Jaw pain: what it can be and how to treat it

There are several causes that may be the cause of pain in the jaw, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, dental problems, sinusitis, bruxism, osteomyelitis or even neuropathic pain.

In addition to pain, these changes can also cause other symptoms that can help identify the cause, so that a diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be made.

The most common changes that cause jaw pain are:

1. Temporomandibular dysfunction

This syndrome is caused by a disorder in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is responsible for uniting the jaw to the skull, causing discomfort in the face and jaw region, persistent headache, earache, crackles when opening the mouth or even feeling of dizziness and tinnitus.

The most common causes of temporomandibular dysfunction are to clench your teeth while sleeping, to have suffered a blow to the region or to bite nails, for example. Learn more about this issue.

How the treatment is done: it consists of placing a rigid plate that covers the teeth to sleep, undergoing physical therapy, taking analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs in the acute phase, relaxation techniques, laser therapy or surgery. See each of these treatments in detail.

2. Cluster headache

Cluster headache is a rare disease that is characterized by a very severe headache, which affects only one side of the face, and can also cause redness, watering and pain in the eye on the same side of the pain, which can radiate throughout the face., including the ear and jaw. Learn more about cluster headache.

How the treatment is done: it can be done with medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and the use of a 100% oxygen mask, administered in times of crisis. In addition, reducing consumption of foods such as sausages and bacon, which are rich in nitrates and can make pain worse, can help prevent a crisis from triggering.

3. Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that causes symptoms such as headache, runny nose and a feeling of heaviness on the face, especially on the forehead and cheekbones, as it is in these places that the sinuses are located. Learn how to identify this disease.

How the treatment is carried out: it should be guided by a general practitioner or otolaryngologist, who can recommend the use of nasal sprays, analgesics, oral corticosteroids or antibiotics, for example.

4. Dental problems

Other factors that can cause pain in the jaw are the presence of a dental problem such as gum disease, abscesses or cavities that usually cause severe pain at the site of the problem that can radiate to the jaw.

How the treatment is done: it depends on the dental problem that is the source of the pain, so the ideal is to go to the doctor who can prescribe medication for pain and inflammation or antibiotics or even resort to a dental procedure.

5. Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a severe facial pain that occurs due to a dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve, responsible for the transport of sensitive information from the face to the brain and controls the muscles involved in chewing. This disease causes symptoms such as severe pain in any lower region of the face.

How the treatment is done: it is done with analgesic remedies like paracetamol or dipyrone, anticonvulsants like carbamazepine or gabapentin, muscle relaxants like diazepam or baclofen or antidepressants like amitriptyline. In addition, it may also be necessary to resort to surgery. Learn more about treatment.

6. Bruxism

Bruxism is the unconscious act of clenching or grinding your teeth constantly, which can occur both during the day and during the night, causing symptoms such as wear on the surface of the teeth, pain when chewing and opening your mouth and jaw joints, head when waking up or even tiredness. Here's what to do to control bruxism.

How the treatment is done: it is done with relaxation sessions, as this condition can be caused by excessive anxiety, and with the use of a dental protection plate, which must be placed between the teeth to sleep.

7. Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain results from an injury to the nervous system that can be caused by infections like herpes or diseases like diabetes, or result from a dysfunction of the nervous system. The most common symptoms that can occur in neuropathic pain are pain that can be accompanied by edema and increased sweating, changes in blood flow at the site or changes in tissues, such as atrophy or osteoporosis.

How the treatment is done: it consists of the use of anticonvulsant medications such as carbamazepine or gabapentin, centrally acting analgesics such as tramadol and tapentadol or even antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline, which in addition to relieving pain, also act in depression that it is very common in people with chronic pain.

In addition, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and electrical and thermal stimuli that improve physical function and help the person gain functionality can also be used. In more severe cases of neuropathic pain, it may be necessary to resort to surgery.

8. Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that can be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. This infection can happen through direct contamination of the bone, through a deep cut, fracture or implant of a prosthesis or through the blood circulation, during the course of an infectious disease, such as an abscess, endocarditis or tuberculosis, for example. Learn how to identify osteomyelitis.

The most common symptoms that can occur in this disease are severe bone pain, swelling, redness and heat in the affected area, fever, chills and difficulty in moving the affected area.

How the treatment is done: it can be treated with the use of antibiotics with high doses and for a long time. Surgery may also be indicated in some cases to remove dead tissue and facilitate recovery.