What May be Causing Your Jaw Pain

Do you experience headaches or facial pain? It might be tempting to just take some aspirin and hope that the issue goes away on its own, but it will not always do that. And you may not even realize that the issue has to do with your mouth. Problems with the joints in your jaw can lead to persistent and irritating headaches that can seriously debilitate your day-to-day life. If you experience frequent headaches, let your dentist know so that certain oral structures can be examined.

A common cause of painful headaches is a disorder with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This is the joint that allows you to open and close your mouth, and sometimes, it can become damaged to the point where it does not function properly. Grinding your teeth or experiencing a physical injury to the face can create problems within this joint. There are various treatments available for treating this joint, so talk to your dentist to see what course of action should be taken to alleviate any facial pain.

Something else that might be creating pain in the jaw is poor posture. Your mother may have been on to something when she was always telling you to stand up straight. Studies have shown that poor posture creates unnecessary stress to the jaw joint because the lower jaw shifts forward, causing the upper and lower teeth to not fit together properly. This movement places stress on the joints, muscles, and bones. Talk to your dentist about the best treatments for your needs.