Medical expert of the article
New publications
Jaw pain
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
If you have jaw pain of any nature and duration, then you can no longer postpone a visit to the dentist. If you know for sure that there was mechanical damage to the jaw, external or internal trauma, then you need to go to see a maxillofacial surgeon. It is worth remembering that pain in the lower or upper jaw can be the result of various diseases. Some of them are quite easy to treat, while others can cause a lot of trouble. In any case, you should not self-medicate, as this can aggravate the disease and complicate its course.
[ Why does my jaw hurt?
There are two conditional divisions to determine what disease this symptom signals:
- Primary causes of jaw pain (among such causes, the most common are inflammatory processes directly in the jaw, for example, osteomyelitis)
- Secondary pain in the jaw indicates the development of diseases in other organs.
Primary jaw pain is the responsibility of such doctors as a dentist, maxillofacial surgeon, otolaryngologist. Secondary pain is studied to establish an accurate diagnosis by doctors of other specialties.
Primary pain may appear in the following cases:
- Jaw fracture (unbearably severe pain; may be a consequence of bruxism - a disease in which a person involuntarily clenches their jaws too hard during sleep, which is accompanied by grinding of teeth)
- Dental diseases and problems with wisdom teeth (the consequences of tooth extraction, knocked-out teeth are pain in the jaw that continues for some time; caries and pulpitis can also provoke painful sensations in the damaged areas of the jaw)
- Infection and inflammation of the gums (periodontosis, periodontitis, etc.)
- Formation of osteophytes (bony growths around the jaw in older people)
- Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint and other inflammatory diseases of the jaws
Secondary jaw pain often indicates the development of such diseases:
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
- Viral parotitis (mumps, which causes cervical lymph nodes to swell and pain often radiates to the lower jaw)
- Rare diseases (scurvy, Caffey's disease)
- Migraine, which is accompanied by involuntary clenching of the teeth due to headache
Actions for jaw pain
If you feel a strong, sharp or dull pain in your jaw that causes discomfort, you need to determine several things yourself. First, remember if you have had a recent jaw injury that could have resulted in a fracture. If such a misfortune has occurred, then you cannot delay – you need to go to a maxillofacial surgeon. He will apply a splint if necessary. This will help to avoid the loss of all teeth, since as a result of a jaw fracture, the teeth begin to shift and fall out. If you have not had any injuries or mechanical damage to the jaw, then in this case you will need to see a dentist. It is necessary to examine the oral cavity and exclude possible diseases of the teeth and gums that can provoke such pain. In addition, sometimes a person cannot determine for himself that severe pain and even decreased mobility of the jaws can be caused by the eruption of wisdom teeth. In the case of viral mumps, a therapist can provide assistance. Remember if you have been overcooled recently. If, in addition to jaw pain, you have difficulty breathing through your nose, an otolaryngologist should examine you for sinusitis. And if the jaw pain is a consequence of a migraine, you need to see a neurologist. All diseases that cause painful sensations in the jaws can be dangerous in an advanced state.