Why Does My Jaw Hurt on One Side?

Common causes of jaw pain on one side

If you experience jaw pain on one side, you might worry about dental issues such as a cavity or abscessed tooth or wonder if you’ve been grinding your teeth at night.

Here’s a look at some common causes of jaw pain.

TMJ disorders

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the joint that connects your skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint and helps it move properly. If the disc becomes misaligned or the joint is damaged, you may experience pain on one or both sides of your jaw.

Multiple factors can contribute to TMJ disorders, so it’s not always easy to find a specific cause.

If you have symptoms of a TMJ disorder, a healthcare professional or dentist can help figure out the underlying cause.

Sinusitis

Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause sinusitis. This tends to happen if you’ve had a cold, but allergies and other medical conditions can also contribute to sinusitis.

If the sinus cavities behind your cheeks, known as the maxillary sinuses, are inflamed, you might feel pain in one or both sides of your jaw.

Sinusitis often clears up on its own, but if it lasts more than 10 days, it may be worth checking in with a healthcare professional.

Dental problems

Pain on one side of your jaw can often be traced to dental or oral health concerns.

Common dental problems that cause jaw pain include:

• cavities
• an abscessed tooth
• growth of wisdom teeth
• gum disease or tooth decay
• missing or misaligned teeth
• tooth grinding or clenching

Facial swelling and fever, along with severe tooth pain, may indicate an abscess. If you experience these symptoms, you should contact a dentist or healthcare professional right away, especially if breathing and swallowing become difficult.

Rare causes

While uncommon, rare issues may lead to pain on one side of your jaw. If there isn’t a clear reason for your pain, a healthcare professional may want to rule out these causes.

Trigeminal neuralgia

This chronic condition generally results from abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve (which runs through your head and brain). This pressure can prevent the nerve from functioning properly, leading to severe pain.

Trigeminal neuralgia is most common in females and people above the age of 50. The primary symptom is severe pain that usually occurs on one side of your face.

Pain is often brief but excruciating. It may not respond to over-the-counter medications, but a healthcare professional can recommend other treatments, including prescription medication.

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an uncommon but serious type of bone infection that develops when bacteria enter the bone.

Your jawbone could become infected after dental surgery if you have a serious dental health issue or if your mouth is injured in some way. Conditions that affect your immune health can also increase your risk.

This infection can spread and cause bone death. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications.

Salivary gland stones

Salivary gland stones can cause swelling and jaw pain. Obstruction of the duct by a stone can potentially lead to a bacterial infection or an abscess.

Treatment can depend on the size and location of the stone but involves different procedures for removal. If you have signs of a bacterial infection, a doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.

Tips for relief

If you have mild or temporary jaw pain, you may not need medical treatment. If the cause isn’t serious, the pain usually improves once the issue clears up.

In the meantime, these approaches can help you manage it:

• Use heat: Heat may help relax your muscles and relieve aches and stiffness.
• Use ice or cold compresses: Cold compresses can help numb pain and may be particularly helpful if you’re also experiencing swelling.
• Try nonprescription pain relief: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and other over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve pain temporarily. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. If the recommended dose isn’t effective or you need to take pain relievers for more than a few days, it’s best to see a healthcare professional.
• Rest your jaw when possible: Choosing foods that don’t require a lot of chewing can help you avoid overworking your jaw muscles.
• Try massage: A physical therapist or massage therapist can use massage therapy to help release pain and tension in your jaw. You can also learn how to use some techniques on your own. They may be especially helpful for TMJ disorders.
• Try to relax: If your jaw pain comes from grinding or clenching your teeth, relaxation techniques can help you avoid using this as a stress response. Relaxing your muscles can also help relieve pain.
• Change your sleeping position: If you always sleep on the same side or sleep with your hand under your jaw, this could put pressure on your muscles. Switching the side you sleep on could help your pain. Even if your pain has a different cause, sleeping on the other side could help relieve pain at night.

If your jaw hurts because of an underlying cause, treating that health issue may help resolve your symptoms.

When to get help

Although jaw pain typically isn’t always serious, other symptoms you experience along with it could point to a more serious condition that requires treatment.

If the pain persists for more than a few days or seems to clear up only to return, you may want to consider seeing a healthcare professional or dentist.

Other signs it may be time to get a medical professional’s opinion include:

• You have trouble eating, drinking, swallowing, or breathing.
• Pain makes it difficult to move your mouth as you usually would.
• You have swelling or a fever that doesn’t go away.
• You have a high fever.
• You have severe pain that suddenly goes away after a burst of salty liquid that tastes and smells unpleasant, which can occur with a dental abscess.

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor or dentist, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.

Takeaway

Your jaw may hurt on one side as a result of a common health issue, such as clenching your teeth or nasal inflammation. More rarely, it can occur with serious conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia or a heart attack.

If your symptoms are concerning, your pain is severe, or it does not resolve with at-home care, you may need medical attention.

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