If you have pain in any part of your body, it can be frustrating and alarming. It can be difficult to know the severity and what you should do to get some relief. If you’re experiencing pain on one side of your jaw, there are numerous reasons why this could be happening. Many times, this isn’t a serious issue, but you should know when to seek help. Continue reading to learn about some of the reasons why you may be experiencing one-sided jaw pain.
Common Reasons for Jaw Pain
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
This type of disorder affects the joint that connects your skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint and helps it to move around properly. If the disc becomes misaligned or the joint is damaged in some way, you could experience pain and other symptoms on one or both sides of your jaw. Other symptoms include tenderness around the jaw, earaches, clicking or popping when chewing or opening the mouth, and difficulty opening and closing your mouth if the joint jocks.
Sinusitis
Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause you to develop sinusitis. This tends to happen if you’ve had a cold, but allergies and other medical conditions can also contribute. If the sinus cavities behind the cheeks become inflamed, you may feel pain in one or both sides of your jaw. Other symptoms include nasal congestion, yellow or green mucus, facial pain, pressure in your ears and head, fatigue, and difficulty smelling or tasting.
Dental Issues
If you have pain on one side of your jaw, this can be traced back to your teeth and gums. Dental issues that can cause jaw pain include tooth decay, tooth abscesses, impacted wisdom teeth, gum disease, misaligned teeth, and bruxism. If a dental issue is a reason behind your jaw pain, you may also be experiencing some of the following:
- Tooth pain
- Sensitive teeth
- Bleeding
- Gum irritation
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Pain when chewing
Other Causes of Jaw Pain
Here are some of the less common causes of jaw pain:
Trigeminal Neuralgia
This condition generally results from abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve. This can prevent this nerve from functioning properly and lead to severe pain. An injury or brain abnormality can cause this rare condition. It is most common in women and people over the age of 50. The most common symptom is severe pain on one side of the face.
Osteomyelitis
This is a rare, serious type of bone infection that develops when bacteria enter the bone. The jawbone can become at risk after dental surgery, when you have a serious dental issue, or your mouth is injured. Conditions that affect your immune health can also increase your risk. If this is the case prompt treatment with antibiotics can prevent serious medical complications. Other symptoms include fever, swelling of the jaw, redness, halitosis, and numbness.
Tumors and Cysts
A tumor is a mass of tissue while a cyst is a mass of fluid. Both can cause pain in your jaw, but they are uncommon. A lot of the time, they aren’t cancerous, but they still have an impact on your oral health. They may grow quickly and move your teeth out of place. This can typically be detected during your routine dental X-rays.
Jaw pain isn’t usually concerning, but you should definitely bring it up with your dentist. This way, you can get to the root of the problem and work towards relief!