How many times have you woken up with excruciating pain at the base of your jaw? This discomfort is very problematic, since it can spread to the temple and press on your head, thus producing migraines. From, we discover that the main cause of this constant jaw pain is usually dental bruxism, caused mainly by stress.
If you think you are part of this large number of the population that suffers daily jaw pain, do not miss the following article from, where we will explain how to remove jaw pain due to stress.
Why I Have Jaw and Ear Pain
Dental bruxism is an unconscious act of the body that consists of clenching and / or grinding the teeth without realizing it. In general, this condition is associated with stress, anxiety or anguish, although in some cases it can also be a symptom of parasites in the body.
This act can occur both night and day, although it is true that it is usually very common during the hours of sleep of the person, since the individual in question does not realize what he is doing. Most affected people find out because someone witnesses the grinding or because the dentist detects aware of the teeth.
As we have said before, this jaw pain can be directed towards the temple and cause many migraines, all due to the effort we exert. However, it may also be that the pain extends to the ear, since when bruxism is constant, the pain spreads to the point of attachment between the upper and lower jaws, which can lead to severe earaches.
Dental bruxism can come and go at any time, as it is not usually a permanent problem. However, it should be noted that if stress is its main cause, the most effective way to get rid of jaw pain will be to treat the problem at its root and get rid of the problems that cause distress, tension and/or anxiety.
Causes of jaw pain
The reasons why dental bruxism occurs can be diverse; however, there is a direct relationship with the psychological state of the individual. The causes that can produce jaw pain are:
- Stress and anxiety.
- Misalignment of the teeth.
- Lack of bedtime habits.
- Night rest and trouble relaxing.
- Insomnia.
- Bad eating habits that may be straining the jaw or causing parasites in the body.
- Improper body posture that causes pressure at the base of the neck and, therefore, in the jaw
The diagnosis of stress jaw pain may come in the first instance from the dentist. In a routine checkup, you can assess the condition of your teeth and their level of slippage. When there are no apparent signs but the patient complains of ear, head and jaw pain, a dental X-ray may be necessary to see the complete condition of the teeth. Although it seems obvious, we insist on the importance of going to a specialist doctor in case of persistent pains in the ear, head and / or jaw to rule out that it is a major problem.
Jaw pain from stress
People who suffer from dental bruxism usually wake up with a clenched jaw and feeling a lot of pain. Clenching and grinding the teeth causes permanent wear on the teeth and even on the bone that holds the teeth. At this point, the jaw can become stuck or produce a loud sound when opening and closing.
As we have seen, people who usually suffer from dental bruxism are either individuals who are going through stressful and decisive moments or have problems of anguish and anxiety that lead them to press with their teeth involuntarily. People affected by stress jaw pain may experience, too:
- Sensitivity to very cold or very hot foods.
- Swelling of the jaw.
- Muscle pain at the level of the jaw or discomfort to the touch.
- Trouble chewing or pain doing so.
- Headaches or migraines.
- A lot of distress and/or stress due to pain.
How to Avoid Jaw Pain from Stress
Even though the dentist can help with the condition of the teeth and jaw, it is the person who will need to identify the reasons why they are clenching their teeth. It is not always easy to identify such discomfort, which is why if the person suffers from excessive stress and / or anxiety, they should receive the opinion of a professional psychologist.
Stress jaw pain will not go away unless the basis of the problem is attacked. Otherwise, it will reappear whenever there is a situation of tension, pressure or anxiety. Some measures to avoid jaw pain due to stress are:
- Learn and apply relaxation techniques.
- Practice sports daily that help release tension from the body.
- Establish habits and routines before sleeping.
- Avoid coffee, tobacco or chocolate about 6 hours before going to bed.
- Take care of food.
- Increase water intake.
- Use a medically approved dental splint.
In the following article, we explain in detail how to stop gritting your teeth.
How to Remove Jaw Pain from Stress
To relieve jaw pain from stress, the patient can follow these recommendations:
- Apply ice or cold gel to areas where there is pain.
- Perform gentle massages at the junction of the jaw in a circular shape.
- Take breaths and stretch the jaw muscles. Singing is a simple and fun way to do it.
- Avoid chewing hard foods such as seeds or nuts, as well as chewing gum.
- Consume foods rich in calcium to decrease the effects of enamel wear.
- Be consistent with oral cleaning. You may be interested in this article on How to Brush Sensitive Teeth.
