Jaw pain: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Date: Apr-27-2017 Jaw and facial pain is a common problem affecting millions of people worldwide. It causes many treatment challenges in the healthcare community when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

As there are so many potential causes to jaw pain, correct diagnosis is vital. Doctors need to identify the exact cause in order to provide the best course of pain-relieving treatments.

Contents of this article:

Causes

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatments

Causes

Teeth grinding and arthritis may be causes of jaw pain but the most commonly reported is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

There are several possible causes of jaw pain and these may be related to physical injury, nerve problems, or blood vessel problems.

The most commonly reported cause of jaw pain is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). The condition affects up to 12 percent of people. Nearly 5 percent seek medical treatment due to the severity of the problem. Women of childbearing age are most commonly affected by TMJ.

TMJ collectively describes disorders of the temporomandibular joints, and the muscles responsible for jaw movement. These muscles are known as the masticatory muscles.

Other known causes of jaw or facial pain include conditions, such as:

Teeth grinding, clenching, or opening the mouth too wide: Most often, teeth grinding and clenching is experienced during sleep and can lead to tooth damage and jaw pain. It can also occur during periods of increased emotional stress.

Osteomyelitis: This is a condition where an infection in the body affects the bones and associated tissues.

Arthritis: Arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis, which lead to the surface of bones wearing away.

Synovitis or capsulitis: These are conditions in which the lining of the joint or a connecting ligament becomes inflamed.

Dental conditions: These can include gum disease, cavities, tooth gaps, damaged teeth, or abscesses.

Sinus problems: These affect the nasal cavities.

Tension type headaches: Tension headaches are typically caused by stress and may lead to facial pain.

Neuropathic pain: This type of long-term pain occurs when nerves become damaged and send pain signals to the brain. This pain can be continuous or occur from time to time.

Vascular pain: This type of pain occurs when the supply of blood to part of the body is disrupted. It is caused by conditions that include giant cell arteritis and carotid artery dissection.

Neurovascular pain: This type of pain is caused by conditions that affect both the nerves and the blood vessels, such as migraine and cluster headaches.

Pain can also be caused by lifestyle-related factors, including emotional stress, sleep disturbances, a lack of certain nutrients, or tiredness.

Other conditions that may cause jaw and facial pain include rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and some mental health conditions.

Symptoms

Jaw pain symptoms may include facial pain, earache, jaw locking, toothache, and facial swelling.

The presenting symptoms of jaw pain vary depending on the cause. They may include:

facial pain that worsens when the jaw is used

joint and muscle tenderness

limited range of motion

jaw alignment issues

clicking or popping sounds with opening or closing of the jaw

ringing in the ears

earaches

headaches with or without ear pain and pressure behind the eyes

dizziness

jaw locking

dull aching to sharp stabbing pain

becoming overly sensitive to pain

vertigo

toothache

tension headaches

nerve-type pain, such as burning

fever

facial swelling

Other symptoms may be present and these will depend on the root cause of the jaw pain.

It is important for people to seek prompt medical attention in order to work out the cause of their pain so that a treatment plan can be determined. Doing so swiftly can help prevent long-term complications from occurring. Dentists, oral surgeons, and doctors are able to evaluate jaw pain.

Complications

Complications vary based on the cause and other factors associated with your pain, including the treatments that are used. They may include:

dental complications

surgical complications

infection

chronic pain

emotional distress

changes in eating habits

Diagnosis

In order for a doctor to diagnose and treat the cause of jaw pain, they will need to perform certain tests.

The following tests may help them to find out more about the cause of jaw pain, including:

physical exam, including assessment of the nerves, neck bones, jaw, mouth, and muscles

complete medical and pain history

certain laboratory tests, such as an erythrocyte sedimentation rate blood test, used in the diagnosis of conditions involving pain

certain radiology imaging procedures, such as X-ray or MRI

psychological and psychiatric screening

Other tests may be needed if a clinician suspects that the jaw pain is caused by a particular disease. They will discuss what they recommend for diagnosing the cause of any jaw pain as necessary.

Treatments

If the cause of jaw pain is an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Treatment of jaw pain depends on what the cause is. Treatment methods are varied and may include the following:

antibiotics if the jaw pain is caused by an infection

surgery to remove damaged bone, treat an affected nerve, or to diagnose the problem

use of a mouth protector, such as a mouth guard

physical therapy

muscle relaxants or tranquilizers to aid in relaxing the affected muscles

antidepressants, which can sometimes help treat painful conditions

topical capsaicin, which is helpful in treating some nerve-related conditions

steroid injections to decrease inflammation or swelling

antiviral therapy to treat viral infections, such as herpes zoster

pain medication

oxygen therapy and some prescription medications to treat cluster headaches

certain blood pressure medications when migraines are being treated

root canal treatment, a procedure to treat infections within teeth

tooth extraction if the cause is from an abnormal or infected tooth

vapo-coolant spray to relieve painful areas of muscle, called trigger points

injections with local anesthetics

stretching to stretch and sooth the affected muscles

relaxation therapy

soft diet to avoid excessive jaw movement and crunching

moist heat application or cold therapy

massage or acupuncture

use of correct posture to avoid neck and back strain

Other treatments are available to treat jaw pain, and their use is determined by the cause of the pain. Doctors can discuss the best method for treating pain with each person, based on their unique situation.

Prevention

Knowing the trigger of any jaw pain is important to prevent the pain from returning.

Some basic preventive measures may be useful, and these include:

avoiding crunchy foods, gum, chewing fingernails, or other hard objects

eating soft or liquid foods, such as soup or pasta

taking smaller bites of food

avoiding caffeine

trying massage, meditation, and aerobic exercise

taking calcium and magnesium supplements, if appropriate

avoiding yawning

sleeping on the back or side, avoiding stomach sleeping

avoiding grinding teeth

avoiding carrying bags on the shoulders for too long, switching shoulders frequently

using correct posture

seeking regular dental care

People should always speak to their doctor to determine the safety of any preventive measure to ensure it is appropriate for their unique situation.

When to see the doctor

It may be necessary for people to seek medical care for jaw pain if they are experiencing symptoms, such as:

failure of home remedies to treat jaw pain

jaw pain that interferes with a daily routine

irregular jaw motion

jaw joints making sounds when moving

neck or upper back pain

eye pain

headaches

ringing in the ear

dental problems, such as broken or worn teeth

People should speak with a dentist or doctor about jaw pain in order for diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition.

Written by Lori Smith BSN MSN CRNP

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.