Jaw Muscle Pain

According to the Merck Online Medial Library, jaw muscle pain and tightness is usually caused by overusing the muscle, often because of misaligned or missing teeth, injury to the head or neck, or stress-related muscle tension.

The muscles of the jaw sustain a lot of presssure when you chew.

Temporomandibular Joints

Your temporomandibular joints, called TMJs, are where the lower jawbone connects to the skull.

TMJ Disorders

Jaw muscle pain can be a symptom of a temporomandibular disorder (also called TMJ disorder). These include problems with the joints, the muscles around the joints, and the fibrous tissues that connect them (fascia).

Symptoms

Other symptoms of TMJ disorders can include headaches, tenderness of the chewing muscles, and clicking or locking of the joints, neck pain or stiffness that continues into the arms, dizziness, earaches or stuffiness in the ears, and sleep problems.

Diagnosis

A dentist or doctor usually diagnoses a TMJ disorder based on your symptoms, your medical history, and a physical examination. She might do further tests.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. For pain without an obvious cause, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends eating soft foods, using ice packs, avoiding wide yawning and gum chewing, and using painkillers for a short time.

Tags: muscle pain