Jaw pain can be a common issue that can affect millions of people, and the pain can range from severe to mild and can also affect the quality of life of someone suffering from it. Many factors can cause jaw pain, like grinding the tooth too much, gum pain, or toothaches. In addition, jaw pains can be symptoms of severe health conditions, including broken or dislocated teeth. Sometimes jaw pain can also resemble a heart attack. Thus, it is essential to know the answer for Why does my jaw hurt?In this blog, let's look at different causes of jaw pain.

What is jaw pain?

Jaw pain refers to any discomfort, pain, or soreness that is felt in the jaw area. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as dental problems, jaw injuries, TMJ disorders, sinus infections, or even heart attacks. The severity and duration of the pain can vary depending on the underlying cause, and it can affect a person's ability to eat, speak, and perform other everyday activities.

How does jaw pain feel like?

Jaw pain can feel different for each individual, depending on the underlying cause. It can be a dull ache, a sharp or shooting pain, or a persistent throbbing sensation. Some people may also experience stiffness, soreness, or tenderness in the jaw muscles or joints, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, or a clicking or popping sound when moving the jaw. Some people may also experience earaches, headaches, neck pain, and jaw pain.

What are the causes of jaw pain?

Some of the common causes of jaw pain can be-

Arthritis:

Arthritis is one condition that affects the joints of the body. In arthritis, the tooth can cause bacterial infection and can cause jaw pains.

Grinding of the teeth:

Grinding in the teeth can be caused due to poor dental care and cause jaw pains. It primarily affects the body's jaws and cheeks.

Abscessed tooth:

An abscessed tooth or the pocket of pus that causes an abscessed tooth can be due to a bacterial infection. An abscessed tooth can cause jaw pain due to the inflammation in the pus-filled pocket.

Gum diseases:

An infection in the gums can cause poor dental care and can also cause the jaws to be painless. These can be associated with illness, inflammation or swelling of the gums.

Sinusitis:

Bacterial infection of the gum or the sinuses can also cause pain in the jaws.Also Read: 8 Ways to Kill Tooth Pain Nerve in 3 Seconds Permanently.

Mumps:

Mumps is a contagious infection that can cause jaw pain and make the salivary glands' disease swell. The salivary glands are located between the ears and the jaws.

Trauma:

If the jaws are injured or dislocated due to the breaking of the medical emergency, then that can also cause pain in the jaws.Pain spreading to different areas of the chest and shoulders can also be a heart attack symptom. Thus, it is essential to call for an emergency in case of experiencing such pain.Some other medical conditions, like gingivitis and sinusitis, can also cause pain in the jaws.Sometimes there will be pain on only one side of the face, indicating a tooth or joint issue.

How to treat jaw pain?

The treatment of the jaw will depend on the causes of the pain. Thus it can be due to broken jaws. There can be abscessed teeth and gum disease. Some of the tips to prevent jaw pain are-

Eating softer foods
Applying heat and cold to the jaw. Avoid ice creams, chocolate bars, and food items too hot.
Doing gentle stretches exercises can relax and strengthen the jaw muscles.
Taking some gentle exercises to relax and strengthen the jaw muscles.
Taking some over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Stop clenching your jaw, biting the nails, or grinding the nails.
Protect the jaws from injuries and wear a seatbelt when driving or riding a vehicle.
Wear protective gear and head gear to protect the teeth; someone or something might hit the jaw very hard. Also, protective equipment like mouthguards can help prevent the teeth from grinding too much.
Managing stress can also help you prevent the grinding of the teeth. For example, you can perform meditation and deep relaxation massages to relieve stress or prevent teeth grinding.

Some dentists and healthcare providers may recommend Followings to relief jaw pain -

Muscle relaxants: Many medications like analgesics or painkillers can help relieve the muscles of the pain in the jaw, and these can be helpful for patients that have too intense a pain to bear.
Physical therapy or exercises can ease tight the jaws and neck muscles. One of the easiest ways of dealing with jaw pain is physical therapy, massages, and exercises. You should contact the dentist, doctor, and physiotherapist for the best care you need.
Mouth guards and other orthodontics protect the teeth, joints, and muscles if they grind your teeth. In addition, mouthguards can help you keep the teeth from clenching. This protects by allowing the teeth to clench rather than gripping onto themselves. It will be best to get a mouth guard as soon as you have found out that you have developed the habit of clenching your teeth.
Seeing different ways of dealing with common dental conditions and teeth care will be better.
You should follow all the different forms of cleaning your teeth, flossing, and regularly taking checkups.
Flossing and regular cleaning can help keep the jaws away from the pain caused by the development of infection in the teeth. In addition, some diseases are deep into the teeth, resulting in nerve damage and tooth loss that can cause jaw pains.

When should I call a doctor in case of jaw pain?

You should talk to your doctor if the jaw pain lasts more than a week and severe jaw pain from the broken or discoloration of the jaw is a medical emergency. Likewise, severe pain that starts in the chest and the shoulder, if it starts moving up to the jaw, can also result in a heart attack. Getting a heart attack after jaw pain is quite common. Thus, patients should not avoid such kinds of pain under any condition. You should immediately call your healthcare provider.Also Read: 8 Ways to Kill Tooth Pain Nerve in 3 Seconds Permanently.

Conclusion-

Why does my jaw hurt? is a common concern that could be caused by various factors such as TMJ disorder, teeth grinding, gum disease, dental abscess, or even stress.It is essential to understand the underlying cause of jaw pain because there can be different underlying medical or dental reasons for the pain in the jaws. Sometimes, pain in the jaws can be caused due to infection by bacteria or gum diseases, and some other conditions can be teeth grinding too much, leading to severe conditions like tooth decay or loss.Accidents and other genetic medical conditions can cause jaw pain without warning. In such cases, getting help from a medical healthcare worker or a dentist is essential. A sharp pain in the jaw that reaches the shoulders and the arms can be a heart attack condition. Then you should call the energy number or visit a hospital immediately.

Why Does My Jaw Hurt? Causes and Treatments.

What is jaw pain?

How does jaw pain feel like?