Of all the oral issues you might experience, it’s safe to say that jaw pain might be one of the nastiest. Not only does this pain seem to radiate throughout your mouth, it affects you constantly as you use speak and chew throughout the day.

In fact, the only thing worse than the pain itself is being unable to pinpoint the cause. Fortunately, we’re here to help you with that. This article cannot diagnose any of the pain, however, we can help you identify some possibilities. Let’s look at a few common jaw conditions that might be causing your discomfort.

Temporomandibular Disorder 

Better known as TMJ Disorder, this condition affects almost 35 million individuals in the United States. It’s also one of the most common answers to the question, “What’s causing my jaw pain?”

Not only can it cause intense and chronic jaw pain, it can also cause a clicking sound when the jaw opens and closes. In severe instances, the disorder may result in an individual’s mouth getting stuck in an open or closed position. If you suspect TMJ is the root of your jaw problems, you should speak to a dentist or experienced oral surgeon right away.

Teeth Grinding 

This is probably the most common cause of jaw pain, and you might not even know you’re doing it! While it’s true that many people grind their teeth when they’re stressed out, most teeth grinding happens when people are sleeping. If you’ve ever woken up with a sore jaw and aching teeth, sleep-teeth grinding could be the cause!

Wisdom Teeth 

As far as jaw pain goes, wisdom teeth are a pretty common culprit. When these teeth come in, they can cause jaw pain, shifting teeth, inflamed gums, and a whole host of other unpleasant symptoms. While they may not require extensive lower jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal surgery is the best way to relieve this.

 

Please note IOMSWA does not treat TMJ, we do diagnose. Please contact us with any questions.