Pain in the jaw can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks or take care of your oral health. Jaw pain in Gouverneur, NY, can be a sign of a variety of different dental and medical concerns. Your dentist can examine your mouth and bite to determine the source of your pain. If it is a dental problem, they will create a personalized treatment plan designed to alleviate pain and help restore the strength of your bite. If there is an underlying medical concern, your dentist can also help you find a specialist you need to treat the problem.
Dental Causes of Jaw Pain in Gouverneur, NY
When your bite isn’t working properly, it can lead to a variety of dental problems, including jaw pain. You may experience jaw pain if you suffer from any of the following.
TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a crucial part of your jaw structure that helps your mouth open and close. Sometimes, this joint can become damaged, inflamed, or even moved out of place. When this happens, it’s natural for patients to experience pain and discomfort, especially when talking or chewing.
Bruxism
Clenching and grinding your teeth puts an excessive amount of strain on your jaw. The more you tense up, the more your jaw muscles and joints work. Patients who suffer from bruxism, especially at night, tend to experience jaw pain in the mornings. Excessive bruxism could lead to TMJ disorder over time.
Sleep Apnea
When we sleep, the muscles in our throat and tongue naturally relax. However, some patients may experience a blockage of the airways that makes sleeping difficult. To help counteract this, we tend to snore, which can lead to strain on your jaw, as your mouth is open most of the night.
Malocclusion
When our teeth don’t line up properly, it can cause uneven pressure and tension in our bite. While you can continue to talk or chew as usual, an uneven bite can lead to pain and damage to your jaw. The longer you continue to bite with unstraightened teeth, the more likely you are to develop further jaw problems, such as TMJ disorder.
Treatment for Jaw Pain
When you start to notice jaw pain or discomfort when talking and chewing, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you catch a potential problem, the more successful treatment can be. Depending on the cause of your specific jaw pain, your dentist may recommend a few different types of treatment, such as:
- A mouth guard to prevent grinding and protect your jaw from clenching
- Bite equilibration to reshape the tooth structure and adjust the fit of your bite
- Orthodontics to treat more extensive cases of malocclusion
If you have jaw pain, call our office at (315) 203-1772 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Nicholas Gardner can examine your bite to identify the source of the problem. If dental-related, he can help design a unique treatment plan for you.