More often than not, pain on one side of your jaw is linked to a dental problem like cavities, an abscess, wisdom teeth, gum disease, missing or misaligned teeth, or clenching and grinding.
Use a hot or cold compress
Ice helps reduce swelling and pain, while heat can increase blood flow and relax your jaw muscles. Apply a hot or cold compress to your jaw for 15 to 20 minutes at a time using a light layer between the compress and your skin.
Some conditions may cause pain on one side of the jaw, which may travel to the opposite side. This pain is not usually a cause for concern and may result from sinusitis, oral health issues, or TMJ disorders. People can treat these causes at home, or a doctor can prescribe a suitable treatment method.
Emergency symptoms of a swollen jaw
Emergency symptoms include having trouble opening the mouth, eating or breathing, or if the patient is in extreme pain or bleeding, has a high fever, or has a head injury in addition to the swollen jaw. Someone experiencing any of these symptoms should seek immediate emergency care.
In most cases, jaw pain does not require immediate medical attention. However, it is good to know that if the pain persists, is too much to handle, or spreads to other areas of the body, that you can seek counsel from a professional. The cause may be something more urgent than a cavity or tooth grinding.
Various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Jaw injury. Long-term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth. Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems that may affect the temporomandibular joint.
Rapid swelling of the jaw can be a sign of a dangerous infection, particularly if other symptoms are present such as tenderness, fever, and difficulty opening the mouth. Rapid swelling can also indicate an aggressive type of cancer.
It may be surprising, but your dentist is the best person to see for facial discomfort as it could signal worrisome oral health issues. If your mouth or face is swollen, that's a strong indication that you should seek immediate dental attention.
In some cases, jaw pain on one side can indicate underlying oral health problems. Some common issues that cause jaw pain are cavities, an abscessed tooth, gum disease, tooth decay, growth of wisdom teeth, missing or crooked teeth, and clenching or grinding your teeth.
Symptoms of an abscess in your tooth or gum may include: an intense, throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum that may come on suddenly and gets gradually worse. pain that spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum. pain that's worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep.
Depending on where you have the most pressure, inflammation, and nasal congestion within the nasal cavities, this can cause one-sided jaw pain. Jaw pain on one side can also result from a sinus infection that has spread beyond the sinus cavity. Another source of one-sided jaw pain is complex dental issues.
An NSAID, such as ibuprofen, may also help with the pain and swelling if not contraindicated. If the swelling doesn't improve or is associated with a more serious injury such as a broken bone, a traumatic head injury or concussion, you should contact your health care provider or go to the emergency department.
Generally, you can expect a TMJ flare-up to last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In rare cases, TMJ flare-ups can last for several weeks. If your TMJ symptoms don't resolve within this timeframe, talk to your orthodontist about possible treatment options.
Ibuprofen is a good choice in cases where there is TMJ inflammation, but there are other sources of jaw pain to consider.
The most common causes for a painful jaw lump include temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) or mononucleosis infection. Rare causes of painful bump under the chin are osteonecrosis of the jaw and fibrosarcoma. Read below for more information on causes of painful lump on the jaw and treatment options.
As the infection spreads, the person might encounter massive swelling and pain near the ear and jaw on one side. In fact, severe cases of this condition can demand immediate diagnosis as they could be life-threatening.
For many people, jaw pain & soreness is secondary to stress. Stress is how the body reacts to and handles harmful situations, but ongoing stress can manifest in physical ways. Clenching teeth puts additional undue strain on the jaw muscles and increases the pressure on the jaw joint.
Parotitis is a term used to describe parotid gland swelling. Your parotid glands are salivary glands located between your jaw and ear. Parotitis causes include viral and bacterial infections, salivary gland stones and dental problems. Treatments include antivirals, antibiotics, heat application and massage.
Parotitis is a painful swelling of your parotid glands, which are salivary glands located between the ear and jaw. The most common cause is a virus, such as mumps, herpes, or Epstein-Barr. Bacterial infections, diabetes, tumours or stones in the saliva glands, and tooth problems also may cause parotitis.
“Sometimes the manifestation of a heart attack or some cardiac event can be felt in the jaws, the teeth and the neck. It's not just the left side; it can happen on the right side, too, especially for females,” says Dr.
An injury, such as a broken jaw or a strain or sprain in the surrounding muscles, could cause jaw pain that radiates to the ear. If a person notices ear and jaw pain shortly after a fall, a car accident, or a blow to the head, they may have a jaw injury that needs medical treatment.
Central giant cell granuloma.
Central giant cell granulomas are benign lesions that grow from bone cells. They most often occur in the front portion of the lower jaw. One type of these tumors can grow rapidly, cause pain and destroy bone, and has a tendency to recur after surgical treatment.