Experiencing a sharp pain or a dull throb? Maybe you hear a clicking or popping sound in the jaw joints of your face. Either way, it is no fun. You could take a pain reliever or apply a warm compress, but these are only temporary solutions. A good long-term solution: discovering the root of the pain.

Make sure you consult with your dentist or oral surgeon and have them conduct a thorough exam. This may include having dental X-rays done, a CAT scan, and sometimes even blood work. However, figuring out if it’s a dental origin of pain should always be ruled out before blood work happens. Here are some possible causes of jaw pain.

Stress

When the body is dealing with stress, it automatically tenses your muscles (in preparation for fight or flight). When you’re dealing with very taxing stress, the muscles, especially around your jaws, can’t relax. This can cause bruxism (teeth grinding) and jaw clenching. There are a number of stress relief techniques like meditation, yoga, and exercise. These all reduce stress that leads to teeth grinding and jaw clenching, thus relieving jaw pain.

Overusing Your Teeth

Your diet and the foods you eat have a huge impact on your jaws! For instance, if you eat a lot of chewy treats, like bagels, dry meat, taffies, gummies, gum, etc. can overwork your jaw muscles, leading to soreness. Taking large bites of food can also overextend your jaw, which further strains the muscles. So limit the number of problematic foods. You’ll definitely begin to experience fewer jaw aches.

TMJ Disorder

Your jaws are made up of a complex system of nerves, bone, muscles, and cartilage. If something is wrong with that system, it results in TMJ disorder. The disorder has many symptoms, including but not limited to: jaw pain, pain in the neck, head, or shoulder, ringing ears, and popping/clicking noises in the jaw. TMJ can also be caused or made worse by bruxism. It also might happen because of bite problems (the top and bottom jaw are uneven), rheumatoid arthritis, and previous injuries to the mouth or jaw.

There are many causes of jaw pain. Just remember, you have to figure out the source, not just treat the symptoms. So make sure you seek professional help and consult your dentist. If your dentist is involved early and diagnoses the problem, they can develop the best treatment plan for you.