Jaw pain can be caused by a variety of illnesses and medical conditions. Understanding the potential causes can help identify the underlying problem and guide treatment. This article explores common illnesses associated with jaw pain and provides an overview of their symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
TMJ Disorders
One of the most common causes of jaw pain is temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, collectively known as TMD or TMJ disorders. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull. TMJ disorders affect the joint and muscles involved in chewing.
There are several types of TMJ disorders:
- TMJ osteoarthritis – wear and tear damage to the temporomandibular joint
- TMJ osteoarthrosis – breakdown of joint cartilage
- TMJ disc displacement – dislocated jaw disc preventing smooth joint movement
- Myofascial pain – pain in jaw muscles rather than the joint
Symptoms of TMJ disorders include:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Clicking, popping, or grinding noises when opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty fully opening or closing the mouth
- Jaw locking when opened or closed
- Headaches or earaches
Causes of TMJ disorders include:
- Injury or trauma to the jaw or TMJ
- Grinding or clenching teeth (bruxism)
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
- Stress and anxiety
Treatments for TMJ disorders include:
- Pain medication like NSAIDs
- Mouthguards and bite splints
- Stress management
- Surgery in severe cases
- Physical therapy
Dental Issues
Problems with the teeth or gums can also lead to jaw pain. Possible dental causes include:
- Tooth decay – Cavities and tooth decay can expose tooth nerves, leading to pain.
- Abscessed tooth – An abscess is a bacterial infection at the root of a tooth, creating pus that builds pressure and causes pain.
- Cracked or broken teeth – Fractures expose tooth nerves and make teeth extremely sensitive.
- Gum disease – Gingivitis and periodontitis inflame the gums, potentially causing pain.
- Impacted wisdom teeth – Wisdom teeth struggling to emerge can cause pain and swelling.
- Orthodontic treatment – Braces and retainers put pressure on teeth and jaws, sometimes causing discomfort.
Dental causes of jaw pain are treated by fixing the underlying problem, through procedures like fillings, extractions, root canals, or prescription antibiotics. Regular dental exams and cleanings can help prevent many dental issues.
Injuries
Trauma and injury are also common reasons for jaw pain. Possible injuries leading to jaw pain include:
- Fractures – Broken or cracked jaw bones, like a fractured mandible.
- Dislocations – Temporomandibular joint dislocations that misalign the upper and lower jaw.
- Sprains and strains – Overstretched jaw muscles or ligaments.
- Bruxism – Tooth grinding can strain jaw muscles and joints.
- Sports injuries – Contact sports often lead to blows to the face and jaw.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of injury. Mild muscle strains may heal with rest, ice, medication, and avoiding chewing. More serious injuries like fractures require medical treatment and possibly surgery.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is infection and inflammation of the bone. It sometimes affects the jaw bones, causing:
- Pain and tenderness in the jaw
- Swelling, redness, and warmth in the skin over the jaw
- Fever
- Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing
- Bad breath
Jaw osteomyelitis often starts from an infection elsewhere in the mouth, like an abscess, or from injury. Bacteria spreads through the bloodstream into the jawbone. People with weak immune systems are at higher risk.
Antibiotics, removing infected bone, and surgery to remove dead or infected tissue are used to treat osteomyelitis. Hospitalization is often needed.
Cancer
Cancers affecting the facial structures, mouth, and jaw can also be sources of pain.
Potential oral cancers leading to jaw pain include:
- Mouth cancer – Cancers of the lips, tongue, gums, inner lining of the cheeks, roof and floor of the mouth.
- Salivary gland cancer – Cancers of the salivary glands under the jaw and mouth.
- Oropharyngeal cancer – Cancers of the tonsils and back of the throat.
- Bone cancer – Osteosarcoma and other cancers in the jawbone.
Symptoms depend on the location but may include:
- Jaw or mouth pain
- Swelling or lump in the jaw, mouth, neck, or face
- Bleeding or numbness in the mouth
- Loose teeth or difficulty swallowing
- Weight loss
Treatment involves surgery to remove tumors and cancerous tissue, plus chemotherapy, radiation, or both. Pain relief is also provided.
Heart Attack
Sometimes heart attacks and angina can manifest as jaw pain. This referred pain occurs because the nerves supplying the heart also supply the jaw area.
Angina is chest pain that occurs when blocked heart arteries prevent enough oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart. Heart attack occurs when a blocked artery leads to heart muscle damage.
Other heart attack and angina symptoms accompanying jaw pain include:
- Chest tightness, pressure, squeezing, or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Feeling of impending doom
Seeking immediate emergency care is crucial for suspected heart attack and angina. Treatment involves medications, procedures to open blocked arteries, and possibly surgery.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, shock-like facial pain caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve. This large facial nerve has three branches supplying the forehead, cheek, and lower jaw.
