What is jaw pain like?
Pain in the jaw usually brings very severe discomfort and anxiety.
By nature, they can be acute, sudden, pulsating, or vice versa - aching, chronic, protracted. Often these sensations are so intense that they can even cause a depressed emotional state and depressive disorders [1]. It largely depends on the nature of the pain in the facial area, as well as accompanying symptoms (joint mobility, clicks in it, the presence of swelling, etc.) why the patient’s jaw hurts. During the examination, doctors also pay attention to the localization of sensations - whether they are unilateral or bilateral [1]. It is often difficult to determine exactly whether pain in this area is associated with injury or pathology of the bones, joints, or is caused by some other reason.
Ways to eliminate pain
You need to visit a dentist as soon as possible to identify the specific cause of the discomfort. Self-medication will not be successful; such actions can only lead to the development of complications. At home, you can only reduce pain for a short time in order to wait for a trip to a specialist:
- Painkillers. They will help reduce the manifestation of pain, regardless of what caused the symptom. You can take Nise or Ketarol according to the instructions. If there is nothing suitable, a Paracetamol tablet will do.
- Infusion of chamomile. Pour boiling water over a tablespoon of dry raw materials. When the liquid has cooled, rinse your mouth.
- Soda + salt. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt + baking soda in a glass of warm water. You need to rinse your teeth every two hours.
Causes of jaw pain
The face has a complex anatomical structure. In this area:
- complex articulation of the jawbone with the skull ( temporomandibular joint );
- rich innervation - the trigeminal nerve runs on both sides of the face;
- oral cavity lined with mucous membrane;
- teeth, gums, richly innervated tongue;
- proximity of reflexogenic zones (areas where many receptors are located).
Disorders and pathologies in any part can cause pain in the jaw, which often spreads (radiates) to the entire facial area.
And yet, the most common cause of discomfort is pathologies or disorders of the dental system. That is why, if a patient has jaw pain, it is recommended that he contact the dentist first.
Damage to teeth
Damage to dental tissue is one of the most common reasons why the lower or upper jaw hurts. Moreover, such sensations are often radiating, that is, they can manifest themselves as pain in the jaw, temple and even ear. Probable reasons:
- caries at various stages, pulpitis;
- abscess;
- damage to the crown or implant.
Another reason for discomfort in the facial area associated with dental problems is increased tooth sensitivity. In this case, acute short-term pain occurs when touching the teeth, inhaling cold air, taking hot, cold, spicy, salty, sweet or sour drinks and food [1]. Sharp pain in the teeth while eating or drinking, when brushing your teeth, or even some time later can spread to the jaw area.
Other symptoms of dental damage:
- increased constant discomfort when pressing on the surface of the teeth;
- throbbing pain radiating to the cheeks, temple, ear.
Recent dental procedures
This group includes cases where discomfort is associated with previous dental procedures. These include:
- ultrasonic or mechanical teeth cleaning;
- teeth whitening;
- treatment of deep carious cavities, pulpitis;
- removal of a tooth;
- implantation, etc.
Gum diseases
Inflammatory diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis cause serious damage to the gums. Gingivitis is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, swelling and bleeding of the gums, and periodontitis can lead to loosening and even loss of teeth. Inflammation of periodontal tissue is accompanied by severe pain in the affected area, including the jaw [3].
Periostitis
Sharp, severe, sometimes throbbing pain in the jaw can be a sign of inflammation of the periosteum, or periostitis.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
This disorder is one of the most common causes of facial pain (5–12%) [1] not related to dental problems. The fact is that the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has a very complex structure. It is formed by the head of the lower jaw and the articular surface of the temporal bone. In this case, the left and right joints perform their functions synchronously.
The joint is strengthened by the articular capsule, ligaments and muscles. Any disruption in the mobility of the system of muscles, ligaments, cartilage and bones leads to dysfunction of the TMJ (disruption of normal functioning) and possible pain in the jaw on both one and both sides [1]. A characteristic sign of TMJ dysfunction is that when you open your mouth, you hear a click and your jaw hurts.
Main symptoms [4]:
- pain in the jaw joint;
- discomfort in the ears, face;
- constant headaches;
- tinnitus;
- dizziness;
- vision problems.
Bruxism
Bruxism is an unconscious or involuntary contraction of the jaw muscles, causing severe clenching and friction of the teeth to the characteristic grinding sound.
This phenomenon is not a disease in the literal sense. Bruxism is a symptom of a fairly large group of disorders, from partial absence of teeth or malocclusion to stress and psychological tension.
This phenomenon occurs at any age, but in approximately 50% of cases it occurs in children. According to various estimates, about 5-20% of people suffer from it. There are nocturnal and daytime bruxism [4].
“During physiological chewing, the teeth of the upper and lower jaw are in contact for 25-30 minutes in 12 hours.
With night bruxism, the teeth can be in contact for 40 minutes per hour" "Formation mechanisms and pathogenetic principles of treatment of bruxism", Doctor of Medical Sciences. Gaidarova T.A.
