Have you ever suffered from jaw pain? If so, you must be familiar with the enormous negative impact it can have on your everyday life, from eating to talking to sleeping. How can you stop this unbearable pain and prevent it from happening in the future? This guide will tell you what could be behind your jaw pain problem and inform you of the possible treatment options for jaw pain in Fair Oaks.
- Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a major factor that causes jaw pain. Normally, teeth grinding occurs at night while you are asleep. It can also happen while you are awake. Therefore, if you happen to find yourself unintentionally grinding your teeth, make sure to stop immediately.
There are numerous factors that contribute to teeth grinding, such as the combination of physical and psychological factors, stress, and anxiety playing a major role. Teeth grinding can also be caused by misaligned teeth, Parkinson’s disease, and medication side effects.
- TMD or TMJ
One of the main causes of jaw pain is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), also known as TMJ. This disorder usually affects the joints that connect your skull and jawbone. Since it is possible to live with TMD without knowing it, it is advisable to frequently consult with your healthcare provider as severe TMD can permanently damage your teeth.
- Cavities
Despite not being an obvious reason for jaw pain, cavities can gradually progress to a point where it can cause jaw pain. A cavity can deteriorate your tooth to a point where your tooth root becomes infected. If left untreated, this infection can spread to the surrounding tissues in your jaw bone, resulting in severe jaw pain. However, you can easily avoid this by frequently visiting your dentist for dental check-ups.
- Gum Disease
Gum disease also referred to as periodontitis also causes jaw pain. Just like an untreated cavity, an untreated gum infection can spread to the surrounding gum tissues and cause mild to severe jaw pain. Therefore, it is extremely crucial for you to seek medical help once you notice any symptoms of periodontitis.
- Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth naturally appear between the ages of 17-25 and are likely to cause jaw pain if they alter your teeth’ alignment or cause excessive pressure in the jaw.
How Is Jaw Pain Treated?
At the Madison Family Dental Group, we treat jaw pain cases depending on their immediate cause. For example, if we discover that your jaw pain originates from grinding your teeth at night, we will prescribe night guards. Night guards are flexible teeth coverings that are worn over the teeth to prevent you from grinding or clenching your teeth.
If the origin of your jaw pain is secondary conditions, we will provide effective treatment options and then closely monitor you to ensure that your jaw pain is completely resolved.
Conclusion
If you have been suffering from jaw pain, kindly visit us at the Madison Family Dental Group situated in Fair Oaks, California. Dr. Shiva Salehi, DDS, and the team will determine the exact source of your jaw pain and come up with effective treatment solutions for you. For more information about our services, feel free to book an appointment online or simply call us today.