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms include:
- Severe, stabbing or electric shock-like pain in parts of the face
- Pain lasting from a few seconds to minutes
- Pain triggered by smiling, chewing, brushing teeth, or swallowing
- Pain-free intervals between attacks
It’s thought to be caused by blood vessel compression of the trigeminal nerve root. Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in people over 50.
Anti-seizure medications are the main treatment. Surgery may be an option to decompress the trigeminal nerve.
TMJ Cysts
Cysts can form in the temporomandibular joints from synovial fluid that accumulates and forms a sac. These are called TMJ cysts and lead to symptoms like:
- Pain and tenderness in front of the ear
- Jaw pain when chewing
- Locking of the jaw when opening or closing the mouth
- Swelling and fullness along the jaw
- Headaches
The exact cause is unknown but may involve injury, arthritis, or bite problems. Treatment may involve draining the cysts, steroid injections, or surgery if other treatments fail.
Bruxism
Bruxism is involuntary grinding and clenching of the teeth, commonly at night. This can put intense pressure on the jaw muscles and TMJ. Symptoms include:
- Jaw muscle pain and soreness
- Headaches
- Tooth pain and wear
- Damage to dental work
Stress and anxiety are considered major causes though factors like sleep disorders and crooked bites may also contribute. Using a mouthguard during sleep protects teeth from damage.
Sinusitis
Inflammation and infection of the sinuses called sinusitis can also lead to jaw and tooth pain. The maxillary sinuses above the upper teeth and jaw are most often affected.
Sinusitis symptoms include:
- Congestion and sinus pressure
- Headache
- Runny nose and postnasal drip
- Pain in the upper jaw and teeth
- Fever
- Bad breath
Bacterial or viral infections are common causes. Allergies, nasal polyps, and tooth infections can also contribute to sinus inflammation. Sinusitis usually resolves with rest, fluids, nasal irrigation, decongestants, and antibiotics if necessary.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches involve severe unilateral pain. Jaw and tooth pain occur during clusters on the affected side. Cluster headaches cause:
- Piercing, burning pain on one side of the head
- Pain focused around the eye and temple spreading to the face, teeth, and jaw
- Red, watery eye and runny nose on the painful side
- Headache attacks lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours
The cause is unknown but may involve overactive nerves or problems with blood vessels. Cluster headaches are treatable with medications, oxygen therapy, and nerve blocks during cycles of headache attacks.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Giant cell arteritis is inflammation of large and medium arteries, usually in the head. A common symptom is jaw pain when chewing, along with:
- Headache
- Scalp tenderness
- Jaw pain
- Vision problems like double vision
- Fatigue and weakness
Giant cell arteritis usually affects people over 50. Without treatment, blindness can occur in one or both eyes. High dose steroids like prednisone are used to reduce inflammation.
Parotid Gland Tumors
The parotid glands are the largest salivary glands located on either side of the face between the ears and jaws. Parotid gland tumors can press on facial nerves causing pain. Symptoms may include:
- Lump or swelling on the cheek by the jaw
- Pain in the jaw and ear
- Numbness or paralysis of the face
- Dry mouth
Most parotid gland tumors are benign. Treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor. Pain medication, radiation, or chemotherapy may be used with cancerous tumors.
Ludwig’s Angina
Ludwig’s angina is a serious bacterial mouth infection involving cellulitis in the floor of the mouth. Symptoms include:
- Severe jaw pain
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing
- Fever
- Drooling
- Swollen neck glands
- Raised tongue
It often originates from an infected tooth. Ludwig’s angina can rapidly obstruct breathing. Seeking emergency care for intravenous antibiotics and possible airway management is crucial.
Cervical Arthritis
Arthritis affecting the cervical spine bones in the neck can also cause jaw and facial pain. Cervical arthritis leads to symptoms like:
- Neck stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Headaches
- Pain radiating into the shoulder or arm
- Numbness or weakness in the arm or hand
- Jaw pain with chewing
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are common causes in the neck. Anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and surgery for severe cases help manage symptoms.
Pseudotumor Cerebri
Pseudotumor cerebri involves increased pressure around the brain. Common initial symptoms include headache and jaw pain when chewing. Other symptoms are:
- Vision changes like blurring or double vision
- Pulsatile tinnitus – rhythmic whooshing in the ears
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck and shoulder pain
The cause is often unknown. Treatment involves medications to reduce pressure, optic nerve fenestration surgery, or CSF diversion procedures.
Conclusion
Jaw pain can stem from an array of medical problems. Temporomandibular joint disorders, dental issues, and injuries account for many cases. But serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, and infections can also be sources. Knowing the wide range of potential causes is key to determining if jaw pain is minor or an emergency.
Seeking prompt medical attention for sudden, severe, or persistent jaw pain is always advisable. Thorough evaluation of symptoms and medical history helps identify the correct diagnosis. Based on the cause, treatment can then focus on relieving pain and resolving the underlying condition.