Is Jaw Pain Tooth Related?
Jaw pain might suggest you have a toothache, but the cause may be something else. If you have recently had a dental procedure, like a dental crown, it could affect your bite alignment. This minuscule change increases the strain on your jaw joint. The TMJ joint can become irritated and inflamed because of this slight change in position of your mouth. If left untreated, this will result in chronic jaw pain.
A throbbing toothache in a molar can radiate pain to your face, including the jaw joint, now making it feel like you are having jaw pain. Treating the toothache should resolve the jaw pain. Of course, the pain might have caused you to clench or grind your teeth, which will leave your jaw sore for a while.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw to your skull on both sides of your face. This joint allows you to open and close your mouth. A TMJ disorder happens when this joint becomes irritated and inflamed. The causes of TMJ disorder can vary. It could be that you suffer from arthritis-induced TMJ pain, or the pain could be from grinding your teeth at night.
TMJ symptoms can range from mild to severe and might include pain in your jaw, an earache, or pain while eating. Sometimes the jaw can lock, which makes it quite difficult to open and close your mouth. If a tooth fractures, in an extreme circumstance and left untreated, it may lead to the need for extraction.
Why Does TMJ Pain Cause Tooth Pain?
Because of the location of the joint close to so many nerves, muscles, and ligaments, TMJ jaw pain can quickly radiate to your face, neck, or head. This radiated pain can be intense enough that you may not even consider the pain is coming from the TMJ. The pain can radiate upward, which will cause pain in your head, ears, or eyes. If the pain radiates downward, it can cause pain near your teeth.
The pain from a TMJ disorder can vary, being dull, sharp, or searing, or either sporadic or constant. Some toothaches can cause a similar pain, which then leads you to believe you are suffering from a toothache instead of TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder can also cause tooth pain by irritating certain trigger points. These trigger points are the result of the muscle becoming contracted and stiff. Now less oxygenated blood reaches the area, which results in more toxins, causing tenderness.
How Can You Differentiate Jaw Pain from a Toothache?
If jaw pain and toothache pain can happen concurrently, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Look inside your mouth first to check for any cracks, chips, or cavities which might be the source of the pain. If you have an infected tooth, you might see pus oozing from the tooth. An infected tooth will also produce a foul smell, and you could have a bitter taste in your mouth.
If a tooth becomes sensitive to heat, cold, or sugar, you probably have a cavity. You can also try resting your mouth and face for a while and massage the temporomandibular joint on the side of the discomfort. If the pain seems to lessen, it may be TMJ jaw pain.
Jaw pain can result in your entire face hurting, making it uncomfortable to bite, chew and even speak. If you think the pain is from a toothache and you want to rule out an infection or a cavity, schedule an exam with your dentist. They can quickly diagnose the source of your jaw pain.