According to the World Dental Federation, more than three billion people around the world struggle with oral health diseases. Gum disease is the most common condition affecting 50% of the world population.
Many oral health issues can lead to severe jaw pain. This guide will discuss some of the causes of jaw pain you may or may not know about. Keep reading to learn what they are.
Trauma to Your Face
First on the list of causes of severe jaw pain is trauma. This is one of the most obvious causes of jaw pain that can occur after an accident where you’ve suffered an injury to the face.
If you’ve broken or dislocated your jaw after a fall, you’ll likely feel pain for some time. If this is the case, you should seek medical attention right away.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
TMJ occurs when there’s a problem with the muscles that move the joints in your lower jaw and your teeth. Besides experiencing jaw pain, you might also struggle with headaches and stiffness in your jaw. You may also hear the joints in your jaw popping.
Severe jaw pain treatment, when it relates to TMJ, can vary. Some treatment options include taking anti-inflammatory medications or steroids. At-home care includes warm compresses and exercises to stretch your jaw.
Go online and search TMJ surgeon near me to get more information about your treatment options.
Teeth Grinding
If you woke up with severe jaw pain this morning, it might be caused by teeth grinding. You might not be aware that you’re grinding your teeth while you sleep or when you’re stressed. A visit to a dental health professional will help you determine if this is the case for you.
Teeth grinding will cause jaw pain and damage your teeth at the same time. The long-term effects can be severe, so it’s important to take care of the issue as soon as you discover it.
Cavities Can Cause Jaw Pain
If you’re experiencing severe jaw pain on one side, you might be dealing with a cavity. If you’ve left a cavity untreated for a long time, you could experience jaw pain.
Jaw pain will occur when the untreated tooth decay gets so severe that the root gets an infection. Avoid this issue by going in for a dental cleaning every six months.
Gum Disease Can Cause It Too
Severe pain in your jaw can also be caused by gum disease. Like untreated tooth decay, gum disease will spread throughout your gum tissue and cause jaw pain. The more severe your gum disease, the more severe your jaw pain may get.
Learn More About These Causes of Severe Jaw Pain
There are many causes of severe jaw pain. The most common include untreated dental health issues like cavities or gum disease. If you have TMJ, you’ll also experience jaw pain.
Check out some of the other health blogs on our site to learn about other dental health issues and treatment options.
