Jaw pain can arise due to several reasons. Jaw pain inhibits smiling, eating
and speaking, as the jaw muscles tighten and grip the jaw in place for
protection. Sometimes due to headaches, face pain, jaw clicking pain in jaw can
occur. Around 40% of people are affected by this problem at some point in their
life.
TMJD or TMD (Temporomandibular joint disorder), is an inflammation of the
temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) that attaches the lower jaw to the skull.
TMD is the most common problem that affects jaw joint. Pain can occur from any
one of the surrounding soft tissues: the discal ligaments, the capsular
ligaments, and the retrodiscal tissue. The common causes of TMD are teeth
grinding and clenching that you usually do at night while sleeping or when
feeling stressed.
Disorders of the muscles of the temporomandibular joint are the most common
complaints by TMD patients. Pain and dysfunction are the two most common
observations concerning the joints and muscles. Temporomandibular joint is
located close to ear, so pain in jaw can be expressed as ear pain.
Swelling on the side of the face, chewing problems, limited movement, headache,
are some of the common symptoms assciated with pain.
Other common causes of jaw pain are:-
Small bony growths around the joint may cause pain in jaw.
Severe injury in the jaw may cause jaw pain.
Any fracture in the bones of joint may cause jaw pain.
Older people may get pain in their jaw joint due to arthritis, when the joint
becomes worn with age.
Any problem with jaw alignment may cause jaw pain.
Inflammation of the joints can cause constant pain, even without movement of the
jaw.
Diseases such as Parkinson's disease can lead to uncontrollable jaw movements,
may also be contribute to jaw pain.
Other factors such as jaw cyst, tumor, toothache, migraine may cause pain in
jaw.
Treatment:-
The proper treatment depends on the exact cause. Some common treatment options
include pain killers, surgery, injection, ice pack, heat pad, jaw exercises;
will help you to reduce jaw pain.