Pain is a frustrating thing that can affect your quality of life, no matter where it is in your body. That said, if it’s localized in just one side of your jaw, then you might be more confused about why this is happening. Your emergency dentist may give you relief, but it’s important to find the underlying cause. Here are a few possible culprits and how your provider can help.
Problems That Lead to One-Sided Jaw Pain
Your jaw can hurt on one side for several reasons, some dental-related and others medical. Here are a few that you should keep in mind:
- Injury or trauma from a facial blow or accident can leave your mouth aching. If you don’t know whether to visit your dentist or ER, then you can call your oral healthcare provider to get their recommendation.
- Sinus infections cause fluid to build up in the sinus cavities. Pressure is put on your upper molars, which can hurt on one side of your face. This problem often goes away on its own, but your physician can help.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder causes your jaw joints to be chronically sore and strained. Teeth grinding and clenching can lead to it, but several other factors may be at play.
- A dental abscess can occur from a dental infection, but it manifests as a pimple-like bump on your gums. This is a serious emergency that needs to be handled right away. You may also experience intense pain, swelling, and a fever.
Should You Visit Your Dentist?
Since there’s a mix of dental and non-dental causes, you might be confused about when you should visit your dentist. By understanding a few signs, you can feel confident about who to head to.
For instance, if your one-sided jaw pain also brings chills, fever, signs of infection (like redness and swelling), trouble opening and closing your mouth, and worsening pain, then seeing your dentist can be beneficial.
How Can Your Dentist Treat One-Sided Jaw Pain?
Your dentist can offer several treatments to fix your one-sided jaw pain depending on what the cause is. For instance, if it’s an infection, a root canal can get rid of the damaged pulp and save your tooth. Teeth grinding or clenching, also called bruxism, can be fixed with a nightguard. This will protect your teeth from excess pressure and ease TMJ disorder.
Regardless, your dentist is here to help. By letting them know about your discomfort, you can learn the next steps; that way, you get back the comfortable grin you deserve.
About the Practice
Struggling with one-sided jaw pain? Our team at Wolfe Dental Cedar Mill is dedicated to helping patients in Portland get relief with a wide range of treatments. Led by compassionate dentists, we can see people the same day as their dental emergency. We work to find the issue at hand and give you the effective solution you need. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call our office at 503-751-2735.