While you may experience jaw pain symptoms due to a condition as trivial as a simple toothache, it may also point towards something more serious underlying condition such as a heart attack that needs immediate attention. Whatever the cause may be, the takeaway point is that you should never ignore a jaw pain. The jaw bone also medically known as mandible is connected at two pairs of joints to the skull bones which are called temporomandibular joints right in front of the ears. These joints are responsible for up and down and side to side jaw movements and help in opening and closing of your mouth. Primarily, most dental conditions can lead to jaw pain symptoms for which you should seek the help of a professional dentist, but dental conditions are not always the cause of jaw pain. It may also be a result of some other underlying medical conditions.
Top 7 Alarming Medical Conditions Causing Jaw Pain!
As above, jaw pain can be caused by a number of medical conditions. Some of these conditions are more serious than others, but all can be extremely painful. If you are experiencing jaw pain, it is important to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Here are seven medical conditions that can cause jaw pain.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: This disorder affects the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. It can be caused by a number of things, such as clenching or grinding the teeth, an injury to the joint, inflammation of the muscles, or arthritis. Symptoms include pain and clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, vision problems, constant headaches, or locking of the jaws.
Any High-Impact Trauma Causing Jaw Fracture: This is an injury or break in the bone of the jaw. It can be caused due to any high-impact injury or by chewing on hard objects. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and bruising.
Dental Problems: Dental abscess is an infection in the tooth or gums. It can be extremely painful, and can cause the jaw to swell. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause pain in the jaw. This is because they are growing in at an angle and pushing on the other teeth. Tooth infections which are resultant of any tooth decay or dental cavities can also cause severe jaw pain symptoms.
Joint Issues: Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or simply arthritis can potentially cause TMJ issues leading to jaw pain. The cartilage can become damaged due to this condition making it sore and stiff.
Vaccines: Some vaccines such as those given for mumps and tetanus vaccines may also cause jaw pain. Your glands around the jaw may swell due to autoimmune response to vaccines, and your jaw muscles may become stiff along with tightness. Spasms can also lead to locking of your jaws.
Heart Attack: During a heart attack, the cluster of nerves around your heart can also cause referred pain into your jaws pointing towards heart attack symptoms. Some patients will show only jaw pain symptoms during a heart attack for which you need to seek immediate medical attention.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: This is a condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face. It can cause very severe pain in the jaw. Multiple sclerosis is a condition where patients notice trigeminal neuralgia symptoms especially involving one side of the face causing jaw pain.
Get All The Answers Related to Jaw Pain Symptoms from Professional Board-Certified Dentists at 1Health!
In case you are being bothered by jaw pain symptoms often, you must seek help from highly qualified and truly experienced health experts at 1Health Medical Center who are well known to perfectly diagnose and treat any severe medical conditions with ease that might be bothering you.
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