricted movement or locking, it is worth having it assessed.
A Tooth Infection or Abscess
A painful tooth can sometimes feel like jaw pain, particularly when the infection has spread into the surrounding tissues. Dental infections do not usually disappear without treatment. Depending on the tooth and the extent of the infection, treatment may involve root canal treatment, drainage or tooth extraction.
A dental infection may cause:
- A persistent or throbbing toothache
- Swelling around the tooth or jaw
- Pain when biting
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Fever or feeling unwell in more severe cases
If you have facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
Gum Disease
Advanced gum disease can affect the tissues and bone supporting your teeth. In some cases, this can lead to pain, swelling or discomfort that extends into the jaw. Other signs of gum disease can include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession and loose teeth.
Regular dental check-ups and professional cleaning can help identify gum problems before they become more serious.
Impacted or Problematic Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause pain in the jaw when there is not enough room for them to erupt properly. A partially erupted or impacted wisdom tooth may cause pressure, swelling and inflammation around the back of the jaw along with pain when chewing or difficulty opening your mouth.
If a wisdom tooth is causing repeated pain or infection, we can assess whether it needs treatment or removal.
Injury to the Jaw
A fall, sporting injury, accident or blow to the face can damage the teeth, jaw muscles, jaw joint or bones of the face.
Seek prompt medical or dental assessment if your jaw begins hurting after an injury, especially if you have difficulty opening or closing your mouth, numbness, significant swelling or your teeth no longer fit together normally.
Why Does My Jaw Hurt on One Side?
Jaw pain on one side can have several causes. It could be a dental problem affecting a specific tooth, wisdom tooth or jaw joint on one side. Muscle strain from clenching or grinding can also be more noticeable on one side.
The location of the pain can provide useful clues, but it does not always reveal the exact cause. For example, tooth pain can spread into the jaw, while problems with the jaw muscles or joint can feel similar to dental pain.
If one-sided jaw pain persists or keeps returning, an examination can help determine whether the cause is dental, muscular or related to the jaw joint.
How Can I Relieve Jaw Pain at Home?
If your jaw pain is mild and you do not have signs of infection, injury or another urgent problem, a few simple measures may help reduce discomfort.
Give Your Jaw a Rest
Avoid chewing gum, biting your nails or eating particularly hard or chewy foods while your jaw is sore. Choosing softer food for a short period may help reduce strain on the jaw.
Try a Warm or Cold Compress
A warm or cold compress may help relieve jaw discomfort. Wrap it in a cloth before applying it to your skin.
Avoid Clenching Your Teeth
When you are not eating, try to keep your teeth apart rather than pressed together. Becoming more aware of daytime clenching can help reduce unnecessary tension in the jaw muscles.
Consider Appropriate Pain Relief
Over-the-counter pain relief may help with temporary jaw pain when used as directed and when appropriate for you. If you are unsure which option is suitable, speak with your pharmacist, dentist or doctor.
Home care can help manage symptoms, but it will not treat an underlying dental infection, damaged tooth or other condition that requires professional care.
How Is Jaw Pain Treated?
Treatment depends on the cause.
At SDG Dental, we can assess your teeth, gums and jaw to identify whether your symptoms may be related to a dental problem. Depending on your symptoms and clinical findings, we may recommend further imaging or a referral.
Treatment may involve:
- A custom mouthguard or splint for teeth grinding
- Treatment for tooth decay, damage or infection
- Root canal treatment or tooth removal where clinically appropriate
- Wisdom tooth treatment or removal
- Advice on reducing strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles
The aim is to identify and address the underlying cause rather than simply manage the pain.
When Should I See a Dentist for Jaw Pain?
You should book an appointment if your jaw pain is persistent, keeps returning or affects your ability to eat or open your mouth comfortably.
It is particularly important to seek dental advice if you have jaw pain along with:
- Toothache
- Pain when biting
- Swelling in your gums, cheek or jaw
- A bad taste in your mouth
- A damaged or loose tooth
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
- Pain around a wisdom tooth
When Is Jaw Pain an Emergency?
Some causes of jaw pain require urgent medical attention. Seek urgent care if you have significant swelling that affects your mouth or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or severe difficulty opening your mouth. If your jaw pain occurs with chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or pain spreading to your arms, neck, or back, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Jaw pain can occasionally be associated with a heart attack or other serious medical condition.
You should also seek urgent medical attention after a significant injury to the jaw or face, particularly if your jaw appears out of place, you cannot close your mouth properly or your teeth no longer meet as they normally do.
Find the Cause of Your Jaw Pain at SDG Dental
Jaw pain can be caused by something as common as teeth grinding or as specific as a damaged tooth, dental infection or problematic wisdom tooth. Because several conditions can cause similar symptoms, it is not always easy to determine the source of the pain on your own.
If you are experiencing persistent or recurring pain, our team at SDG Dental can assess your oral health and help determine whether a dental issue may be contributing to your symptoms.
Book an appointment with SDG Dental to have your jaw pain assessed and discuss the most appropriate treatment for your needs.