What is causing my jaw pain?
What is causing my jaw pain? Jaw pain can affect many people in very different ways. This can be stemming from several different areas in your body. First, it may be coming from your jaw joint, which you have two of! One on each side of your cheeks. If these two joints don’t move together nicely, you may experience uncomfortable sensations. Second, the muscles around your jaw joints may be working overtime or not enough! This can make them feel tender, sore or tight. And lastly, jaw pain can actually be coming from your neck. We call this referral pain. The same nerves that control your jaw are very closely related to parts in the back of your upper neck. How your head/neck is positioned and how you move your neck and jaw are very important to help relieve your jaw pain.
Jaw Pain Symptoms
Everyone’s jaw pain is different. Symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Painful clicking when opening/closing your mouth
- Non painful clicking when opening/closing your mouth
- Locking
- Catching
- Throbbing
- Shooting/stabbing/sharp pain
- Neck pain
- Constant ache
- Headaches
- Nighttime jaw pain
- Clenching
- Grinding
How Do I Get Rid of My Jaw Pain?
Treatment for jaw pain includes a variety of options. This is tailored specifically to each person by our physiotherapists. If your pain is coming from the jaw itself, there may be hands on techniques, exercises and activity modifications included in your treatment plan. Activity modifications may include changing the way you eat or using a mouth guard while you sleep.
Your neck is often overlooked and can be a major contributor to your jaw pain. It’s very important that your health care practitioner makes sure they determine whether or not your jaw pain is related to your neck. If it is, there are many different ways to help.
Your neck is often overlooked and can be a major contributor to your jaw pain. It’s very important that your health care practitioner makes sure they determine whether or not your jaw pain is related to your neck. If it is, there are many different ways to help.
These include:
- Hands on treatment by our physiotherapists
- Neck strengthening exercises
- Shoulder and mid back exercises
- Postural retraining and modifications
- Relaxation techniques
- Activity changes or modifications
- Pillow advice/changes
Jaw pain can become very painful and debilitating. The sooner you seek help the quicker your symptoms will improve! Contact us today to book in with our jaw specialist Aly.