Are you having trouble eating what you want because of a recurring pain in your jaw? Is speaking suddenly an uncomfortable or difficult task? Jaw pain in Las Vegas can be irritating at best and downright debilitating at worst, and oftentimes the symptoms only become more severe when ignored. To find relief, you need to consider all the possibilities before seeking the appropriate type of treatment. Here are 5 reasons why your jaw might have started to hurt – as well as what you need to do about it.
1. TMJ Disorder
Most jaw pain is connected to a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). This condition occurs whenever the joints that connect the lower jaw to the rest of the head are stressed or injured in some way. Possible reasons for a TMD include a physical blow to the face, grinding your teeth at night, habitually clenching your teeth whenever you become anxious, arthritis, and a displaced disc in the joint. If you have a TMD, your jaw pain might be accompanied by clicking sounds whenever you open and close your mouth, difficulty opening your jaw, and aches in your ear or head. Get in touch with a dentist in Las Vegas as soon as you can; they can help diagnose your disorder and treat it with an oral appliance or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Depending on the circumstances, they might also recommend stretching exercises that you can do at home.
2. Cluster Headaches
Sometimes the source of your jaw pain is actually from another part of your head. The pain that occurs around the eyes during a cluster headache can reach the jaw. Cluster headaches don’t have a cure, but oxygen therapy and other treatment options can make them occur less often.
3. Sinus Problems
Because the sinus cavities are near the jaw joints, any condition that causes an excess of mucus could result in jaw-related pressure and pain. Naturally, treating a sinus problem should also help reduce jaw pain.
4. A Dental Abscess
An infection in the tooth can cause a pocket of pus called an abscess to form. The pain associated with this pocket can reach the jaw. Get in touch with your dentist immediately to have the infection treated quickly before it spreads further.
5. Heart Attack
In extreme cases, jaw pain could be a symptom of an imminent heart attack. Women are especially likely to notice such discomfort on the left of their faces. If you have jaw pain and also notice shortness of breath, nausea, or chest discomfort, call 911 right away.
You can manage jaw pain with ice packs or over-the-counter pain relievers, but these are often just temporary fixes. TMD and other conditions typically only get better once they’ve been properly diagnosed and addressed. Get in touch with your dentist as soon as you can so that you can start living pain-free again.
About the Author
Dr. Pamela West has established herself as a “Top Dentist” in Greater Las Vegas ever since she graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Thanks to her extensive training in TMJ therapy, she can offer oral appliances and other forms of treatment to soothe pain in the jaw joints. To schedule an appointment at her practice, iSleepSolutions & TMJ Pain Therapy, visit her website or call (702) 602-2000.