Signs of a Dental Abscess
You may have heard the word “abscess” before. But do you know what it is and how to spot the signs of a problem? Take a few moments to learn more about this serious tooth infection.
Why You Shouldn't Ignore Recurrent Jaw Pain
Jaw pain can inhibit your daily life. Whether you spend all night fighting it or live with the discomfort and pain the next day, eating, drinking, speaking, and even kissing can be painful. What causes jaw pain can vary from person-to-person, but choosing a dentist who specializes in treating your jaw pain makes a big difference.
Shiva Salehi, DDS, has years of experience treating patients living with jaw pain. Our warm and professional staff at Madison Dental Group in Fair Oaks, California, understands how difficult and annoying it can be to have pain in your face. Dr. Salehi is equipped to give you the diagnosis and treatment you need to live a more comfortable life.
What is causing my recurrent jaw pain?
Recurrent jaw pain can be indicative of an underlying condition. To know how we can help you, Dr. Salehi offers thorough examinations to get to the root cause of your pain. Once we know what’s affecting you, we can treat you. Some causes of recurrent jaw pain include:
TMD
Several things can cause jaw pain. Your jaw, also known as your mandible, makes eating and drinking a breeze for our bodies, and is the start of our digestive processes. Most jaw pain is caused by TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the joints at the jaw, causing major discomfort, and sometimes dental problems.
Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are sensitive to stress. Anxious habits like clenching your jaw may happen as you sleep. Elevated stress levels can cause your teeth to grind at night, a TMD called bruxism. Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth can lead to jaw discomfort, and you may even experience clicking in your jaw. Other signs of TWD include:
- Heachaches
- Not being able to open your mouth as widely as you normally can
- Earaches, and aches in the area
- Discomfort or pain while chewing
Being mindful of your stress levels can help prevent TMD, but TMD cannot always be prevented. As mentioned before, injuries can cause recurrent jaw pain – they can also cause TMD.
Injury
If you did not know, it is possible to dislocate any joint, and your TMJ is no exception. Not only can you dislocate your jaw, you can break it. A broken jaw is extremely painful, and if not treated properly and quickly, could lead to complications. Jaw pain resulting from an accident to the soft tissues of your TMJ can become chronic, and you could be diagnosed with TMD.
Tooth pain
Pain that stems from teeth can reach the jaw, causing recurrent pain. Dental abscesses can cause pain in the jaw, as can gum disease and gingivitis. If you’ve recently had a dental procedure and are experiencing pain for several days after, call Dr. Salehi. It is possible that your procedure may not have been done properly, or you may have an infection.
Sinus problems
This is particularly true for allergy sufferers: Sinus issues can cause jaw pain. Though you may not have experienced this, sinuses can become inflamed, bearing down on the TMJ. When this happens, you may feel pressure or discomfort in your jaw.
I’m ready to treat my recurrent jaw pain.
Dr. Salehi offers consultations that fit your schedule and can help you treat your jaw pain. After your exam and sone testing, Dr. Salehi tells you what’s causing your jaw pain, how she can help you, and how you can help yourself. Call us today at 916-226-4635, or book an appointment with us online.
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