Causes and What You Can Do About It

You can experience jaw pain and tenderness due to joint damage, infection, or a toothache, among other causes. The other symptoms you have may help pinpoint the cause.

Sudden jaw pain is typically not serious. But if it occurs with other concerning symptoms, such as chest pain or a high fever, it may be an early indicator of a more serious health condition, such as a heart attack.

Here, we’ll go over some of the main causes, other symptoms to look for, and might be time to see a doctor or dentist.

You might worry about dental issues such as a cavity or abscessed tooth or wonder if you’ve been grinding your teeth at night.

Here’s a look at some common causes of jaw pain.

1. TMJ disorders

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the joint that connects your skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint and helps it move properly. If the disc becomes misaligned or the joint is damaged, you may experience pain on one or both sides of your jaw.

Other symptoms of TMJ disorders can include:

• tenderness around your jaw
• earache
• pain, clicking, or popping when chewing or opening your mouth
• difficulty opening and closing your mouth if the joint locks

Multiple factors can contribute to TMJ disorders, so it’s not always easy to find a specific cause.

Issues known to play a part in TMJ disorders can include:

• arthritis
• teeth clenching or grinding
• tissue damage
• tooth damage or misalignment
• jaw infection or injury
• damage to the cartilage in the joint

If you have symptoms of a TMJ disorder, a healthcare professional or dentist can help figure out the underlying cause.

2. Sinusitis

Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause sinusitis. This tends to happen if you’ve had a cold, but allergies and other medical conditions can also contribute to sinusitis.

If the sinus cavities behind your cheeks, known as the maxillary sinuses, are inflamed, you might feel pain in one or both sides of your jaw.

Other symptoms of sinusitis can include:

• nasal congestion that makes it hard to breathe through your nose
• yellow or green mucus that drains from your nose or into your throat (post nasal drip)
• facial pain, pressure, and swelling
• pressure and pain in your ears and head
• fatigue
• difficulty smelling or tasting

Sinusitis often clears up on its own, but it may be worth checking in with a healthcare professional if lasts more than a week.

3. Dental problems

Pain on one side of your jaw can often be traced to dental or oral health concerns.

Common dental problems that cause jaw pain include:

• cavities
• an abscessed tooth
• growth of wisdom teeth
• gum disease or tooth decay
• missing or misaligned teeth
• tooth grinding or clenching

If dental issues are to blame, you’ll likely have additional symptoms, such as:

• tooth pain that lingers or comes and goes
• sensitive teeth
• painful, bleeding gums
• sores in your mouth
• bad breath or persistent dry mouth
• pain when chewing or swallowing

Facial swelling and fever along with severe tooth pain may indicate an abscess. You may want to contact a dentist or healthcare professional right away for these symptoms, especially if breathing and swallowing become difficult.

While uncommon, rare issues may lead to pain on one side of your jaw. If there isn’t a clear reason for your pain, a healthcare professional may want to rule out these causes.

4. Heart attack

Generally, jaw pain on one side isn’t cause for immediate concern. But in rare cases, it can be an early sign of a heart attack. In this case, you may feel it spreading from your chest to your jaw.

Anyone can experience this symptom, but it does occur more commonly in women, according to the American Heart Association.

If you’re having a heart attack, you’ll likely have some other signs along with jaw pain, including:

• pressure or pain in your chest that goes away when you rest but keeps coming back
• tightness, pain, and pressure in your chest and arms, which can spread to your jaw, neck, back, and stomach
• heartburn or indigestion
• shortness of breath
• nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain
• extreme tiredness
• dizziness and lightheadedness
• sudden cold sweats

These symptoms can develop suddenly or come on slowly, over several hours or days. If your jaw pain is accompanied by some of these symptoms, you may need emergency treatment.

5. Trigeminal neuralgia

This chronic condition generally results from abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve. This pressure can prevent the nerve from functioning properly, leading to severe pain. An injury or brain abnormality can also cause the condition.

Trigeminal neuralgia is most common in females and people above the age of 50. The primary symptom is severe pain that usually occurs on one side of your face.

