What Does Jaw Discomfort Mean?
Do you often experience discomfort in your jaw? Does your jaw feel uncomfortable after eating a big meal or after speaking for a long time? There could be a number of reasons your jaw might be giving you trouble. It is not uncommon to have discomfort in your jaw from time to time; however, if it happens frequently, it can be cause for concern. Frequent jaw tenderness or discomfort is a warning sign that there is something more severe happening in your mouth.
Common Causes of Jaw Discomfort
There are numerous reasons your jaw might be aching. The more common reasons include:
TMD
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, is a common condition that affects the jaw muscles and jawbone. Symptoms can come on suddenly or can progress over time. Besides jaw tenderness, other symptoms include:
- The inability to open your mouth wide
- Clicking when you open or close your mouth
- Jaw becomes locked or frozen in place when open
Trauma to the Face
If you or a loved one have recently been in an accident or perhaps play a contact sport such as wrestling or football, it is not uncommon to experience jaw tenderness after practice or competing. It could be something as simple as a bruise, or it could be an indication that you suffered a larger injury to your jawbone or one of your teeth. If the area is extremely uncomfortable for more than a few days, we would recommend scheduling an appointment at our office to check for serious issues.
Dental Condition
If you have not visited our office in quite some time or have delayed a dental treatment, it is possible your jaw discomfort may be due to a dental issue. A cracked tooth, cavity, gum disease, or infection such as an abscess can all cause jaw discomfort.
We don’t want any of our patients to experience discomfort. So, if you feel any discomfort in your jaw or teeth, please call our office located in Canandaigua, NY as soon as possible. We can help you determine if your issue needs to be checked out immediately or if you can monitor your symptoms on your own.
