Humans are great at neglecting the right things. We often make a mountain out of a mole-hill at the smallest things and regard major issues as no big deal. For instance, even a burning sensation or a small scratch can force us to take numerous trips to the doctor, but when it comes to something like prolonged jaw pain, we’re likely to keep trying home remedies instead of visiting a specialist.
Adrian Swancar/Unsplash | We often ignore things like frequent jaw pain, thinking it's casual, but in reality, it could be something serious
If you're someone who has been experiencing jaw pain for a long time, you should stop putting it off for another day and book your dentist’s appointment right away. Here's why.
Your jaw pain could be a serious matter
First off, know that jaw aches come in different varieties. If you grind your teeth habitually or chew a lot of gum or consume too many hard candies, the pain could be due to the stress caused to your teeth. But if you're facing difficulty opening your mouth and are unable to pinpoint the exact area where you’re experiencing that sharp sensation, it could be a sign of a heart attack. No, we aren't kidding!
An assistant professor in the College of Dentistry at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Isabel Moreno Hay, says that just like an unbearable pain in the left arm, a patient can experience pain in his or her jaw before a cardiac arrest. She warns people to be cautious about the other symptoms this pain might come with. If someone experiences dizziness, cold sweats, indigestion, or shortness of breath along with jaw pain, they should take medical help immediately.
Hush Naidoo Jade Photography/Unsplash | If you experience shooting pain in your jaw without reason along with cold sweats and shortness of breath, seek medical help immediately
Other common reasons behind jaw pain
If things aren’t pointing towards a cardiac arrest as Dr. Hay described, then probably one of the below-mentioned reasons could be keeping you up at night.
There's some problem with your teeth
Nowadays, dental problems have become very common. Almost every other person is suffering from one or another issue. In such a time, if you find an infected tooth or gum disease inside your mouth, you shouldn't be shocked. You should simply talk to a dentist. If you're lucky enough, your problem might not be as big as you thought and can be treated with a proper few visits. So think positive and do the right thing on time.
You might have a TMJ disorder
Though TMJ disorders are not very common, women are two times more prone to them than men. Symptoms like headaches in temples, pain in front of the ears, and difficulty in moving the jaw can be common during a TMJ disorder. Sometimes they could be due to an earlier injury or overuse, but mostly they are due to arthritis, misalignment of the jaw, or teeth grinding.
You're badly stressed out
Dr. Hay says many stressed people have a habit of clenching or grinding their teeth during the day or night. At times, this habit results in tender and sore jaw muscles and, of course, persistent pain. She suggests people either wear mouth guards or meditate and relax to get rid of this problem.
Diana Polekhina/Unsplash | People often grind their teeth because of stress or out of habit and this leads to jaw pain. Wearing mouth guards and meditating can help stay distracted
Wrapping it up
Going through these problems, you might think these are the only reasons you're unable to eat your favorite dishes. But before you jump to conclusions, try visiting your dentist and hear him out.