This pain may:

• occur when you touch your face or move facial muscles, even minimally
• produce shooting, jabbing, or shock-like sensations
• feel like a constant ache or burn
• cause twitching in your face
• occur in episodes that last for seconds or minutes
• occur in your lower jaw, cheek, or mouth
• become more severe over time

Pain is often brief but excruciating. It may not respond to over-the-counter medications, but a healthcare professional can recommend other treatments, including prescription medication.

6. Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an uncommon but serious type of bone infection that develops when bacteria enter the bone.

Your jawbone could become infected after dental surgery, if you have a serious dental health issue, or if your mouth is injured in some way. Conditions that affect your immune health can also increase your risk.

This infection can spread and cause bone death. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications, so it’s important to get medical care if you have:

• worsening pain in your jaw
• fever
• swelling or tenderness in your teeth or jaw
• redness or warmth at the painful area
• tiredness or fatigue
• bad breath
• trouble opening and closing your mouth due to pain and swelling
• numbness in your jaw, lips, or mouth

7. Tumors and cysts

These two types of growths differ. Tumors are masses of tissue and cysts generally contain fluid. Either can cause pain in your jaw, though both are somewhat rare.

Often, they aren’t cancerous, but they can still have an impact on oral health. They may grow quickly, causing your teeth to move out of place and destroying bone and tissue in your jaw and mouth.

Some of the more common tumors and cysts include that can affect your mouth include:

• ameloblastoma
• dentigerous cysts
• odontoma

Not all cysts or tumors cause symptoms, but you could experience the following, along with persistent pain in your jaw:

• red or white patches in your mouth
• open or bleeding sores
• a lump or growth you can feel
• lingering soreness or hoarse feeling in your throat
• trouble swallowing or moving your jaw
• tissue growth around teeth
• jaw or facial swelling

Treatment depends on the type of growth and its cause, but early detection and medical care can improve the chances of successful treatment.

8. Salivary gland stones

Salivary gland stones can cause swelling and jaw pain. Obstruction of the duct by a stone can potentially lead to a bacterial infection or an abscess.

Symptoms can include:

• pain with eating
• swollen lymph nodes
• discharge
• reddening of the surrounding area

Treatment can depend on the size and location of the stone but involves different procedures for removal. If you have signs of a bacterial infection, a doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.

If you have mild or temporary pain in your jaw, you may not need medical treatment. If the cause isn’t serious, pain usually improves once the issue clears up.

In the meantime, these approaches can help you manage it:

• Use heat: Heat may help relax your muscles and relieve aches and stiffness.
• Use ice or cold compresses: Cold compresses can help numb pain and may be particularly helpful if you’re also experiencing swelling.
• Try nonprescription pain relief: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and other over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve pain temporarily. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. If the recommended dose isn’t effective or you need to take pain relievers for more than a few days, it’s best to see a healthcare professional.
• Rest your jaw when possible: Choosing foods that don’t require a lot of chewing can help you avoid overworking your jaw muscles.
• Try massage: A healthcare professional, physical therapist, or massage therapist can use massage therapy to help release pain and tension in your jaw. You can also learn how to use some techniques on your own. They may be especially helpful for TMJ disorders.
• Try to relax: If your jaw pain comes from grinding or clenching your teeth, relaxation techniques can help you avoid using this as a stress response. Relaxing your muscles can also help relieve pain.
• Change your sleeping position: If you always sleep on the same side or sleep with your hand under your jaw, this could put pressure on your muscles. Switching the side you sleep on could help your pain. Even if your pain has a different cause, sleeping on the other side could help relieve pain at night.

If your jaw hurts because of an underlying cause, treating that health issue may help resolve your symptoms.

Although jaw pain typically isn’t always serious, other symptoms you experience along with it could point to a more serious condition that requires treatment.

You may want to consider seeing a healthcare professional or dentist if the pain sticks around for more than a few days or seems to clear up and come back.

Other signs it may be time to get a medical professional’s opinion include:

• You have trouble eating, drinking, swallowing, or breathing.
• Pain makes it difficult to move your mouth as you usually would.
• You have swelling or a fever that doesn’t go away.
• You have a high fever.
• You have severe pain that suddenly goes away after a burst of salty liquid that tastes and smells unpleasant, which can occur with a dental abscess.

