While doing your daily activities, if you feel sudden jaw pain on one side, there are several conditions to consider.

From cavity to heart attack, many things are responsible for it, necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The intensity of pain can be mild or severe and may cause sore jaw muscles, being a nuisance.

To know how to get rid of jaw pain on one side or sore jaw muscle, read this article.

What is Jaw Pain?

A regular toothache or something more serious like a heart attack could be indicated by jaw pain.

The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are the points on your skull where your mandible, or jawbone, joins your skull.

Your mouth can open and close due to these joints located directly in front of your ears.

Your gums and teeth are also in your jaw and may be pressure, temperature, or pressure-sensitive.

They may also become infected if you neglect to keep them clean.

What are Temporomandibular Joints?

The two joints that attach your lower jaw to your skull are called temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

These are the mandible and temporal bone (side and base of the skull) joints that slide and rotate in front of each ear.

Therefore, ear and jaw pain on one side indicates that there may be something wrong with these joints.

Among the body's most intricate joints are the TMJs.

Chewing, talking, yawning, and swallowing are examples of smooth muscle movements that can occur when the mandible and its joints are in a balanced position.

Many issues can arise when these structures. For instance, muscles, ligaments, disk, jaw, and temporal bone are not synced or aligned in their movements.

That's when you may experience jaw pain on one side when chewing.

What Does Jaw Pain Feel Like?

Sore jaw muscle may feel like:

Stiffness in temporomandibular joints.
A sharp aching or soreness in your jaw.
Severe jaw pain following an injury.
Discomfort when you attempt to open your mouth.
The pain may travel from your jaw to the chest and shoulder.

Causes of Jaw Pain On One Side

Here, we will discuss the reasons that can cause sore jaw muscles:

1.Temporomandibular Disorders

Disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and nerves linked to persistent facial pain are referred to as temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

Temporomandibular disorder can be caused by any issue that interferes with the intricate network of muscles, bones, and joints from functioning as a unit.

TMD is categorized by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research criteria:

Pain in the myofascial tissues.
The most prevalent type of TMD is this one. The muscles that govern the function of the jaw, neck, and shoulders.
Fascia, the connective tissue that covers the muscles, becomes sore or uncomfortable.
2.Various Infections

Jaw pain may be brought on by an illness of the head and neck region, more especially by an ear or sinus infection.

In addition to jaw pain, sinusitis can cause the following symptoms:

Fever
Headache
Toothache
Facial Pain
Congestion in the nose
Hearing loss
Nausea
Vertigo
Ear infection in the form of fluid coming out of the ear
3.Dental Ailments

Jaw pain on one side can be caused by a variety of dental issues.

For instance, chewing or biting may induce dull or acute jaw discomfort, which can commonly cause a cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth.

A cavity may hurt all the time and be aggravated by hot or cold meals, known as tooth sensitivity.

Other dental issues, such as gum disease and tooth abscess, can cause jaw pain on one side.

4.Bruxism

Sore jaw muscle may be an after-effect of bruxism or teeth grinding.

Research indicates that a combination of stress, anxiety, heredity, and sleep apnea may cause sleep bruxism.

Bruxism symptoms include headaches and pain in the jaw, face, and neck.

It may even cause chipped and broken teeth.

In addition to teeth grinding, jaw pain on one side can be caused by muscular overuse disorders, such as clenching teeth and excessive gum biting.

5.Osteonecrosis

Jaw pain or sore jaw muscles can be a symptom of several cancers, such as oral cancer.

Other symptoms that may accompany oral cancer include a lump or mass in the neck, difficulty moving the jaw, swelling of the jaw, difficulty chewing, and an open sore in the mouth that does not heal.

When a person has osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), their gums are not covered, exposing their jawbone. As the bone ages, it weakens even more.

In extremely rare cases, several factors may increase this risk of osteonecrosis.

Many conditions like infection, a decrease in blood vessel production, or a lack of the ability for bone to mend itself make a person susceptible to ONJ.

While the chance of ONJ developing in anyone using any of these drugs is extremely low, if a patient also takes bisphosphonates and has invasive dental treatments like an implant or extraction, their risk may be somewhat increased.

Individuals undergoing cancer therapy who get intravenous bisphosphonates are more likely to develop ONJ than those receiving considerably lower doses for osteoporosis treatment.

Smoking, diabetes, gum disease, and advanced age all increase the risk of ONJ.

6.Untreated Cavities

Cavities can progress to a point where they cause jaw pain on one side.

When a tooth decays to the point that the tooth root becomes infected, it can cause jaw pain.

If the patient doesn't receive the treatment, this infection may extend to the jawbone's tissues.

You should make sure your checkups are up to date if you want to prevent cavities.

7.Gum Disease

Similar to an untreated cavity, gum disease will infect gum tissue and spread. Because of this, you may experience mild to severe jaw pain.

It is imperative that you receive treatment for periodontitis or any other gum disease as soon as you notice any symptoms.

8.Wisdom Tooth

Wisdom teeth are another possible source of jaw pain on one side.

They usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 25 and are more susceptible to cavities.

If the new teeth cause pressure in the jaw or change the position of your teeth, they may cause sore jaw muscles.

