What is the Reason for Jaw Pain?

Some may have already experienced pain in the jaw opening the mouth, but what is the reason behind the phenomenon? In reality there are several causes that can cause this phenomenon and the malfunction of the jaw (temporomandibular joint) can sometimes cause pain, in addition to other symptoms. Therefore, if you suffer from discomfort in this area, it is possible that you are suffering from some kind of ailment in the joint. Given the diversity of triggers that can cause jaw pain, the most important thing is to get in touch quickly with a TMJ dentist so they can assess the causes of this pain and provide appropriate treatment.

The main pathologies related to jaw pain are the following:

* Arthritis
* Arthrosis
* Heart attack
* Bruxism
* Cavities
* Temporomandibular disorder or dysfunction
* Hypercholesterolemia (High Cholesterol)
* Gingivitis
* Heart attack
* Ear infection
* Periodontitis
* Mumps
* Polymyalgia rheumatica
* Pulpitis
* Multiple sclerosis
* Sinusitis
* Tetanus
* Salivary gland tumor
* Trauma

Jaw pain opening mouth: what it is and the different types

First of all let's see what the TMJ is or the temporomandibular joint. This is the double joint that allows the jaw to move and is located in front of the ear and on each side of the head. It is guided by five pairs of muscles that create its movements. It is a joint that we often use because it is essential when talking, chewing, swallowing or yawning. If this joint works well it is perfect, but if it begins to have some difficulties, associated symptoms appear of great importance for our daily life and which must be corrected. There are several types of jaw opening mouth pain. The most common are:
* Sharp pain when opening the mouth.
* Tension in the jaw muscles that prevent you from opening your mouth properly.
* Soreness of the jaw and dental arches (especially in the presence of bruxism).

Jaw pain opening mouth and chewing: causes and symptoms

Now let's see together what the most common symptoms are when you experience a pain in the jaw when opening the mouth:
* Headache and pain in the upper jaw.
* Difficulty opening your mouth.
* Pain when eating, yawning and even talking.
* Joint noises.
* Pain in the jaw but also in other areas such as the ear, neck or back.
* Grinding and clenching of the teeth, especially while we sleep (bruxism).

If you notice any joint noises, the specialist to go to is the dentist who has knowledge of TMJ. It may be that you have only noticed those noises with no further symptoms, and that you have not experienced any pain in that area, but even so, you should go to the TMJ specialist. These noises are significant that something is happening in your joint and it is important to know why they occur and to prevent possible subsequent damage.

Dental sensitivity can sometimes be felt. It may be because you grind or clench your teeth together during sleep and this causes wear and tear on the enamel. When drinking cold drinks, brushing your teeth, or breathing through your mouth, this could cause a sharp pain discharge due to tooth sensitivity. Sometimes the teeth are simply clenched, without grinding, and even so you can experience sensitivity in the teeth due to overload, which can crack the enamel or even break the teeth.

If you are unable to open your mouth, there are two possible causes of this difficulty:

* Muscle cause: the muscles are very contracted and it is not possible to open the mouth at all, and forcing the opening is painful. In this case you should go to the TMJ specialist and probably also to the physiotherapist.

* Joint cause: You have a problem in the joint, it would be possible that the bones that are part of it are not well positioned.

 

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