Sudden jaw pain can significantly impact a person’s life, leading to difficulties in eating, speaking, and feelings of fatigue. This condition is often related to abnormalities or injuries in the jaw joint, but it can also signal other underlying health issues.
Top 6 Common Causes of Sudden Jaw Pain
1. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
On each side of your jaw, there is a temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which acts like a hinge that connects the jaw to the skull. While there are many different TMJ disorders, they all share a common symptom: jaw pain. The pain may intensify when chewing, and you may hear or feel clicking or popping sounds while eating. There may also be a reduced range of motion in the jaw.
In addition to jaw pain, TMJ disorders can cause pain in the face, neck, and even shoulders.
Diagnosis
We can initially diagnose TMJ disorders based on the symptoms we perceive and observe. For a more accurate diagnosis, you will need to visit a hospital for examination. Some tests that may be recommended include:
- Dental X-rays.
- CT scans (computed tomography).
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
- Arthroscopy of the TMJ (used for diagnosis and, in some cases, treatment).
Treatment
The treatment method for TMJ disorders will depend on several factors, including the underlying cause and severity of pain. Doctors usually start with non-invasive options, such as medication or non-surgical treatments. If your symptoms do not improve, you may need jaw surgery.
2. Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a common behavior often associated with stress and anxiety, but it can also occur unconsciously while sleeping. Teeth grinding is related to sleep apnea and can be hereditary.
Although it is not dangerous, frequent teeth grinding can lead to jaw disorders, resulting in jaw pain, headaches, tooth damage, and other issues.
Treatment
There are no medications to prevent teeth grinding, but you can try a few measures to lessen its impact on your oral health:
- Behavioral changes: You can learn to rest your tongue, teeth, and lips properly. Try to position your tongue upwards to relieve discomfort in the jaw while keeping your teeth apart and your lips closed.
- Oral protection: You can use a plastic mouthguard that you wear at night to absorb bite pressure.
To prevent or reduce the frequency of teeth grinding, maintain a relaxed mindset through meditation or yoga, avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine-containing products, and reduce gum chewing. If you grind your teeth during the day, focus on self-control.
Frequent teeth grinding can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, tooth damage, and other issues. (Image: Internet).
3. Toothache
Many dental issues can cause jaw pain. For instance, a cavity might initially result in sudden, intermittent jaw pain when eating or biting. However, if the cavity progresses, it can lead to continuous jaw pain.
Other dental problems, such as tooth abscesses (accumulation of pus inside a tooth) and gum disease, can also cause jaw pain.
To accurately determine the cause of your toothache, you should visit a dentist for examination. If you have a cavity, you may notice symptoms such as tooth pain—especially when consuming cold, hot, or sweet foods; the appearance of holes in the teeth; or brown, black, or white stains on any surface of the tooth, which can help with initial diagnosis.
Treatment
Depending on the cause of the toothache, there will be different treatment approaches. For example, a mild cavity may require a filling, while a more severe case might need a root canal or extraction.
Dental issues can also be a cause of sudden jaw pain. (Image: Internet).
4. Wisdom Teeth Eruption
If your wisdom teeth are starting to emerge and there isn’t enough space in your bite for them to break through the gums, they may become trapped or impacted. This is one of the leading causes of jaw pain in patients aged 15-25.
Symptoms of wisdom teeth eruption (the eighth tooth located at the back of the jaw) include gum irritation; dull pain near the back of the jaw; pain around the jaw, eyes, or ears; and red gums with small white spots.
If the wisdom teeth are erupting normally, no treatment is necessary. Home remedies to alleviate symptoms may include:
- Applying ice packs
- Practicing good oral hygiene to prevent inflammation
- Applying 1 to 2 drops of lemon juice to the wisdom tooth area
- Crushing a clove of garlic and applying it to the wisdom tooth area
Additionally, you should visit a dentist to check whether your wisdom teeth are erupting normally, if there is any inflammation, or any abnormalities that require timely intervention.
Wisdom teeth eruption is one of the leading causes of jaw pain in patients aged 15-25. (Image: Internet).
5. Sinus Issues
When your sinuses are irritated or infected, they produce excess mucus that can create pressure on the sinuses and jaw joint. Besides jaw pain, patients may experience other symptoms such as fever, headaches, toothaches, cheek pain, and nasal congestion.
Doctors will examine your ears, nose, and throat for swelling, discharge, or blockage through endoscopy.
Some specific tests that may be ordered include:
- Sampling nasal mucus for testing to check for viruses or bacteria that may be causing your symptoms.
- Allergy testing. If you have chronic sinusitis, your doctor may check for allergies.
- In some cases, your doctor may request a CT scan to better understand what is happening inside your sinuses.
Treatment
There are several treatment options for sinusitis, depending on your symptoms and the duration of your illness. You can treat sinus infections at home with:
- Decongestants.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications.
- Nasal saline rinses.
- Staying hydrated.
If you have a chronic sinus infection or if home remedies do not provide relief, you may need to visit a hospital for examination and treatment with prescribed medications.
When infected, the body produces excess mucus that can pressure the sinuses and jaw joint. (Image: Internet).
6. Nerve Pain
Nerve pain occurs when the nerves in the head or neck become irritated or inflamed. A common nerve that affects your face and jaw is the trigeminal nerve, which runs through the cheek and jaw.
This type of pain is often caused by infections or injuries in the head or neck area. It can also arise from disorders affecting the nerves, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or trigeminal neuralgia.
Additionally, jaw pain can result from issues with the temporalis muscle, one of the muscles involved in chewing.
For this condition, you need to visit a hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment.
These are the common causes of sudden jaw pain. Furthermore, jaw pain can also be a symptom warning of serious conditions such as heart attacks, autoimmune disorders, osteonecrosis of the jaw, or cancer, although these causes are typically rare.