When it’s serious

In rare cases, jaw pain may indicate a cause that requires prompt treatment. These symptoms can include:

• high fever
• extreme pain
• swelling that affects your ability to breathe and swallow

A high fever, extreme pain, or swelling that affects your ability to breathe and swallow are all serious symptoms that require urgent or emergency care.

Was this helpful?

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor or dentist, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.

Your jaw may hurt on one side as the result of a common health issue, such as clenching your teeth or nasal inflammation. More rarely, it can occur with serious conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia or a heart attack.

If your symptoms are concerning, your pain is severe, or it does not resolve with at-home care, you may need medical attention. Always seek emergency medical attention if you may be having a heart attack.

Read this article in Spanish.

Causes and What You Can Do About It

You can experience jaw pain and tenderness due to joint damage, infection, or a toothache, among other causes. The other symptoms you have may help pinpoint the cause.

Sudden jaw pain is typically not serious. But if it occurs with other concerning symptoms, such as chest pain or a high fever, it may be an early indicator of a more serious health condition, such as a heart attack.

Here, we’ll go over some of the main causes, other symptoms to look for, and might be time to see a doctor or dentist.

You might worry about dental issues such as a cavity or abscessed tooth or wonder if you’ve been grinding your teeth at night.

Here’s a look at some common causes of jaw pain.

1. TMJ disorders

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the joint that connects your skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint and helps it move properly. If the disc becomes misaligned or the joint is damaged, you may experience pain on one or both sides of your jaw.

Other symptoms of TMJ disorders can include:

• tenderness around your jaw
• earache
• pain, clicking, or popping when chewing or opening your mouth
• difficulty opening and closing your mouth if the joint locks

Multiple factors can contribute to TMJ disorders, so it’s not always easy to find a specific cause.

Issues known to play a part in TMJ disorders can include:

• arthritis
• teeth clenching or grinding
• tissue damage
• tooth damage or misalignment
• jaw infection or injury
• damage to the cartilage in the joint

If you have symptoms of a TMJ disorder, a healthcare professional or dentist can help figure out the underlying cause.

2. Sinusitis

Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause sinusitis. This tends to happen if you’ve had a cold, but allergies and other medical conditions can also contribute to sinusitis.

If the sinus cavities behind your cheeks, known as the maxillary sinuses, are inflamed, you might feel pain in one or both sides of your jaw.

Other symptoms of sinusitis can include:

• nasal congestion that makes it hard to breathe through your nose
• yellow or green mucus that drains from your nose or into your throat (post nasal drip)
• facial pain, pressure, and swelling
• pressure and pain in your ears and head
• fatigue
• difficulty smelling or tasting

Sinusitis often clears up on its own, but it may be worth checking in with a healthcare professional if lasts more than a week.

3. Dental problems

Pain on one side of your jaw can often be traced to dental or oral health concerns.

Common dental problems that cause jaw pain include:

• cavities
• an abscessed tooth
• growth of wisdom teeth
• gum disease or tooth decay
• missing or misaligned teeth
• tooth grinding or clenching

If dental issues are to blame, you’ll likely have additional symptoms, such as:

• tooth pain that lingers or comes and goes
• sensitive teeth
• painful, bleeding gums
• sores in your mouth
• bad breath or persistent dry mouth
• pain when chewing or swallowing

Facial swelling and fever along with severe tooth pain may indicate an abscess. You may want to contact a dentist or healthcare professional right away for these symptoms, especially if breathing and swallowing become difficult.

While uncommon, rare issues may lead to pain on one side of your jaw. If there isn’t a clear reason for your pain, a healthcare professional may want to rule out these causes.

4. Heart attack

Generally, jaw pain on one side isn’t cause for immediate concern. But in rare cases, it can be an early sign of a heart attack. In this case, you may feel it spreading from your chest to your jaw.

Anyone can experience this symptom, but it does occur more commonly in women, according to the American Heart Association.

