Is Jaw Pain Tooth Related?
Jaw pain can suggest you have a toothache, but the cause could be something else. If you just had a dental procedure, such as a dental crown, it might be affecting your bite alignment. This tiny change increases the strain on your jaw joint. The TMJ joint will become irritated and inflamed from this slight change in position of your mouth. If left untreated, you will be dealing with chronic jaw pain.
A toothache in a molar can radiate pain out to your face, even including the jaw joint, which now makes it feel like you are having jaw pain. If you treat the toothache, it should resolve the jaw pain.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder directly affects the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects your jaw to your skull on both sides of your face. This joint simply allows you to move your mouth. A TMJ disorder happens when this joint somehow becomes irritated and inflamed. The causes of a TMJ disorder can vary. It might be that you suffer from arthritis induced TMJ pain, or the pain might be the result of you grinding or clenching your teeth at night.
Why Does TMJ Pain Cause Tooth Pain?
Because the joint is located so close to so many nerves, muscles, and ligaments, TMJ jaw pain can quickly extend to your face, neck, and head. This radiated pain can become so intense that you do not even consider the pain is coming from the joint. The pain can travel upward, which will then cause pain in your head, ears, or eyes. If the pain radiates down, it will cause pain near your teeth.
Pain from a TMJ disorder can vary dramatically, being either dull, or sharp, or searing, or either sporadic or constant. Some toothache pain can be remarkably similar, which makes you to believe you are suffering from a toothache and not TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder can also irritate certain trigger points. These trigger points are from the muscles becoming contracted and stiff. Less oxygenated blood is reaching the area, which results in more toxins, causing increased tenderness.
How Can You Differentiate Jaw Pain from a Toothache?
If jaw pain and toothache pain happen at the same time, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Look inside your mouth first to try and identify the source of the pain. Check for any cracks, chips, or cavities. If you have an infected tooth, you could see some pus oozing from the tooth. An infected tooth will also have a foul smell, and you might have a bitter taste in your mouth.
If a tooth becomes sensitive to heat or cold, you probably have a cavity. You can try resting your mouth and face and massage the temporomandibular joint on the side with the discomfort. If the pain subsides, it could be TMJ jaw pain.
Jaw pain can easily cause your entire face to hurt, making it uncomfortable to bite, chew and speak. If you are experiencing jaw pain or a toothache, schedule an exam with your dentist. They can quickly diagnose the source of your jaw pain and discomfort.