Jaw Pain
Problems with the jaw joint are often called jaw joint dysfunction or temporomandibular disorder (TMD). They can cause pain and affect how well your jaw joint works. Females tend to develop these jaw conditions more often than males and can affect people of all ages, however those between 20 and 40 are commonly affected.
The medical name for your lower jaw is the mandible and the joint is called the temporomandibular joint. So these jaw joint problems are also called temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The jaw joint allows your jaw bone to move from side to side, backwards and forwards, and to open and close your mouth. It’s one of the most complicated joints in your body and has several muscles and ligaments allowing different movements. Because it’s so complicated, there are several different problems you may have with your jaw joint.
Your symptoms may include:
- Pain around your jaw, cheek, ear, neck, shoulders or back.
- Restricted movement, making it difficult to chew – you might feel as ifyou have a locked jaw, or you may not be able to close your mouth.
- Popping, grating or clicking sounds, when you move your jaw.
- Headaches
- Your bite (when you put your teeth together) not feeling right
Not everyone has pain when they have jaw joint problems. Some people just have clicking and difficulty opening their mouth. If you do have pain, you may find that it gets worse as the day goes on. Symptoms may also get worse when you chew, or if you’re feeling stressed. You may be able to manage these symptoms at home and they often get better on their own within a few months however if they persist it is best you consult with your dentist.
At High Locks during an assessment one of our dentists will enquire about your symptoms including:
- Examining your head, neck, face and jaw to see if you have any tenderness.
- They may ask you to move your jaw in all directions too. This can help them to see how well you can move your jaw, and whether it’s painful or makes clicking noises when you move it.
- They will also want to look inside your mouth to see if you have any problems with your teeth or gums.
- Your dentist will also ask you whether anything triggers your jaw problems, such as chewing or yawning.
- They will also check whether you grind your teeth or bite your nails, as both of these can cause jaw problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Diagnosis is usually made after examining you and asking about your symptoms. Tests don’t usually help, but they can be useful in some cases; for example, to see if part of your jaw joint is out of place or whether arthritis is causing your problems. Your dentist might refer you to see a specialist doctor, such as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
You may have one or more of the following tests.
- Anx-ray.
- Acomputed tomography (CT) scan.
- Amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
- Anultrasound scan.
Because the jaw joint is so complicated, there are lots of possible causes of jaw problems, with many people having more than one cause at the same time. They may be triggered if you injure your jaw during more complex dental treatment (such as having your wisdom teeth removed), knock your chin or overstretch when yawning. Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth (bruxism) may cause jaw joint problems.
But lots of people with jaw joint problems don’t grind their teeth, and many people who do grind their teeth don’t have jaw joint problems. Another cause is disc displacement which means that the articular disc is in the wrong position. This is a thin disc inside your jaw joint. This can happen if you dislocate or injure your jaw. You might hear noises when you move your jaw, such as clicking, grating or popping. Osteoarthritis is more common in your knees, hips and hands but it can affect your jaw joint too and wear it down.
Jaw joint problems will often get better within three to six months and don’t usually cause any complications. Resting your jaw joint may help to relieve your symptoms. Here are some tips.
- Eat soft foods so you don’t have to chew food for too long.
- Don’t yawn widely, chew gum, chew pens or pencils, or bite your nails.
- Try to stop any habits such as clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth.
- Try to reduce stress if you can, as this can make jaw clenching or teeth grinding worse. You might find relaxation techniques helpful.
- Massage the muscles around your jaw.
- Put a heat pad or a hot water bottle (filled with warm, not boiling, water) wrapped in a cloth or towel on your jaw.
- You may find that over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol ibuprofen, help to ease your pain.
If your dentist thinks you’re clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth when you’re asleep, they may suggest you wear a bite guard (bite splint). This is a plastic cover that fits over your upper or lower teeth and stops them coming into contact with each other. There’s some evidence that physiotherapy may help to improve symptoms for some people. Some research has suggested that exercises and massage may help to treat jaw joint problems. Self-help measures, medicines and non-surgical treatments will probably ease your discomfort and relieve your symptoms. Most jaw joint problems don’t last long and won’t get worse.
If your condition doesn’t start to improve within three months, your dentist may refer you to see a specialist. This could be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or an ear, nose and throat specialist. Your specialist may suggest surgery if you have severe pain and your jaw joint is causing you significant problems. Only a small number of people have surgery. Usually, you’ll only be offered this if you’ve tried other treatments and they haven’t worked.