If you’re having a heart attack, you’ll likely have some other signs along with jaw pain, including:

• pressure or pain in your chest that goes away when you rest but keeps coming back
• tightness, pain, and pressure in your chest and arms, which can spread to your jaw, neck, back, and stomach
• heartburn or indigestion
• shortness of breath
• nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain
• extreme tiredness
• dizziness and lightheadedness
• sudden cold sweats

These symptoms can develop suddenly or come on slowly, over several hours or days. If your jaw pain is accompanied by some of these symptoms, you may need emergency treatment.

5. Trigeminal neuralgia

This chronic condition generally results from abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve. This pressure can prevent the nerve from functioning properly, leading to severe pain. An injury or brain abnormality can also cause the condition.

Trigeminal neuralgia is most common in females and people above the age of 50. The primary symptom is severe pain that usually occurs on one side of your face.

This pain may:

• occur when you touch your face or move facial muscles, even minimally
• produce shooting, jabbing, or shock-like sensations
• feel like a constant ache or burn
• cause twitching in your face
• occur in episodes that last for seconds or minutes
• occur in your lower jaw, cheek, or mouth
• become more severe over time

Pain is often brief but excruciating. It may not respond to over-the-counter medications, but a healthcare professional can recommend other treatments, including prescription medication.

6. Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an uncommon but serious type of bone infection that develops when bacteria enter the bone.

Your jawbone could become infected after dental surgery, if you have a serious dental health issue, or if your mouth is injured in some way. Conditions that affect your immune health can also increase your risk.

This infection can spread and cause bone death. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications, so it’s important to get medical care if you have:

• worsening pain in your jaw
• fever
• swelling or tenderness in your teeth or jaw
• redness or warmth at the painful area
• tiredness or fatigue
• bad breath
• trouble opening and closing your mouth due to pain and swelling
• numbness in your jaw, lips, or mouth

7. Tumors and cysts

These two types of growths differ. Tumors are masses of tissue and cysts generally contain fluid. Either can cause pain in your jaw, though both are somewhat rare.

Often, they aren’t cancerous, but they can still have an impact on oral health. They may grow quickly, causing your teeth to move out of place and destroying bone and tissue in your jaw and mouth.

Some of the more common tumors and cysts include that can affect your mouth include:

• ameloblastoma
• dentigerous cysts
• odontoma

Not all cysts or tumors cause symptoms, but you could experience the following, along with persistent pain in your jaw:

• red or white patches in your mouth
• open or bleeding sores
• a lump or growth you can feel
• lingering soreness or hoarse feeling in your throat
• trouble swallowing or moving your jaw
• tissue growth around teeth
• jaw or facial swelling

Treatment depends on the type of growth and its cause, but early detection and medical care can improve the chances of successful treatment.

8. Salivary gland stones

Salivary gland stones can cause swelling and jaw pain. Obstruction of the duct by a stone can potentially lead to a bacterial infection or an abscess.

Symptoms can include:

• pain with eating
• swollen lymph nodes
• discharge
• reddening of the surrounding area

Treatment can depend on the size and location of the stone but involves different procedures for removal. If you have signs of a bacterial infection, a doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.

If you have mild or temporary pain in your jaw, you may not need medical treatment. If the cause isn’t serious, pain usually improves once the issue clears up.

In the meantime, these approaches can help you manage it:

• Use heat: Heat may help relax your muscles and relieve aches and stiffness.
• Use ice or cold compresses: Cold compresses can help numb pain and may be particularly helpful if you’re also experiencing swelling.
• Try nonprescription pain relief: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and other over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve pain temporarily. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. If the recommended dose isn’t effective or you need to take pain relievers for more than a few days, it’s best to see a healthcare professional.
• Rest your jaw when possible: Choosing foods that don’t require a lot of chewing can help you avoid overworking your jaw muscles.
• Try massage: A healthcare professional, physical therapist, or massage therapist can use massage therapy to help release pain and tension in your jaw. You can also learn how to use some techniques on your own. They may be especially helpful for TMJ disorders.
• Try to relax: If your jaw pain comes from grinding or clenching your teeth, relaxation techniques can help you avoid using this as a stress response. Relaxing your muscles can also help relieve pain.
• Change your sleeping position: If you always sleep on the same side or sleep with your hand under your jaw, this could put pressure on your muscles. Switching the side you sleep on could help your pain. Even if your pain has a different cause, sleeping on the other side could help relieve pain at night.

