You may have asked, why does my jaw hurts? Here it are the Causes, Symptoms, and How To Prevent Jaw pain
Jaw pain is aching and pain that is felt in the jaw and face. Many factors can cause this condition, which makes it difficult to diagnose and resolve it. The dentist will conduct a thorough examination, which includes X-rays, to determine the cause of the pain.
Jaw pain can affect your ability to eat and speak, even to laugh. Therefore, it is important to know what the meaning of your jaw pain is to be able to find a way to overcome it.
My Jaw Hurts: The causes of jaw pain
To answer the question, why do my jaw hurts, here are a few reasons:
TMJ Disorder
Most of the jaw pain is caused by abnormalities or injuries to your jaw joint, especially in the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ is a set of joints and muscle jaw that works to open and shut the mouth as you chew, talk, or swallow. The joints also control the lower jaw while moving forward, backward, and sideways.
Pain caused by disorders of the TMJ joints is usually triggered by the habit of cracking the teeth while sleeping or stress, arthritis, and the trauma of the jaw, head, or neck. Pain can also be due to injuries to the jaw joint and repeated use. Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:
- Jaw pain
- Pain on the inside and around the ears
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing
- Facial Pain
- The joints are locked, causing the mouth difficult to open and close.
Toothache
Tooth pain can spread to the jaw, resulting in jaw pain. Causes of tooth pain such as infections that cause dental abscesses.
Sinus infections
Sinus infections, either by a virus or bacteria, can cause fluid buildup in the sinus cavity. This leads to an emphasis on the jaw and triggers jaw pain.
Cluster headache
Cluster headache is a very painful type of headache. This headache causes pain around or the back of one eye. Sometimes the pain can spread to the jaw.
Trigeminal neuralgia
This pain occurs when there is a nerve that is depressed or experiencing disorders, precisely the nerves that control the muscles of the face and jaw. In this condition, the nerve sends a pain signal to the brain.
Heart Attack
A heart attack can cause jaw pain, which is generally accompanied by the onset of pain in the upper body such as the chest, arms, back, to the neck. Especially in women, jaw pain sign heart attack may appear on the left side of the face when a heart attack occurs. Immediately call the emergency number 118 to get medical help as soon as you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and feeling faint.
Read also: How to prevent heart disease?.
Jaw pain needs to be treated according to the underlying cause. Treating stiffness and severe jaw pain can be given to the administration of pain medications such as paracetamol, or drugs that must be obtained from prescription doctors such as antidepressant drugs and muscle relaxants. If necessary, to handle this condition can be added physiotherapy, massage, and Botox injections.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of jaw pain may include:
- Pain or sensitivity to the jaw
- Hearing problems like the appearance of ringing in the ears
- Pain on the inside and around the ears
- Pain when the jaw is moved or in a stationary condition.
- Sound like a click when the jaw is moved
- Tingling in the area around the jaw
- Difficulty chewing or uncomfortable when chewing
- Uneven bite between upper and lower teeth.
- Pain when biting
- Swollen face.
- Headaches
- The joints are locked, making it difficult to open or close the mouth.
There may be signs and symptoms not mentioned above. When you have concerns about a certain symptom, consult it with your doctor.
Easy ways to prevent jaw pain
The disorder of pain in the jaw generally do not just come. There are a number of ways that you can use to prevent the pain of the jaw like a few easy things below:
- Start replacing your food with foods that are not textured too hard and chewy like soft foods. Examples include mashed potatoes, soups, fish, cooked fruits and vegetables, grains, wheat, yogurt, and nuts.
- Refrain to support the chin by hand as it interferes with jaw work.
- Avoid chewing gum for too long or habit of biting hard objects like nails
- Regularly warm or cold compress your jaw regularly every few days every 10-20 minutes
- Do light exercises in opening and closing the mouth so that the jaws stay awake
- Don’t snapping teeth and diligently massage your jaw joint muscles.
If the jaw is hurt and does not heal on its own within the 3 day period, you should consult a dentist or general practitioner immediately to get the medical treatment that fits your condition. Remember not to underestimate the jaws because if left unchecked will worsen the condition of your jaw.
Thank you very much for reading My Jaw Hurts: Causes, Symptoms, and How To Prevent It, hopefully useful.