Jaw pain is remarkably common. Millions of people suffer with it for many different reasons. First, jaw structure. The maxilla is your upper jaw. It is attached to your skull and does not move. The mandible, your lower jaw bone, does move whenever you chew, sing, speak, yawn, or yell. The mandible at its most forward point makes your chin.
The two jaw bones are hinged together by the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). If you place your fingers on your jaw just in front of your ears and open and close your mouth, you can feel your TMJ working.
Causes of jaw pain
Jaw pain on one side on both happens for many reasons, some benign and short lived, some more dangerous. Among the causes:
- Infection – in the ear, sinus or a tooth
- Inflammation due to an autoimmune disease, allergy, a drug reaction
- Arthritis or other joint degeneration
- Migraine
- Misalignment of the jaw bones
The jaw working can sometimes be both felt and heard. Jaw popping is the term for the click, snap, or pop that is noticeable every time some people open or close their jaw. This is often due to a misaligned jaw causing the cartilage and other soft tissue to move erratically whenever the jaw hinge works. Jaw popping can be painless, but if discomfort accompanies the popping or pain lingers after eating or speaking, visit with your doctor or dentist to determine why you hurt.
Several years ago, a long-time patient called me and asked, “Why does my jaw hurt?” He refused an in-person visit as it was calving season and he lived more than two hours away. I insisted he at least see a local dentist. A week later, he was in my office, excited to show me the little hole in his gum above his upper teeth.
“Look,” he said, as he pressed on his cheek. Green pus oozed out of the hole and trickled down his gum. A badly abscessed tooth had led an infection to bore a drainage hole through his gum. Antibiotics were helping, but a complete cure took a while.
Significant or persistent jaw pain must be evaluated by a health care provider. This is especially true if you have a fever, if the pain has lasted longer than a week, or you have recently had dental work or surgery. Remember that your jaw is part of your skull and very close to your brain. Don’t delay in determining what is going on.
Jaw pain relief
For jaw pain that is not linked to an infection or another pathology, pain relief can often be found in lifestyle changes and natural medicine. Chew evenly, on both sides of your mouth as frequently as possible. Chop nuts, carrots, and other hard foods into small pieces before eating. Avoid biting your nails and clenching your jaw. Do deep breathing exercises to relieve stress. Consider a mouth guard if you are a nighttime teeth grinder.
Hot packs over your TMJ, just in front of your ear, can relieve jaw pain. So too can Arnica cream or gel. Rub a pea-sized amount into your cheek over your TMJ and gently massage the area at least twice daily.