If your jaw hurts because of an underlying cause, treating that health issue may help resolve your symptoms.

Although jaw pain typically isn’t always serious, other symptoms you experience along with it could point to a more serious condition that requires treatment.

You may want to consider seeing a healthcare professional or dentist if the pain sticks around for more than a few days or seems to clear up and come back.

Other signs it may be time to get a medical professional’s opinion include:

• You have trouble eating, drinking, swallowing, or breathing.
• Pain makes it difficult to move your mouth as you usually would.
• You have swelling or a fever that doesn’t go away.
• You have a high fever.
• You have severe pain that suddenly goes away after a burst of salty liquid that tastes and smells unpleasant, which can occur with a dental abscess.

When it’s serious

In rare cases, jaw pain may indicate a cause that requires prompt treatment. These symptoms can include:

• high fever
• extreme pain
• swelling that affects your ability to breathe and swallow

A high fever, extreme pain, or swelling that affects your ability to breathe and swallow are all serious symptoms that require urgent or emergency care.

Was this helpful?

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor or dentist, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.

Your jaw may hurt on one side as the result of a common health issue, such as clenching your teeth or nasal inflammation. More rarely, it can occur with serious conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia or a heart attack.

If your symptoms are concerning, your pain is severe, or it does not resolve with at-home care, you may need medical attention. Always seek emergency medical attention if you may be having a heart attack.

Read this article in Spanish.

Why the jaw hurts near the ear and what to do

The jaw hurts near the ear: what provokes malaise and how to deal with it

Pain in the jaw is an unpleasant symptom that causes significant discomfort. The problem requires immediate medical attention. When examining and making a diagnosis, he takes into account the localization of the problem area. If the jaw near the ear hurts, this may indicate problems with the temporomandibular joint, which ensures the mobility of the lower jaw and its connection with the skull. Soreness in this area often indicates a number of other diseases. A specialist will help determine the cause.

Why does the jaw hurt near the ear: the main causative factors

Soreness in the jaw with irradiation to the ear can provoke various pathologies.

Dental problems

Dental problems are often accompanied by pain that can radiate to different parts of the head, including the area near the ear. Possible causes of an unpleasant symptom:

• caries at different stages of development, pulpitis;
• abscess;
• damage to prostheses – crown or implant;
• glossitis – inflammation of the tongue;
• cyst or granuloma of the root of a tooth;
• gum disease – gingivitis, periodontitis;
• periostitis is an inflammatory process in the periosteum.

Jaw pain is often associated with procedures performed by the dentist, such as cleaning or whitening teeth, their treatment or removal, implantation, installation of braces. Irradiation in the ear is observed when the “eight” erupts, its incorrect position.

Bruxism can also cause soreness. In its presence, the jaw muscles contract unconsciously, which causes strong closing and friction of the teeth. There is a characteristic rattle. Often a person is unaware of the presence of bruxism, since it usually manifests itself at night. You can suspect a violation by the presence of discomfort in the muscles of the face in the morning. Due to the strong tension, pain in the jaw is also felt, microcracks form on the enamel.

Temporomandibular joint disorders

TMJ problems are the most common non-dental cause of facial pain. Various disorders in the mobility of the system of muscles, ligaments, cartilage and bones provoke joint dysfunction. Soreness can appear on the left or right, as well as on both sides. The main symptoms of TMJ dysfunction:

• pain near the ear when swallowing, chewing, yawning, talking;
• dizziness;
• visual disturbances;
• tinnitus;
• headache.

The disease is also diagnosed by a characteristic click when opening the mouth. TMJ injuries (dislocations, fractures) are accompanied by bruises, swelling, redness. You can get them when you hit, bruised. Often fixed displacement of the jaw disc forward, and the head of the lower jaw – back. This provokes stretching of the anterior and posterior disc ligaments and pressure on the bilaminar zone of the joint, in which pain receptors are located.

