Why Your Jaw Feels Sore — And What to Do About It

Are you struggling with persistent jaw pain? Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to vanish unless you get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. 

Here at Pioneer Dental Group in Norwalk, California, our experienced dentist, Dr. Behzad Binafard, provides both. Today on the blog, we’re exploring the most common causes of jaw soreness and discussing the solutions that offer relief. 

TMJ disorders: A leading cause of jaw pain 

Temporomandibular jaw (TMJ) disorders, often called TMJ, affect up to 12% of American adults. TMJ is the most common cause of non-dental jaw pain. 

This condition affects the temporomandibular joints, the “hinges” that connect your jawbone and skull. When the joint or its surrounding  muscles become inflamed or misaligned, it can lead to symptoms including: 

• Jaw soreness and pain
• Clicking sounds when you open your mouth
• Difficulty moving your jaw
• Headaches

Stress, arthritis, injury, or teeth grinding can worsen TMJ symptoms. Poor denture fit can also contribute. When dentures don’t fit properly, your bite can become misaligned, straining the jaw joints.

Treatment for TMJ disorders often includes eating soft foods, applying hot or cold compresses, and using anti-inflammatory medications. 

Dr. Binafard may also recommend other measures, based on the root cause of your TMJ disorder, such as a custom mouthguard, swapping dentures for dental implants, or a denture relining. 

Tooth abscess 

Jaw pain can start with an abscess — a bacterial  infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and the tooth. An abscess can quickly spread if untreated, moving into the jawbone, neck, and beyond. 

The sooner you address an abscess, the better. Dr. Binafard can treat the infection, drain the abscess, perform root canal therapy, or extract the tooth to correct the problem and stop your pain. 

Bruxism

Bruxism (teeth grinding), as mentioned above, can contribute to TMJ disorders. But, even if it doesn’t cause TMJ, it can still have serious consequences for your oral health. When you grind your teeth, your jaw muscles work overtime. This can lead to serious enamel erosion and jaw pain. 

Dr. Binafard recommends customized solutions for bruxism, such as custom-fitted mouthguards to stop the grinding and ease jaw pain and dental crowns to protect your teeth from further damage. 

Preventing jaw soreness before it starts

The best treatment of all is prevention, so Dr. Binafard gives you some tips and tricks to help you avoid jaw soreness in the future. Some common recommendations include keeping up with regular dental appointments, wearing a mouthguard during sports, and managing your stress levels. 

If your jaw hurts, your body’s trying to tell you that there’s a problem. Don’t wait to get relief. Call our office at 562-684-6179 or request your consultation online today.