Main symptoms:
- discomfort in the facial muscles in the morning;
- pain in the lower jaw due to overexertion or damage to muscles and ligaments;
- during sleep - sounds of grinding, rubbing of teeth;
- cracks and chips of enamel [5].
Trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia refers to cases where the jaw hurts due to reasons not related to dental disorders or bone tissue pathologies. This is a chronic disease that affects the trigeminal nerve and can cause discomfort of varying degrees of intensity in the area of innervation (face, teeth, eyes, tongue, upper and lower jaw, etc.) [2].
The main symptoms are attacks of sharp, cutting, burning pain in certain areas of the face [2]:
- in the forehead, brow ridges, temple - with damage to the first branch of the nerve;
- in the area of the upper lip, nose, cheekbones, upper jaw - with damage to the second branch of the nerve;
- in the area of the lower lip, chin, lower teeth, tongue, lower jaw - with damage to the third branch of the nerve.
Discomfort can be significantly aggravated by talking, touching the face or teeth, chewing food, or contact of teeth with food or a toothbrush [2].
Injury
Bruises of the soft tissues of the face, damage to the bones of the facial skull or the temporomandibular joint (dislocations, fractures) cause unpleasant sensations, including pain in the lower and upper jaws, as well as discomfort of varying degrees of intensity [6]. Such injuries are accompanied by redness, bruising, and swelling [2].
Systemic diseases
With a number of general somatic disorders and diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, mumps, heart attack and others, patients complain that their jaw hurts on the right or left.
For example, one of the symptoms of a heart attack [7] and other acute conditions of the cardiovascular system may be referred pain in the jaw on the left side. With swelling of the salivary glands that accompanies mumps (the so-called “mumps”), the jaw often ache in the area of inflammation [6]. With rheumatoid arthritis, joints, including the temporomandibular joint, may swell, which causes pain in the jaw and discomfort when opening and closing the mouth [6].
Why do my jaws and all my teeth hurt?
In addition to caries, there are a number of purely dental causes.
- When teeth with sensitive enamel are exposed to hot and cold, spicy and sour, discomfort may appear in the entire jaw.
- It is often difficult to identify the source of pain in pulpitis (inflammation of the neurovascular bundle) or periodontitis (a complication of pulpitis).
- Treatment of dental cysts also provides relief from pain in the entire dentition. With purulent inflammation of a long-formed cyst, pain without clear localization may occur.
- An erupting wisdom tooth, especially one that is incorrectly located in the jaw, also brings significant discomfort. When the eighth molar touches the nerve endings of neighboring teeth, the pain along the chain not only spreads throughout the jaw, but also radiates to the ears and temples.
- When your jaw hurts after tooth extraction, you need to urgently consult a dentist. Such pain usually indicates the development of a complication.
An orthodontic patient who had braces installed a few hours ago also experiences general discomfort. But he must be warned in advance about the appearance of unpleasant sensations.
Diagnostics
To find out what may be causing your jaw pain, you must immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
List of sources
- Isaykin A.I., Smirnova D.S. Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint // RMJ. 2022. No. 24. pp. 1750-1755 https://www.rmj.ru/articles/bolevoy_sindrom/Disfunkciya_visochno-nighnechelyustnogo_sustava/#ixzz6EmX7dOtR (access date: 02/23/2020).
- Dentistry. Textbook Aleksandrov M.T., Bazhanov N.N., Medvedev Yu.A., Platonova V.V., Sergeev Yu.N. / Ed. N.N. Bazhanova. - M.: GEOTAR, 2008.
- Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) // WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Michael Friedman, DDS on March 17, 2019 https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gingivitis-periodontal-disease#1 (access date : 02/23/2020).
- Fedorova I.N. Bruxism. Unsolved problem. – Moscow, 2009, pp. 1-2.
- Bezzubikova M.V. Dental and somatic manifestations of bruxism syndrome // BMIK. 2022. No. 2. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/stomatologicheskie-i-somaticheskie-proyavleniya-sindroma-bruksizma (date of access: 01/31/2020).
- Why Your Jaw Hurts // WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Alfred D. Wyatt Jr., DMD on March 21, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/why-your-jaw-hurts#1 (date access: 01/30/2020).
- Gaifullina R.F., Kim Z.F. and others. Infarction-like myocarditis: difficulties and solutions in diagnosis // Bulletin of modern clinical medicine. 2022. No. 1. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/infarktopodobnyy-miokardit-trudnosti-i-puti-resheniya-v-diagnostike (date of access: 02/23/2020).
Treatment
A gnathologist can carry out treatment either independently or with the involvement of specialists from other fields. This is especially true when the cause of the development of TMJ pathology has been identified and can be eliminated. The help of an orthodontist is necessary for patients with malocclusion. Wearing a brace system or aligners to correct occlusion has a beneficial effect on the condition of the entire dental system.
Detection of arthrosis or ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint also requires the involvement of specialized specialists. The doctor's specialty will be determined by the cause of the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the tissues of the TMJ. Metabolic disorders, injuries, infections will require additional examination and the development of an individual treatment plan.
