Sometimes it can be easy to tell why you’re experiencing pain. If you stub your toe or burn your tongue on hot coffee, you’ll instantly feel discomfort right at the source. But what happens if you experience unexplained facial pain? Here’s what could be causing it, and whether you should consider it a dental emergency.
Surprising Causes of Facial Pain
Because your mouth is housed inside your head, and there are many systems located in a relatively small area, in some cases facial pain won’t originate where you feel it. For example, have you ever had a toothache when your nose was congested? This is often due to the jaw’s proximity to the sinus cavity. Because of increased pressure on the sinuses, pain can easily radiate to the jaw and in turn temporarily make your teeth hurt, causing a toothache.
Bruxism
In other cases, you may be experiencing discomfort in a completely logical spot, such as if you have jaw pain due to bruxism (teeth grinding). Unfortunately, however, many people don’t realize that they grind their teeth, either because they do it while they’re asleep, or because it’s done subconsciously. This can result in a lot of confusion, along with broken or worn teeth and jaw pain caused by excess pressure from your bite. Thankfully, your dentist has solutions to treat bruxism, including the creation of a custom bite guard that can bear much of the pressure of your bite force and protect your teeth from further damage.
Tooth Abscess
Another sneaky cause of facial pain is an abscessed tooth. When the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected, it could form an abscess, and the pain from this can radiate throughout the tooth, jaw, and face. The infection can also spread to other teeth and the body, causing even more discomfort, so it is important to treat this condition as soon as possible at your emergency dentist. In many cases, a root canal will be recommended for the affected tooth or teeth; however, if you wait too long to get help, it may require a tooth extraction, so time is of the essence.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Your temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects your jaw to the rest of your skull, allowing it to open and close your mouth so you can eat and speak. Sometimes, the temporomandibular joint can become stressed or misaligned, causing what is known as TMJ disorder. This can cause facial pain, jaw pain and stiffness, headaches (including migraines), back pain, neck pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek help from your dentist. Though each case varies by patient, TMJ disorders can often be treated with a combination of therapies such as bite guards and jaw exercises.
Remember, facial pain can have many causes, not all of them serious. However, to protect your teeth and alleviate your discomfort, it’s important to seek medical attention from your emergency dentist when it occurs. Don’t wait for your symptoms to get worse. Schedule an emergency dental appointment today and feel better, faster!
About Our Practice
At Harrisonburg Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, our trio of talented and caring dentists wants you to have a beautiful, pain-free smile. If you’re suffering from unexplained facial discomfort, it could be the sign of a dental emergency and should be treated as soon as possible. For faster care, please call us directly at 540-432-66163 for an appointment.