The TMJ can be affected by arthritis and arthrosis. In the first case, there are severe night pains, crunching and clicking, stiffness in the morning. In the second, the pain is aching and chronic and increases with yawning, opening the mouth. Various causes provoke pathology: age-related changes, stress, inflammation, trauma and genetic predisposition.

Disturbances in the work of the TMJ are observed with the habit of squeezing or moving the jaw, with bruxism, constant chewing of chewing gum (the joint does not have time to rest after eating). Causes wear and misalignment. Chewing food on one side provokes increased pressure in this area. Over time, damage to the TMJ affects the nerve endings, which explains why pain occurs.

Neurological and vascular diseases

Trigeminal neuralgia is a disease in which there are sharp painful sensations in different parts of the face. It all depends on which branch is affected (there are three of them). Unpleasant symptoms may be aggravated by chewing, talking, pressing on the face, brushing your teeth. In addition to the trigeminal nerve, pain near the ear can provoke damage to other nerves:

• vagus;
• glossopharyngeal;
• occipital.

Arteritis can provoke malaise, in which acute pain appears due to muscle spasms. Deformation is visually observed, compaction is visible on the x-ray. Among the characteristic symptoms are swelling and redness of the affected area. Pain in the jaw, which radiates to the ear area and other parts of the face, may indicate diseases of the brain, in particular, circulatory disorders of this organ.

Pain near the ear can be the result of damage to blood vessels, such as the carotid artery. In this case, the neck, jaw and facial part are touched.

Oncological factor

With the development of oncology, pain is more often manifested on the right side. The tumor can be malignant or benign. In the first case, the nerve endings first lose their sensitivity, and facial numbness appears. After that, there is pain in the jaw. In the second case, there are also unpleasant sensations in this area. A lump appears near the ear or behind it – a consequence of the growth of the lymph node. In this case, it is important to take measures so that the inflammatory or purulent process does not begin. In addition to pain near the ear, other symptoms occur with a benign tumor:

• deterioration in general condition;
• fever;
• headaches;
• redness of the neoplasm.

If suppuration occurs, it already poses a danger to the patient’s life. Lack of proper care can lead to infection entering the bloodstream.

Possible complications

If you experience an unpleasant symptom, you should immediately contact your dentist. It is not worth postponing the visit, because the problem itself will not disappear anywhere, but can only get worse. Only a specialist can tell you what to do. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, computed tomography is prescribed. If the doctor excludes the presence of dental problems, the patient will be referred to another specialist (neurologist, oncologist, phlebologist, etc.). Lack of help with muscle tension can lead to problems such as:

• occurrence of back pain;
• dizziness;
• sleep disorders;
• deterioration of vision, the occurrence of soreness in the eyes;
• increased sensitivity to light;
• depression.

If the malaise is accompanied by stuffiness in the ear, there is a risk of partial or complete hearing loss. When the jaw does not open fully, it shifts. It becomes painful to chew. After some time, there are problems with the teeth, the enamel is erased, the sensitivity increases.

How to eliminate pain in the jaw near the ear

Identification of the causative factor allows you to determine how to treat the pathology. Possible actions of the doctor:

1. Dental problems require sanitation, as a result of which any sources of infection are eliminated.
2. Use cold compresses for bruises. A dislocation requires a visit to a surgeon who will set the jaw. For fractures with displacement of the bone, surgery is performed. The patient is prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory external agents.
3. In case of abscess, the abscess is opened and antibiotics are prescribed.
4. Oncology involves the use of surgical techniques, radiation and chemotherapy.
5. Infectious and inflammatory processes are stopped with antibiotics, compresses, mouthwashes. Sometimes surgical treatment is required.

Also, depending on the provoking factors, different methods of physiotherapy are used: microwave, UHF, ultraviolet irradiation, diadynamic therapy.

Preventive measures

In order not to run into a problem, you need high-quality prevention. To do this, you should follow the recommendations of specialists:

• treat bruises in a timely manner;
• visit the dentist regularly;
• do not neglect the rules of oral hygiene;
• refuse to chew chewing gum for a long time;
• make an appointment with an orthodontist to assess the bite;
• evenly distribute the chewing load on both sides of the jaws;
• Avoid hard foods and foods that are difficult to chew.

