Jaw pain can be a significant issue, triggering bouts of pain when eating, sleeping, or even talking. While complete jaw pain is a symptom associated with larger injuries, disorders, or even dental treatments, jaw pain on one side is more common.
The jaw is a delicate part of our body, and excessive clenching or other actions can lead to pain and damage. Identifying poor practices and personal risk can help you avoid a progression of the pain and seek appropriate treatment.
Read on to learn more about jaw pain.
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The Issue With Sudden Jaw Pain on One Side
The jawbone, also known as the mandible, connects to the human skull at a pair of joints called the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located in front of the ears. These joints allow us to open and close our mouths.
Jaw pain on one side may be a symptom of something as common as a toothache or something more serious, such as a heart attack.
The jaw also holds the teeth and gums, which may be sensitive to cold, pressure, or heat, and can become infected if not kept clean.
Why Jaw Pain Should Not Be Ignored
The jawbone is anatomically complex, housing a variety of structures, including muscles, salivary glands, teeth, nerves, blood vessels, and more.
Having jaw pain on one side can be alarming and point to an issue with any component of this part of your body. Even if the pain is dull and intermittent, ignoring it can be dangerous and may further interfere with eating, speaking, and even sleeping. Over time, the unilateral pain can escalate in intensity and become more persistent.
What Causes Jaw Pain on One Side?
Here are some causes of your jaw pain on one side.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is one of the most common causes of jaw pain on one side of the face. It typically occurs due to allergies or a cold. Sinusitis can lead to swelling nasal cavities behind the cheeks and result in jaw pain on one or both sides. Other symptoms of sinusitis may include nasal congestion, yellowish mucus, weakness, and facial pain. It’s advisable to consult an expert dentist if the symptoms persist for more than 7-10 days.
Dental Problems
Under jaw pain on one side is often associated with oral problems such as wisdom teeth eruption, cavities, periodontal disease, clenching, malocclusion of teeth, and grinding. Typical symptoms are as follows:
- Sore gums
- Difficulty when chewing and swallowing
- Teeth sensitivity
- Mouth sores
- Painful teeth
TMJ Issues
Another very common cause of jaw pain is a TMJ disorder. This joint, located between the skull and jaw, features a disc inside that keeps the bones separate, facilitating proper jaw movement. An injury or misalignment to the joint’s disc can cause pain and soreness. Its other symptoms include ear pain, headaches, and a sensation of popping on either side of the jaw.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening bone infection that occurs when bacteria invade the bone. In the jaw, this infection can develop due to a severe dental issue, oral surgery, or trauma to the mouth. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the bone.
Seek prompt dental care if you experience:
- Numbness in your mouth
- Worsening pain in the jaw
- Difficulty opening & closing the mouth
- Fever
- Bad breath
- Inflammation in the teeth or jaw
- Fatigue
Tumors and Cysts
A tumor or cyst is a rare but possible cause of jaw pain on one side. Cysts are filled with fluid, and tumors are clusters of tissue. While it mostly severely damages your dental health by damaging the mouth tissue and bone, some are also cancerous. If you notice the following signs, immediately visit the dentist:
- Formation of lumps near your teeth
- Single or many white patches
- Inflammation of your jaw or other facial areas
- Bleeding sores
Salivary Gland Disorders
Unilateral or sudden jaw pain can also arise from infections of the salivary glands (such as bacterial sialadenitis or viral mumps), the presence of salivary gland stones (sialolithiasis), autoimmune disorders (such as Sjögren’s syndrome), and neoplasms (e.g., pleomorphic adenoma).
Localized infection in the parotid or submandibular glands often results in swelling, pain, and tenderness on one side of the jaw.
Symptoms of salivary gland infections include:
- Sudden swelling on one side
- Purulent discharge in the mouth
- Fever (common in both bacterial and viral infections)
- Dry mouth
Neurologic Disorders Leading to One-Sided Jaw Pain
Certain nerve-related conditions can lead to sharp, stabbing pain localized to one side of the jaw. These include:
Trigeminal Neuralgia
A characteristic disorder of the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the face to the brain.
Symptoms include:
- Sharp, shooting, sudden jaw pain on one side
- Pain triggered by light touch or routine activities like brushing teeth, chewing, or talking
- Electric shock-like pain that may cause the patient to reflexively cover one side of the face
- Pain episodes last a few seconds, but frequently recur.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
This is a complication following shingles (herpes zoster), especially if the outbreak involves the trigeminal nerve. Pain may persist even after the rash subsides, lasting for weeks or even months.
It is characterized by:
- Burning or stabbing jaw pain on one side of the face
- Persistent discomfort lasting up to 90 days post-rash
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
A less common form of neuralgia that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve. It can cause episodic pain in the throat, ear, and jaw.
Cardiac and Vascular Causes of Jaw Pain
Some cardiac and vascular disorders can cause referred pain to the jaw, particularly on the left side. These include:
- Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction (heart attack): jaw pain may be the only symptom, especially in women or the elderly
- Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis): inflammation of arteries in the head and neck, which may result in jaw pain, scalp tenderness, and vision problems
Symptoms That Require Emergency Care
Some symptoms associated with one-sided jaw pain may indicate a severe underlying condition and should not be ignored. Seek urgent medical or dental attention if any of the following accompany jaw pain:
- Chest pain or shortness of breath may suggest a cardiac emergency, such as angina or a heart attack
- Fever, trismus (lockjaw), or rapidly enlarging swelling could indicate a deep space infection or abscess requiring immediate intervention.
- Temporal headache, vision changes, or scalp tenderness in patients over 50 years may point to temporal arteritis, a vascular emergency.
- Neurologic deficits such as facial drooping, numbness, or severe, lightning-like facial pain may be signs of a neurologic disorder requiring prompt evaluation.
How to Alleviate Jaw Pain on One Side
Some methods to relieve jaw pain include the following:
- Take pain relief medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol), which temporarily relieve jaw pain on one side.
- Rest your jaw as much as possible. Restrict your diet to soft foods that don’t need a lot of chewing to help you avoid overworking your jaw muscles.
- Apply a hot or cold compress. Heat helps relax the jaw muscles and relieve aches or stiffness. Alternatively, a cold compress numbs the pain, reducing swelling.
- Massaging the jaw can help relieve dental pain. You may try some techniques on your own, or consider visiting a specialist for help (e.g., a massage therapist, healthcare provider, or physical therapist).
- If clenching or grinding contributes to your pain, a custom night guard and stress reduction techniques can help.
- Adopting good oral hygiene habits and scheduling routine visits to the dentist can reduce the possibility of tooth infection, which will also prevent jaw pain resulting from tooth decay.
Final Thoughts
If you begin experiencing jaw pain on one side of the face, it is advisable to try treating it with home remedies and corresponding lifestyle modifications. However, for progressing symptoms, it is prudent to seek treatment from an emergency dentist.
It can also be a good practice to identify a specialist who offers emergency services for oral health issues, such as jaw pain, that may require immediate intervention.
If you’re in or around Brooklyn Center, trust Brooklyn Blvd Dental as your go-to destination for comprehensive, compassionate dental care. Our experienced specialists are equipped to handle a wide range of dental issues with accuracy and care. We’re committed to your comfort, recovery, and long-term oral health!
Visit one of the best Brooklyn Center dentists today!
Our address: 5831 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429, United States
Contact: 763-533-8669