If you are in pain due to the emergence of a wisdom tooth, read 14 Best Remedies for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief.

9.Trigeminal Neuralgia

One of the twelve pairs of nerves that connect to the brain is the trigeminal nerve. Its three branches carry information to the brain from the upper, middle, and lower regions of the face as well as the mouth cavity.

The trigeminal nerve, sometimes referred to as the fifth cranial nerve, is affected by trigeminal neuralgia, a persistent pain condition.

It's a kind of neuropathic pain, which is pain that arises from damage to or lesions in the nerves.

Trigeminal neuralgia type 1, or TN1, is the most common variety and is characterized by abrupt, intense episodes of facial discomfort.

The duration of the discomfort varies from seconds to minutes. Attacks can happen in cycles that last up to two hours, one after the other.

The atypical type of condition is Type 2, or TN2.

To characterize the types in terms of pain, TN2 is less intense than TN1,

Patients often describe it as aching, stabbing, and burning.

Both kinds of pain are possible, and sometimes, they may occur simultaneously.

So, if you have jaw pain on one side that is debilitating, don't delay a doctor's visit.

10.Heart Attack

When a heart attack is the cause of jaw pain.

The pain is not in the middle of the jawline; rather, it is lower and ends at the jaw.

Heart attack pain feels like pressure on the left side of the chest that spreads to the jaw and shoulder.

An aching jaw after consuming particular foods or snacks may lead to jaw injuries or simply from crushing on them.

See a doctor immediately if you have unexplained sore jaw muscles that last more than ten minutes.

Heart-related discomfort may also cause jaw and chest pain that gets better with rest but returns with exercise.

Other Reasons That May Cause Jaw Pain On One Side

Less frequent causes of jaw pain include the following:

Anxiety: Tension from anxiety can cause teeth grinding and jaw clenching. These actions harm and uneven wear to the tooth surfaces, which give rise to unequal pressure on the jawbone joints.

Overuse of Jaw: When the jaw muscles are overused for chewing or even speaking, it can cause inflammation and sore jaw muscles.

Mandibular abnormalities: Such conditions cause growth disturbance, and the patient may have difficulty performing regular tasks.

Ways to Reduce Sore Jaw Muscles

If you want to know how to help jaw pain on one side, read these instructions:

1.Use a Compress

Use a compress, either hot or cold. Your muscles will relax with the aid of heat, relieving aches and stiffness.

Applying a cold compress helps minimize swelling and lessen the pain.

For the first three days, apply ice three to four times a day.

Following the same plan, moist heat for one week may be the best option after three days.

Generally speaking, we advise employing a thin coating of ice between your skin and the cold compress while applying it to your jaw for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

Don't apply ice for more than 20 minutes at a time if you have sore jaw muscles.

2.Over-the-Counter Medications

Utilize over-the-counter analgesics. You can get temporary pain relief from medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Give your jaw as much rest as you can. Eat only soft foods that don't need to be chewed thoroughly.

It will assist you in preventing overuse of your jaw muscles, reducing the jaw pain on one side.

3.Wear a Mouth Guard

These plastic mouthpieces keep a person's upper and lower teeth apart.

They improve your bite by realigning your teeth, lessening the impact of clenching and grinding. While you sleep, night guards protect you from damaging your teeth.

4.Give a Massage

It can assist in easing jaw pain and tension on one side.

Grasp the muscles beneath your cheekbones with two or three fingers.

The muscles beneath your fingers should tense up if you clench your teeth.

Apply pressure to the muscles and hold it there for six to ten seconds. Repeat this exercise in another sore or tense spot on your face with your jaw relaxed.

5.Be Careful of What You Eat

Consume a mild, pain-free diet. Steak and toffees are examples of chewy foods; stay away from hard foods.

Chop the steamed veggies and fruit into small bits. Stop the habit of chewing gum if you do it too many times in a day.

To lessen the jaw pain on one side, chew your meal simultaneously or alternately.

Rather than biting with your front teeth, chew using your back teeth.

Also Read: 10 Surprising Foods That Can Damage Your Teeth

FAQs

What does my jaw pain on one side mean?

One-sided jaw pain may indicate a tooth problem or temporomandibular joint disease (TMD).

Jaw pain can affect one or both sides of the jaw. Due to certain disorders, jaw pain on one side may radiate to the other, such as cysts, tumors, and sinusitis.

Can a toothache be similar to jaw pain?

You can classify jaw pain on one side as a toothache. A nerve that supplies a tooth can be injured or stimulated, which results in a toothache. This causes sensitivity in the tooth and, based on the extent of the nerve damage, also in the jaw beneath the tooth.

What are the causes of ear and jaw pain on one side?

TMJ disorder, swimmer's ear, osteoarthritis, migraine, sinusitis, rheumatoid, and various dental problems.

Wrapping it Up

These are the factors that can cause jaw pain on one side.

While you can manage some things at home, always rush to the doctor if you suspect an infection or other major ailment.

Self-care techniques are beneficial, such as chewing gum less, eating softer foods, refraining from end-range jaw motions, stress reduction, and relaxation techniques.

To get your mouth checked, visit KWC Dental today!

10 Reasons Behind Jaw Pain on One Side