Jaw Pain on One Side

Jaw pain which is only on one side can be caused due to a variety of reasons. This problem can be categorised into two kinds – primary as well as secondary. Jaw pain that is primary involves pain which is created by some medical condition concerning the jaw. Jaw pain that is secondary is caused by a health/medical condition in some other part of the body. In cases of jaw pain of the second type, the discomfort or pain is actually in some other area of the body and travels to the jaw, and the individual has jaw pain. Most problems of jaw pain that are primary may be cared for by a specialist or a dentist, but the individual might need to see other specialists for jaw pain that is secondary. But the starting place is with the family physician or dentist as they will refer the individual to other specialists.

Causes

Pain in the jaw can happen on either side or just one side, depending on its source. As problems connected with the jaw creates jaw pain that is primary, the majority of these generate pain on only one side. Besides pain in the jaw, there may be other symptoms, such as:

• Popping or clicking sounds from jaw joint
• Headaches
• Problems with jaw moving
• Difficulty when chewing food or while talking
• Pain when closing and opening the mouth
• Sore muscles in the face or around the jaw
• Grinding of the teeth

Below are some causes of jaw pain on only one side:

Temporomandibular joint disorder

The most frequent reason for pain in the jaw on only one side is when you distress the “temporomandibular” joint. It is commonly known as TMJ/TMD. With this case, the joints of the jaw do not close or open properly.

Jaw trauma

One primary cause of jaw pain – injury to the jaw

Dental problems

Includes broken teeth, cavities and teeth which are misaligned. Another problem is surgery that is oral as well as fillings in the teeth. Severe gingivitis or other gum infections also create jaw pain on only a single side.

Arthritis of the jaw

This can affect and cause pain in the jaw. Can be either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Lyme disease also can be a cause of jaw pain.

Bony Growths

Bone spurs or growths surrounding the joint of the jaw may create jaw pain when the mouth is opening.

Other Causes of Jaw Pain

Some other common causes include infection, abscess, or tumours of the jaw, sinus infections, teeth extraction, swollen glands, nasal infections, migraines, dental caries, dental surgeries, neck or head cancers, as well as osteomyelitis

Serious Causes

Cause of pain in the jaw that is life-threatening is a heart attack. Jaw pain accompanied by chest pain, problems breathing, nausea, arm or left shoulder pain needs immediate attention medically. Any or all of these symptoms could be symptoms of a heart attack.

Treatment

Having to live with jaw pain on one side can be very frustrating and also quite painful. The pain can hit when you chew, laugh, yawn or talk. So, you have to endure jaw pain most of the time. The first place to get help with this pain is first to seek dental attention so that the process to discover what is causing the pain can begin. You can’t get rid of the pain until you know what is causing it.

If an individual has any of the above symptoms, there should be a visit first with a dentist. The dentist will need to make the diagnosis of the cause of the jaw pain before prescribing any treatment and can work with your primary care physician to help make a diagnosis. To begin making a diagnosis the dentist will do the following:

• Take your medical history
• Perform a physical exam
• Check on how the jaw slides when biting
• Look for excessive wear on biting surfaces
• Special X-ray techniques to make the diagnosis
• Lab tests to diagnose any bacteria or fungal infections.

If the problem is caused medically such as infection, the individual may be referred to their family physician.

Until the diagnosis is made, the dentist can prescribe some pain medication if the pain in the jaw is severe.