Some of the root causes of Jaw Pain
- Teeth Grinding: A major cause of jaw pain is teeth grinding resulting in severe damage to your teeth. Teeth grinding refers to the clenching of teeth that can happen when you feel much stressed or when you are asleep. At home, a family member needs to monitor the occurrence of teeth grinding and provide information to your dentist. There is potential for a number of dental problems arising due to this problem. Your dentist will recommend wearing a mouth guard at night and also teach you several stress-relieving techniques to stop grinding your teeth.
- Temporomandibular Disorder: This is generally known as TMJ and it affects the temporomandibular joint. The lower jaw or mandible connects to the skull or temporal bone in front of the ear by the TMJ. The lower jaw also has certain facial muscles attached that control chewing. The disorder can cause not only jaw pain but also cause the jaw to make a clicking sound when opening your mouth or chewing. Visit your dentist at the earliest for diagnosis. Medication, bite guards and physiotherapy are some of the treatments that dentists recommend.
- Abscessed Tooth: A dental pulp or nerve that has become infected can lead to an abscessed tooth. If you ignore a dental cavity for a long period, an abscess occurs. The bacteria from the infection start to spread from the root of the tooth affecting surrounding bone tissues leading to severe jaw pain. Regular visits to the dentist can help in avoiding tooth abscess.
An uncomfortable, throbbing pain in the jaw! It can strike you suddenly or increase gradually from mild to intense pain over a period of time. Visiting your dentist is the first step in identifying the root cause and treating the problem.
Other Reasons for Jaw Pain
Jaw pain can also occur due to gum disease, gaps in between teeth or teeth that are severely damaged due to stress on the jaw while chewing or biting. Although some of these symptoms may not directly impact the jaw, the pain can still radiate into the jaw.
Your dentist can also recommend a good oral hygiene regimen that will help in reducing the risk of this problem.