Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Jaw pain can be difficult to treat. Identifying the cause of the pain can be even more difficult. If you’re living with jaw pain, you also may be suffering from headaches, ringing in the ears or facial swelling. Jaw pain also can be present in combination with other symptoms, such as hearing a popping or clicking sound when your jaws open and close. Whether your pain is a dull steady throb, an overall tenderness or an occasional sharp and stabbing pain, discomfort in the jaws can disrupt your day-to-day life. That is why it is important to identify the cause so that proper treatment can be provided. Today on the blog, your Royal Oak neuromuscular dentist looks at jaw pain and some of the common causes.
6 Causes of jaw pain
- Arthritis: This chronic condition wreaks havoc on the bones, tissues and ligaments that surround your joints – your jaw joints included. Arthritis in the jaw usually leads to pain that can become chronic. In order to treat arthritis in the temporomandibular joint, you must first be diagnosed, which entails an assessment and often X-rays, which should be reviewed by a medical practitioner who understands the mechanics of the jaw and orofacial system.
- Sinus issues: Whether it’s caused by trauma, inflammation from sinus infections or allergies, a buildup of sinus pressure can cause pain in the jaw. This pain can be sudden or reoccurring. Sinusitis possibly can be treated with over-the-counter medicines but a chronic sinus condition requires treatment from a qualified medical professional.
- Injury or trauma: It’s important that if you sustained an injury due to a blow or impact to the jaw or face, you need to seek medical attention and have your jaw joints assessed. This will help ensure that your overall health and quality of living will not be affected in any way.
- Bruxism: The clinical term for teeth grinding or clenching, bruxism often occurs due to anger or stress. While some people grind their teeth during the day it is more common at night while asleep, meaning the vast majority of people with bruxism never realize they are engaging in this habit. However, this grinding or clenching can wear down teeth and also throw off the alignment of the jaws, leading to jaw pain. You can resist your likelihood to grind your teeth by reducing your stress through meditation, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes.
- An underlying dental problem: It is not unheard of for conditions such as gum disease, cavities, infected teeth, abscessed teeth, and tooth decay to cause jaw pain. These conditions all can affect the jaw directly while impacting your oral health.
- Temporomandibular joint disorder: More commonly referred to as TMJ disorder, this condition occurs when the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull on either side of the head, enters a state of dysfunction. As the temporomandibular joint controls the ability of the jaws to open and close, it plays a crucial role in your ability to speak and chew. The symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary significantly from case to case but one of the most common symptoms is—you guessed it—jaw pain.
Identifying and treating jaw pain in Royal Oak and Birmingham in Michigan
You do not have to continue living with jaw pain. Seek the care of a neuromuscular dentist to resolve this issue. Neuromuscular dentistry is an advanced specialization of dental science that focuses on the alignment of the bite as well as the jaws. This training makes a neuromuscular dentist the ideal choice to diagnose and treat cases of jaw pain. Dr. Nancy Hartrick is proud to offer her services in the specialty of neuromuscular dentistry. To schedule an appointment, call our office in Royal Oak at (248) 549-0950.