It is also important to control oneself in fits of anger so as not to close the jaw too much.

Life becomes brighter when you smile! Make an appointment at Dental Art dental clinics by phone:

Relieve pain in the ear, temple and jaw – ENT Center, Kyiv

How to understand what hurts: ear, teeth or temple on one side?

Let’s say your ear hurts , it radiates to your temple . Most likely, in this case, the problem is in the ear. Headache manifests itself in both temples at once. If it hurts on one side the source of pain is exactly the ear.
Sometimes the pain starts to give to the jaw . In such situations, it is more difficult to deal with. The cause can be both ear inflammation and problems with the jaw joints. Only a doctor can determine the exact cause. But in order to understand who to go to, you need to listen to yourself – analyze symptoms .
When the ear hurts, radiates to the temple and jaw , the pain is usually concentrated behind the ear. Types of pain may be different. Some patients feel a sharp shooting or throbbing pain. In others, it is dull, aching or pulling. The pain may radiate not only to the jaw or temple , but also to the neck and eyes . The more pronounced the pain syndrome, the more neighboring structures it affects.

Causes of pain

Most often, simultaneous pain in the ear, jaw and temple is associated with otitis, other causes are possible.

Otitis

One of the common causes of ear pain is secretory otitis media . This is an acute inflammatory process in the middle ear caused by an infection. Most often it is provoked by bacteria, but fungi can also cause it – in this case, the disease is called otomycosis.
Causes of otitis media can be water entering the ear, trauma and microcracks in the ear canal, hypothermia. The ears become susceptible to infection and become inflamed. As a result, otitis develops, gives to the teeth and other adjacent structures.
How to understand what exactly otitis exudes to the jaw ? In addition to pain, there are other symptoms: congestion and itching in the ears, hearing loss. They can identify the problem.

Other causes

Simultaneous pain in the ear, jaw and temple may appear for other reasons. For example, due to a sick wisdom tooth or an inflamed jaw joint. Also, the temple can hurt due to inflammation of the temporal bone.

What to do if your ear hurts and radiates to your teeth and temple?

First, go to ENT for an examination, because in most cases the problem is in the ears. He will conduct an otoscopy, which will show if there is inflammation in the ear, extra accumulations of sulfur, microtrauma. If it turns out that this otitis media radiates to the jaw , then the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. If not, you will have to look for the cause in another field of medicine. For example, go to the dentist.

Treatment

When otitis media extends to the teeth , the patient is given antibiotic therapy to eliminate the infection. He is also prescribed:

• Antipyretics – if there is a high fever
• Topical drops – to relieve inflammation and pain
• Ear wash – to remove abnormal discharge
• Physiotherapy – to speed up treatment

In severe cases, the eardrum has to be cut open to drain it and remove the pus. In the future, its integrity is restored, and hearing returns. If there are complications in the form of tissue scarring, pneumatic massage, blowing of the auditory tubes and UHF are prescribed.
The sooner the patient seeks help, the higher his chances of quickly curing otitis media and getting rid of pain. You can get professional treatment in our ENT center for children and adults. Our doctor will carefully examine you and select an individual therapy regimen. After treatment with , our patients forget about ear pain and successfully restore their hearing lost due to otitis media!

Possible complications

When the ear hurts, radiates to the temple and jaw , this is an alarming symptom. If the cause is otitis, the patient may develop serious complications:

• Mastoiditis – inflammation of the mastoid process of the temporal bone
• Tympanic perforation
• Labyrinthitis – otitis media with hair cell damage and irreversible hearing loss
• Neuritis of the facial nerve
• Meningitis
• Brain abscess

In severe cases, this can lead to death. Therefore, it is better not to start the disease, but immediately seek help from an ENT.

Prevention

In order not to suffer from debilitating pain that radiates to the jaw and temple, you need:

• Protect ears from water
• Avoid hypothermia
• Treat ENT diseases in time
• Maintain ear hygiene
• Have regular preventive examinations with an otolaryngologist and dentist

Start prevention right now – book a consultation with our doctor! This will help to avoid problems with the ears and other ENT organs.