Jaw pain often is an indication you have a toothache, but the cause could be something else. If you just recently had a crown placed on a tooth, it might be affecting your bite alignment. This slight change can create additional strain on your jaw joint. The TMJ joint will then become inflamed and irritated from this minor change in alignment. If you leave the alignment untreated, you can develop chronic jaw pain.
A toothache with a back molar can radiate pain into your cheek, including the jaw joint, which now feels like you are experiencing jaw pain. If you have your dentist treat the toothache correctly, it should get rid of the jaw pain.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ problem is related to the temporomandibular joint, which connects your skull to your jaw on both sides of your face. This joint allows you to move your mouth. A TMJ disorder is most often the result of this joint becoming inflamed and irritated. There are a variety of causes for TMJ disorder. It might be that you are developing arthritis induced TMJ pain, or the pain may very well be from you clenching and your teeth while you sleep.
Why Does TMJ Pain Cause Tooth Pain?
The TMJ joint is in close proximity to quite a few nerves, ligaments, and muscles, so any jaw pain can quickly spread to your face, neck, and head. As the pain radiates and increases in intensity, you no longer even consider the source of the pain can be the joint. The pain can extend upward, causing discomfort or pain in your ears, eyes, or your head. If the pain radiates down, it can cause pain around your teeth.
The discomfort or pain from a TMJ disorder can be quite volatile, being either sharp or dull, or torrid, or sporadic or continuous. Toothache pain can be similar, which makes you believe that you are suffering from a toothache and not TMJ disorder. The TMJ disorder will also irritate different trigger points. These trigger points are when the jaw muscles become stiff and contracted. Tenderness will increase from less oxygenated blood reaching the area, creating more toxins.
How Can You Tell the Difference in Jaw Pain from a Toothache?
If jaw pain and toothache pain occur simultaneously, it can be difficult to tell them apart. First attempt to identify the source by looking inside your mouth. Look for a tooth with a cavity, a crack, or a chip. If you do indeed have an infected tooth, you may see some pus oozing from around the tooth. An infected tooth will also create a foul smell, and you might notice a nasty taste in your mouth.
If the tooth has become sensitive to hot or cold, you probably have a cavity. Try resting your mouth and gently massage the temporomandibular joint on the side of your face with the discomfort. If the jaw pain subsides, it could be from the TMJ joint.
Jaw pain can easily extend, causing your entire face to hurt, making it uncomfortable to bite, chew or speak. Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you are experiencing either jaw pain or a toothache. They can identify the source of your jaw pain discomfort and treat the issue properly.