Jaw joint pain, what are the causes and how to deal with it?

Causes of the jaw joint pain

The jaw joint works like a sliding hinge to open and close the mouth. The work of these joints also involves muscles, ligaments and the jawbone.

Quoted from Healthline, most of the causes of jaw pain arise from injury to your jaw muscles. However, jaw pain can also be caused by problems or disorders that specifically affect the joint that supports it. Here are some of the causes that make jaw pain:

1. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)

The jaw joint has another name, namely the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint is a hinge that connects the jaw with the temporal bone in the skull close to the ear.

It is the temporomandibular joint that enables you to open your mouth by moving your jaw up, down, and the other side.

This jaw joint disorder is called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). The most common things that cause the temporomandibular jaw joint to hurt are:

Physical injury (impact, fall, sports injury) to the tooth or jaw.
Excessive stimulation of the jaw joint, for example due to the habit of grinding teeth (bruxism) or beating the jaw tightly
Uneven grooves of teeth or misalignment of the upper and lower jaws
Stress
Arthritis (inflammation of the joints).

2. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes calcification of the affected joints. As a result, the joints become painful and stiff, making it difficult to move them. You may have trouble opening your mouth wide.

Apart from causing the jaw joint to hurt, osteoarthritis also makes the jaw crack "crack" when moved.

This condition generally occurs when the cartilage that is supposed to protect the tip of the jawbone is gradually worn and damaged due to inflammation.

Osteoarthritis of the jaw most often affects only one side of the face.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aka rheumatism is a type of arthritis that causes joints to feel painful, swollen, and stiff. Rheumatism is often experienced by the elderly (elderly), but it can also be experienced by young adults, adolescents, and children.

When rheumatism attacks the jaw joint, you will feel pain when chewing and also become stiff. At an advanced stage, it is possible that the jaw joint will also make a sound when moved.

Unlike OA which affects only one side of the face, rheumatic inflammation affects the joints symmetrically. Symptoms of jaw joint pain due to rheumatism can be felt on both sides of the face.

Symptoms of a sore jaw joint

The most common symptom of jaw joint pain is pain that is felt in the area around the lower face. Other symptoms that usually arise are:

Mild to severe pain.
Pain in the inside and around the ear.
The ears become sore and ringing
Difficulty chewing or discomfort when chewing.
Pain when biting.
The joints are stiff or locked, making it difficult to open or close the mouth.
Pain in the face to the jaw.
There is a “click” or “crack” sound when opening and closing the jaw.
Swelling of the face.
The face becomes more sensitive, which includes the jaw, neck and ears.
A face that looks tired.

However, keep in mind that the symptoms experienced by each person can vary depending on the cause. So, it's a good idea to consult a doctor if you feel your jaw joint hurts but are not sure what causes it.

How to deal with a sore jaw joint

Most cases of jaw joint pain, especially mild ones, go away on their own. If your jaw joint still hurts, you should immediately do something to relieve the pain. Especially if the pain gets worse.

Here's how to deal with sore jaw that you can do:

1. Use a hot or cold compress

Soak a thin towel or washcloth in warm water, squeeze out the excess water, and place it on the sore jaw for 10-15 minutes. You can also make your own heating pad at home.

The warm temperature helps dilate the vessels so that blood flows more smoothly to the sore site. This can help relieve pain and relax overactive muscles and jaw joints.

Meanwhile, if the jaw looks swollen, compress with cold water for 10-15 minutes. The cold temperature helps inhibit the production of inflammatory substances and reduce swelling.

Give it a break of about 20 minutes before you re-compress it if necessary.

2. Take pain relievers

So that your daily activities are not interrupted, there are various pain reliever options that you can take.

If you choose oral medication, don't forget to consult your doctor first. This is because drug administration can depend on the area of pain and its severity. Some of the over-the-counter jaw pain relievers are:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen.
Muscle relaxants such as metaxalone or cyclobenzaprine.

If the pain in the jaw joint is severe, your doctor may prescribe a strong opioid pain reliever such as codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

3. Massage

Facial massage is a pretty powerful way to treat mild jaw joint pain. Here are the steps:

Use the index and middle fingers.
Press the affected part with the finger against your jaw.
Do a circular motion for 5 to 10 rotations.
Also massage the muscles on the sides of the neck as well to relieve tension that causes jaw joint pain.
After that, try to open your mouth and try again.

So that the benefits are more optimal without further side effects, it's a good idea to consult a trusted therapist first.