Jaw Pain on One Side – Reasons, Causes, Solutions

Excerpt: Pain can be a frightening thing to experience...

Posted on: June 21, 2022

Jaw Pain On One Side - Causes

Jaw pain is one symptom that can be caused by many different oral issues. If you do have jaw pain, you should resist trying to diagnose it yourself and get professional medical help.

Jaw pain on one side is one of the most common oral issues. Most of the time, jaw pain is caused by some of the following: toothache, sinus infection, ear infection, gum infections, dental abscess, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), bruxism (a clenching and grinding of the teeth), and temporomandibular joint disorder related symptoms. If you are experiencing jaw pain on one side, you should seek professional medical help. However, there are some basic tests that you can do to determine if jaw pain is the problem and some home remedies that you can try to relieve your pain. So whether your jaw pain is mild or severe, don’t hesitate to get help!

Tests that Might Detect Jaw Pain

Jaw pain is a common problem that can be quite debilitating. If left untreated, the pain can spread to the other side of the jaw and cause other health problems. So, what are the possible causes of jaw pain on one side? There are a number of tests your doctor might perform to determine the cause. Some of these tests include an X-ray, MRI, and CT scan. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may prescribe treatments to relieve jaw pain. In some cases, the pain may be caused by a dental problem or disorder, and relief can be achieved through oral surgery or oral hygiene measures. If you’re experiencing jaw pain on one side, it’s important to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. By doing so, you’ll get the appropriate diagnosis and start the process of relief.

TMJ Disorders

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ or TMD) works sort of like a hinge that connects your jaw to the skull. Symptoms in TMJ patients can often include pain, or tenderness in the jaw and surrounding muscles.

Treatments for TMJ Include

Pain and anti-inflammatory medications
Tricyclic antidepressants in low doses
Muscle relaxants
Mouth guards
Physical therapy
Botox or corticosteroid injections
Surgery

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a tissue infection of the sinus or nasal cavities. It can cause pain in the jaw, and face, as well as these symptoms:

Headaches
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Cough
Fever
Trouble smelling or tasting

Treatments For Sinusitis Include

Nasal spray
Antibiotics
Pain relievers
Surgery to remove an infection, diseased tissues, or obstruction

Oral Health Problems

Many oral health problems have pain as an early warning symptom. The pain can, however, be misleading since it can come from different areas and can feel like it’s a sharp, dull, aching, throbbing pain depending on the issue. If you have ongoing pain you should seek help early on, cause it could possibly mean one of these things:

An impacted or abscessed tooth
Infections
Gum disease
Cavities or tooth decay
Wisdom tooth development
Crooked or missing teeth
Jaw abnormalities
Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Pain is usually one of a few or even many symptoms that you may experience. You may experience temporary pain or sensitivity. This type of pain can happen suddenly without reason and may go away equally as fast. If you do have ongoing pain you can do a few things to mitigate your issues:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – These drugs help with swelling and inflammation. Over-the-counter medication can be found at many different stores and is often quite effective at mitigating pain. If you have swelling you can take Ibuprofen or Naproxen. Both these drugs do similar things, Naproxen is slower to act but lasts longer, and Ibuprofen is faster to act but does have a shorter lifespan. Popular brand names for Ibuprofen include Advil and Motrin, for Naproxen you can buy Aleve. It may be good to try both at separate times to see what works for you. You can also buy acetaminophen (Tylenol), Tylenol helps to increase your pain tolerance. Before trying any medication, you should always consult your doctor or dentist.

Injury (Trauma)

Trauma to the side of the face can result in bruises, cuts, swelling, redness, and pain. Minor jaw injuries may heal fine on their own with out treatment, minor would entail no significant cuts, bruises, breaks, or dislocations. To make the healing quicker and easier, it may be advisable to take OTC medication and use a cold compress when you can to reduce swelling.

More serious jaw injuries require surgery to:

Move dislocated jaws back into place
Place metal plates in the damaged bone to help it heal
Wire the jaws shut to keep damaged bones in place during the healing process

When To See A Dentist For Jaw Pain

Talk to a dentist or healthcare provider if your jaw pain doesn’t go away after a few days, or if you experience:

Facial pain or swelling that doesn’t improve after a few days
Worsening pain
Trouble opening or closing the mouth or chewing
A bad taste in the mouth
Sensitive, swollen, red, or bleeding gums

When Is Jaw Pain An Emergency?

Jaw pain isn’t often an emergency situation, however, if you experience the following along with jaw pain, you will want to make an emergency dentist appointment, or if that isn’t an option, call 911.

A high fever
Extreme pain or neck stiffness
Vision changes
Severe facial swelling
Shortness of breath
Redness or swelling around the eyes
Nausea and vomiting
Severe bleeding
Intense pain that goes away, followed by a burst of salty liquid that smells or tastes bad
Pain in the arms or shoulders
Light-headedness or confusion
New, sudden pain

How Do I Diagnose Jaw Pain?

If it is sudden onset jaw pain, it may be very difficult to diagnose on your own. You should never attempt to diagnose your on jaw pain with out the help of a medical professional. A dentist however, has lots of options to diagnose jaw pain, these include:

Asking about your symptoms
Examining the jaw
Listening to and feel the jaw while the mouth closes and opens
Taking X-rays or CT or MRI scans of the jaw, face, and/or neck
Running blood tests
Taking a swab or cultures from the nose and send them away for testing

Home remedies for Jaw Pain

Jaw pain is one of the most common complaints and for good reason! It can be caused by a variety of factors, from toothaches to sinus infections. In cases where the pain is mild or sporadic, many people find that over-the-counter medications work well. However, in cases where the pain is severe or chronic, it’s important to seek medical attention. Additionally, massages may provide relief from neck or head tension. If jaw pain is a problem that’s preventing you from doing your usual activities, try some of the home remedies available for treating jaw pain. Many people find that they work well, so give them a try and see which one works best for you!

Conclusion

Jaw pain is one of the most common health problems that people face. It can be caused by various factors, such as dental issues, arthritis, or a TMJ disorder. In this blog, we have covered the various causes and solutions of jaw pain on one side. Hopefully, this will help you find the right solution for your problem. Keep reading for more helpful information!