Jaw pain can cause difficulty with eating, speaking, sleeping, and smiling, and also interfere with your normal daily activities. You may begin worrying about what could cause your symptoms. Jaw pain can vary in severity from mild to severe, depending on the reason your jaw hurts. It is best not to ignore persistent jaw pain since early treatment can help prevent more serious problems. Below are several common causes of jaw pain.
If you begin to notice these common causes of jaw pain, call us today to schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry
Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth occurs when the dental pulp becomes infected. Because the dental pulp contains nerves connected with the surrounding jaw, an abscess can cause severe jaw pain. Pain can occur in either the upper or lower jaw and often radiates to other areas such as the ear or the temple region of the head. In addition, you can have a slight swelling of the gum, a significant swelling of the jaw or face, or no swelling at all. Occasionally, a high fever accompanies the abscess and this requires antibiotics to help get rid of the infection.
Tooth Decay
Large cavities cause most dental abscesses. However, even a slight amount of tooth decay can cause your jaw to hurt. Once the cavity penetrates the enamel and reaches the underlying dentin of your tooth, it irritates the tooth’s nerve. Because of your jaw’s complicated anatomy and its nerves, the slightest irritation inside a tooth can feel like jaw pain. Regular dental checkups can help detect small cavities before they cause any symptoms, such as jaw pain.
Gum Disease
When the bacteria found in dental plaque accumulates around a tooth, it can lead to periodontitis or gum disease. In its initial stages, gum disease makes your gums bleed when your brush and floss but rarely causes pain. However, if not treated early, gum inflammation leads to an infection that causes pain and swelling. Eventually, you start losing the bone that supports your teeth which can cause pain in the jaw.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Stress, misaligned teeth, and other factors can cause you to grind your teeth while sleeping or clench your teeth during the day. The result of grinding and clenching is cracks and further damage to your teeth, and excessive stress on your jaw muscles. Both of these can lead to jaw, neck, and face pain. It would be best not to ignore grinding or clenching since both can cause severe dental issues that become more complicated over time.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the name given for the hinge joint that connects your lower jaw with your skull. This complex joint can cause pain if it is injured. Arthritis and displacement of the disc that cushions the joint can also cause TMJ disorder symptoms such as jaw pain and difficulty opening your mouth. Tooth grinding and clenching also can place excessive stress on the TMJ. TMJ disorder affects many people and is one of the most common causes of jaw pain.
Wisdom Tooth
Teenagers often experience pain when their wisdom teeth begin erupting into the mouth. Adults who never had their wisdom teeth extracted can also be surprised with pain in the area of a wisdom tooth. A wisdom tooth can cause pain by irritating the gum during its eruption. You can also develop an infection known as pericoronitis that can cause severe swelling and intense jaw pain. The pain and swelling associated with a wisdom tooth can cause a life-threatening condition if not treated early. Therefore, you should contact Trident General Dentistry as soon as possible if you suspect an infected wisdom tooth.
Schedule Appointment
You can avoid most jaw pain with regular dental checkups. Call Trident General Dentistry to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive dental examination.