Sudden jaw pain can be a perplexing and uncomfortable experience, potentially stemming from a variety of causes. It’s crucial to understand the different factors that could be contributing to this discomfort.
One common cause is Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), a group of conditions affecting the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement. TMD can lead to discomfort or soreness, especially noticeable in the morning or late afternoon, along with headaches, pain spreading behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, neck, or back, earaches, ringing in the ears, clicking or popping of the jaw, locking of the jaw, and limited mouth motions. Learn more about TMD from University of Rochester Medical Center.
Prescription drugs might also cause adverse effects in the jaw. Certain medications can lead to complications like osteonecrosis, particularly in the jaw due to its high bone turnover from chewing. Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) predominantly affects the lower jaw (60%) and the upper jaw (40%). For further details, visit Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Earbuds, while convenient, can potentially cause ear infections, indirectly affecting the jaw area. Continuous use without breaks can increase the risk of infections and irritation. To avoid this, it’s recommended to take breaks of at least five to ten minutes every hour. More information is available at RUSH.
Poststreptococcal Inflammatory Syndromes, occurring after a strep infection, can cause several symptoms including arthritis, rashes, nodules, chorea, and heart disease, which might also manifest as jaw pain. For more details, check Hospital for Special Surgery.
Salivary gland infections can lead to redness, inflammation along the jaw, neck, near the ears, and pain during eating. These symptoms may be confused with other jaw-related issues. Detailed information can be found at UC Irvine Medical Center.
Excessive chewing can also cause jaw pain, as noted by the University of Utah Health. This pain is often related to issues with the jaw joint.
It’s important to distinguish between sinus infections, COVID-19, and jaw pain, as overlapping symptoms like loss of sense of smell, facial pain/pressure, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath can occur. Ohio State Health & Discovery provides insights into this topic.
Lastly, people with diabetes may develop facial neuralgias, and jaw pain could be a symptom of coronary artery disease, typically accompanied by chest pain or pressure and shortness of breath. Temporal arteritis is another potential cause of sudden jaw pain.
For more comprehensive information, visit Harvard Health.
