Jaw ache can be devastating. You can't smile, you can't eat, and you can't speak. It's terrible! It can start with an accident, a long dental visit, or without any good reason. It's Acute is when the pain begins suddenly. It's chronic when the pain persists and doesn't go away. The pain causes the jaw muscles to tighten and hold the jaw in one place to protect it. Unfortunately, the jaw muscles then go into spasm, become inflamed, and cause more pain.
Jaw muscle exercises can be helpful because they bring blood to the tight jaw muscles. Because patients can't chew easily, many patients do not eat much. This decreases their strength and causes more jaw ache. Placing moist hot hand towels over both sides of the jaws can help. Fill up a sink with hot water and place the towels in the sink then wring them out. Be sure the water is not hot enough to burn you. After a few minutes, stretch your jaw muscles by opening and closing as wide and you can. The movement and the heat help bring nourishing blood to the jaw muscles and take away the waste products that have built up that cause discomfort in the jaw muscles.Gentle massage can help. Rub the muscles on the outside of your face and then place your thumb or forefinger inside the mouth and the other finger outside the mouth. Gently sweeze the muscles between your two fingers and rub the jaw muscles from inside and outside the mouth. You can also fill your bathtub up with hot water and immerse yourself almost totally in the hot water so that your entire face is covered with warm water. This can often help the patient sleep better.
Motrin and Nuprin are the best over-the-counter analgesics for jaw ache. However, they do not solve the problem of why your jaw muscles are hurting and only mask the symptoms. They don't cure the reason that you are having pain. Many jaw ache patients do not want to bother actually fix their jaw pain problem and prefer taking prescription drugs to reduce the jaw ache. This is a dangerous situtation and an ethical dentist will avoid these types of pain patients.
It is important for patients with jaw ache to rember to stay healthy and eat properly. There are many causes and that's why it is so difficult for many doctors to diagnose. One cause is a nutritional deficiency in a vitamin, like Vitamin C or Vitamin E. Jaw ache can even be caused by a mineral deficiency in magnesium , calcium ,or any of the other minerals required by your body.
Keep your mind off of your jaw ache and on something positive. Don't worry your relatives with your pain. Don't complain; instead, do something. Some patients have clicking and popping inside their jaw joints. The shock absorbing disc inside the jaw joint has come out of place and is now flopping around. This displaced disc is probably the cause of the pain. For these patients, visiting a knowledgeable dentist is essential. The dentist can often make a dental appliance that will help support your jaw without the need for your jaw muscles experiencing the jaw ache to do this. The dentist can refer you to a physical therapist trained in treating facial pain or to massage therapist who can help you relax your jaw muscles and reduce your pain.
If you are experiencing jaw ache and would like to visit with Dr. Padolsky, call 404-874-7428 to make an appointment.