Is Jaw Pain Tooth Related?
You started to feel pain in your jaw and you are not sure exactly what could be wrong. Is it something that is related to the joint that attaches your jaw to your head or is it a problem with one of your teeth? Only a dentist can help determine what is causing your jaw pain after a thorough exam.
You may be having trouble with a tooth; one of your wisdom teeth could be impacted, you may have an infection or you may have a cavity that needs to be addressed. If you have not had all your wisdom teeth removed, then any of the ones still in your mouth could be trapped under your bone and unable to come to the surface. Other wisdom teeth can be facing the wrong direction and could be adding pressure to the roots of the other teeth as it tries to erupt sideways. The pain from the wisdom teeth will be located in the same area of your jaw and could have swelling and redness with the pain.
If you have an infection or a cavity that is causing you jaw pain, it means that one of your teeth has a place where the enamel has worn away or broken to expose the more sensitive and delicate inner layers of your tooth. The dentin is the layer just below the enamel and the pulp is below the dentin. The blood supply and nervous tissue is located in the pulp of the tooth. When bacteria reaches the pulp, the tissue gets inflamed and you will feel the pain in one specific area of your mouth. If you do not address a cavity or infection, you could risk getting a more serious blood infection or lose bone tissue. Infections in your teeth and cavities will not fix themselves without the help of a dental professional. You may need to work with the dentist on the best treatment for your case whether it is a root canal, a course of antibiotics, or dental bonding to reinforce the weakened enamel. You may even experience pain radiating from the affected tooth through the rest of that side of your face.
Not all jaw pain is related to teeth; you may be struggling with temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects your jaw to the rest of your head. The location of the joint and problems with it can feel like they are related to your teeth, but it is in fact limited to the joint. The joint helps you open and close your mouth so aggressive and repetitive chewing can cause the jaw to be sore but this is not TMJD. When the joint is inflamed and irritated from arthritis or grinding your teeth, then you are suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder. When this disorder goes untreated, you could experience lockjaw, a problem where you are unable to open and close your mouth without a struggle.
If you have been diagnosed with TMJD or think you may be suffering from it, your jaw pain could be sharp or dull and constant or erratic. The dentist can help you determine if your TMJD is a result of bruxism, or grinding and clenching your teeth. Some people find help by wearing a mouthguard at night and others turn to injections to help decrease the pressure your jaw muscles can exert.