Jaw Pain

Muscle fatigue and spasms in the jaw joints not only cause pain in the jaw muscles but can lead to spasms in the head and neck, migraine and cluster headaches, tooth and facial pain, ear, and sinus pain, and anxiety and depression.

As you chew, your upper and lower teeth come together, pushing against the skull. If you have an uneven bite, missing teeth, or improperly aligned teeth, your muscles work harder to bring your teeth together. If you grind or clench your teeth, the strain only increases.

Bad posture, poor ergonomics, and head or neck trauma contribute to jaw joint pain. And pain isn't the only result. You may experience clicking when moving your jaws or feel them locking when you open or close your mouth.

The National Institute of Health estimated that more than 10 million Americans have problems affecting the jaw joints and muscles. The Academy of General Dentistry reports that 1-8 Americans suffer from headaches, and up to 80% of these headaches are estimated to be caused by muscle tension.

You may have a poor bite if you experience any of the following:
· You clench your jaw muscles for long periods of time.
· When you wake up in the morning, your jaw muscles feel tired and sore to the touch.
· You experience pain behind the eyes
· You grind your teeth while you are sleeping
· Your jaw clicks and pops while opening or closing.
· Your head or scalp feels painful when you touch it.
· Your ears ache or you hear ringing.
· You have head, neck, shoulder, or back pain.
· You feel dizzy.

If you feel any of these symptoms, your dentist can evaluate your bite to determine if it is a probable contributing factor. There are specific ways to handle these signs. Remember that many times it takes 10 or more years before the disease is manifested and pain is the last stage of disease. If you have any questions please feel free to call me, Dr. T. J. Bolt or Lou Ann at 572-8000.