Why Do I Have Jaw Pain?

In this topic we will talk about problems that can happen with the jaw, and reasons you could be getting jaw pain as well as headaches.

What are the symptoms of jaw problems?

If your teeth do not meet correctly, it could cause problems with the teeth themselves, or problems with your gums, bite, temporo-mandibular joint, or the muscles which control how your jaw moves.

We call these ‘occlusal’ problems. Occlusion is the name that we give for how your teeth meet when you bite together.

The first noticeable symptoms are:

•            Toothache

•            Broken teeth, fillings or crowns

•            Heavily worn teeth/flattened teeth

•            Loose teeth

•            Sensitivity

•            Headaches

If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to see your dentist so they can fully examine your mouth. Many people have imperfect occlusion, but never have symptoms as they will adjust to the problems. In times of stress some symptoms might ‘flare up’ then go away again.

Some people find that they clench or grind their teeth whereas some people don’t. Sometimes, stress or anxiety can cause this, though people can often do this when they are concentrating on a task.

What is happening when I have these symptoms?

Teeth and gums

Teeth that are out of line, constantly breaking or worn, have fillings that continuously come out, or crowns that come loose could be a sign of an occlusal problems and you should see a dentist.

Poorly aligned teeth can be harder to clean, often due to crowding, making them vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease; alternatively, the misalignment can put uneven pressure on certain teeth, wearing them down faster.

 Temporo-mandibular joint. (TMJ)

This is the joint connecting your lower jaw to your skull. It is the joint the controls moving the jaw side to side and open and shut to chew.

Some people experience pain, clicking, or grinding within the jaw and suffer from ringing or buzzing in the ears. It can also cause headaches. Also, difficulty opening and closing the mouth could be a sign of the teeth not meeting correctly or Temporo-mandibular dysfunction (TMD).

TMD can be caused by trauma to the jaw, or other health conditions such as, arthritis, erosion of the joint, structural jaw problems present at birth, or habitual grinding and clenching of the teeth. This could be from anxiety and can happen without someone knowing they are doing it, during the day or night.

Headaches – how is it connected to jaw pain?

The muscles in your jaw will have to work a lot harder and will get tired more easily if your jaw is in the wrong position; this can lead to muscle spasms.

The main symptoms can be continual headaches or migraines, particularly first thing in the morning. Pain behind the eyes or sinus pain, pain in your neck or shoulders, or even the back muscles can all go alongside the main symptoms.

What can I do? How can this be treated?

The very first thing to suggest will be to speak to your dentist. They can assess the problem and decide whether it is worth seeing a specialist to ease your troubles.

However, there are some treatments you can carry out at home to relieve symptoms of jaw pain, which you can read about by clicking on the highlighted text.

If you are concerned about your jaw pain, please contact Eden Dental Centre on 01726 61212 to book in for a consultation.