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Causes of Pain in the Lower Jaw Bone
It can be a sign of a common mouth problem like toothache, Tmj disorder or a more serious condition like a heart attack. Here are some of the possible causes for your jaw pain.
Overview of the jaw
In everyone's jaw, we have two bones called the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw). Pain in the lower jaw can occur due to many reasons and can be mild or severe. Pain may also occur due to disease inside the jaw bone or problem may arise from the nearby regions of the mouth or neck that makes you feel pain in your jaw. Also, Your jaw also contains your teeth and gums, which can be sensitive to heat, cold, or pressure. You can get infected if you don't practice good oral hygiene.
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Bone Problems
Dental Problems that can occur within the jawbone itself include oral cancer, tooth infection, fracture, and necrosis, or bone death. Fractures from blunt trauma to the mandible cause pain and swelling. People using bisphosphates drug to treat osteoporosis or low bone density can develop Osteonecrosis of the jaw. Necrosis occurs more often in people taking the drugs through the vein to treat cancer than people taking it orally. Symptoms include tooth loss over the area of the dead bone and painful, non-healing exposed area of bone, According to the American cancer society.
Cancer of the jawbone can arise as primary cancer or can metastasize, or spread, from another area. Pain and numbness or tingling often accompany cancer of the jaw. (see reference)
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Dental Causes
Many problems within the mouth, teeth, and gums can cause jaw pain. Cavities, broken teeth, abscesses, infection, and broken teeth can all cause pain that may be felt in the lower jaw.
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TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
TMJ can cause pain at the junction point of the upper and lower jawbones, known as the TMJ joint.
This disorder is often seen among women age 20 to 50 and is one of the most common reasons for jaw pain. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, About 1 in 8 people suffer from this condition. Also, it can occur as a result of injuries or diseases. Stress, muscle strain and other ailments like Arthritis might damage the cartilage that strengthens your jaw too.
Some of the notable symptoms are:
- Banging sound when you open your mouth
- Pain in your ear or face and jaw
- Sight problems
- headaches that won't go away
- Ringing in your ear
Your health care provider might prescribe pain relief drug like ibuprofen to ease your pain and recommend exercise to strengthen your jaw muscles. Also, it is advisable to stop chewing gums and avoid bad oral habits. Your doctor might tell you to get mouth guard if you always grind your teeth. Go for a checkup if you think you have TMJ disorder you might need surgery or prescription drugs to fix the disorder.
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Heart Attack
Heart disease might cause lower jaw bone pain. It starts from cluster nerves in the heart can be felt someplace else on the body. According to endodontist Joseph Dovgan, D.D.S. Problem with the facial nerves, called trigeminal neuralgia or swollen lymph nodes in the neck may also cause referred jaw pain, such as in the shoulders or the lower back. Some individual patient only experiences jaw discomfort during a heart attack.
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Other Causes pain in the lower jaw
Mumps. You catch it from a virus. It swells the glands on the side of your mouth that make saliva. The pain in the lower bone makes it hard to move your jaw.
Tetanus. You get this bacterial infection through a cut or a scratch on your skin. It might make your jaw stiff or tight that leads to pain in the lower jaw bone.
RELATED READINGS
- Mandibular Hypoplasia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Surgery
- What are the best treatment for gum disease?
- What vitamins and minerals are needed for healthy teeth?
SOURCES:
National Institutes of Health: “TMJ Disorders,” “Prevalence of TMJD and its Signs and Symptoms.”
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry: “Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the temporomandibular joint.”
The Cleveland Clinic: “Facial Fractures.”
Montreal Children’s Hospital: “Broken jaw.”
The Mayo Clinic: “TMJ Disorders,” “Myofascial pain syndrome.”
American Dental Association: “TMJ,” “Top Dental Symptoms,” “Dental Emergencies.”
Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy: “Management and Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Clinical Perspective.”
European Federation of Periodontology: “What is periodontitis?”
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network: “All About Rheumatoid Arthritis, TMJ, and lower jaw bone.”
CDC: “Mumps Cases and Outbreaks.”
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: “Tetanus.”
American Heart Association: “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.”
Journal of Applied Oral Science: “Referred Pain.”
Isreal olabanji a dental assistant and public health professionals and has years of experience in assisting the dentist with all sorts of dental issues.
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