Jaw Pain on Right Side

What is Right Jaw Pain?

We have all suffered from jaw pain at least once in our lives. In fact, this is quite a common complaint. Sometimes, the pain is present only on one part of the jaw, such as the right or left side. In other situations, the entire jaw hurts, preventing us from eating certain foods or drinking various beverages. The problem lies in making the difference between a minor problem and something that is more serious. In the majority of the patients, the jaw pain on the right side is related to a dental problem. However, it can be that this pain is caused by more serious health problems, such as the jaw arthritis. The associated symptoms vary according to the underlying condition, as well as the treatment.

Symptoms of Jaw Pain on the Right Side

Depending on the underlying cause, these are the symptoms that are associated with the jaw pain on the right side:

  • Temporomandibular joint disorder
    • Headache
    • Nausea
    • Vertigo
    • Popping/creaking sound
    • Tenderness to the touch (especially in front of the ear)
    • Pain can radiate to nearby structures (such as the ear canal)
    • One might experience difficulties in opening the mouth or chewing (severe cases)
  • Trauma
    • Inflammation
    • Bruising
    • Fracture/dislocation of the jaw
    • Teeth might not feet properly together (difficult chewing)
    • Numbness (nearby nerves affected)
  • Bruxism
    • Teeth grinding
    • Headache
    • Pain at the level of the neck and jaw
    • Tooth pain
    • Premature wear of the teeth
  • Jaw arthritis
    • Swelling
    • Difficulty in chewing
  • Dental problems
    • Dental infection
      • Severe right-sided jaw pain
      • Swelling
    • Tooth fracture
      • Trauma
      • Excessive clenching
    • Food trapped between teeth
      • Gum inflammation
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
    • Sharp pain
    • The pain can extend to the face or head
    • The symptoms are easily aggravated by a breeze of air
  • Sinus problems (infections)
    • Facial fullness
    • Congestion
    • Sinus drainage (mucus + blood).

Causes of Right Jaw Pain

These are the most common causes that lead to the appearance of the jaw pain on the right side:

  • Temporomandibular joint disorder
    • Underlying process – inflammation or irritation
    • Risk factor – chewing gum (excessively)
  • Trauma
    • Physical injury – falling, accidents
    • Pain is experienced on the right side (depending on the direction from which the trauma occurs)
    • The trauma can lead to the bruising, fracturing or dislocation of the jaw
  • Bruxism
    • Grinding of the teeth during sleep
  • Jaw arthritis
    • Inflammation at the level of the jaw
    • The jaw joint is just as prone to arthritis as any other joint in the body
    • Wear and tear process
  • Dental problems
    • Frequent cause of jaw pain
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
    • Also known as tic douloureux
    • May be caused by:
      • Inflammation
      • Irritation
      • Trauma
  • Sinus infections
    • Frequent cause of jaw pain
    • Maxillary sinus – just above the upper teeth (infection – pain)
  • Other causes
    • Bad habits
      • Nail biting
      • Thumb sucking
      • Chewing objects
    • Bony growths
      • Location – jawbone, temporomandibular joint
      • More common in older people (wear and tear)
    • Inflammation of the parotid gland
    • Tetanus
    • Migraines
    • Lyme disease
    • Cysts
    • Jaw tumor
    • Abscess
    • Cancer of the neck/head
    • Osteonecrosis of the jaw
    • Actinomycosis
    • Osteomyelitis.

Diagnosis

These are the most common methods of diagnosis used for the underlying conditions:

  • Medical history
    • Medication
    • Previous treatments or surgical interventions
    • Pre-existing conditions
    • Family history of illnesses
  • Physical examination
    • Identification of trigger points
  • Imaging studies (X-ray, CT, MRI)
    • Performed in case of suspected fracture

Treatment for Jaw Pain on Right Side

The treatment is generally directed towards the underlying cause of the problem:

Temporomandibular joint disorder

  • Jaw rest and self-massage
  • Switching to soft food diet
  • Quitting habits that have caused the problem (chewing gum, eating hard candy)
  • Cold applications (ice pack wrapped in a towel) – can help with the swelling and inflammation
  • Warm applications (compress or heated towel) – can help to relax the constricted muscles of the jaw
  • Anti-inflammatory medication (recommended choices – ibuprofen, acetaminophen) – relief from the pain and inflammation
  • Night splints – prevent the excessive grinding of the teeth during the night
  • Muscle relaxants/steroids – recommended for more severe cases (the steroids cannot however be administered for prolonged periods of time, due to the negative effects over a person’s health)
  • Surgical intervention – recommended in the situation that the person does not respond to the other methods of treatment (intervention performed by oral surgeon or dentist)

Trauma

  • Cold applications (ice) – reduction of pain and inflammation
  • Surgical repair
    • Plates, screws or wires might be used, in order to immobilize the jaw and allow for the fracture to heal
    • Repairing of opening fractures (cuts, lacerations)

Bruxism

  • Stress management
  • Medication
    • Muscle relaxants
    • Antidepressants
    • Night splints (dental treatment) – similar to mouthguards

Jaw arthritis

  • Switch to diet of soft foods
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Prescription muscle relaxants
  • Steroid injections
  • Surgical intervention (severe and chronic cases)

Dental problems

  • Antibiotics
  • Pain medication
  • Dental intervention

Trigeminal neuralgia

  • Anti-inflammatory medication – pain relief
  • Narcotic medication
  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-seizure medication
  • Surgical intervention
    • Recommended in the situation that the patients do not respond to treatment
    • The intervention is performed for the decompression of the affected nerve

Sinus problems

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Decongestants
  • Saline spray
  • Nose irrigation (clear sinus passages)
  • Prescription corticosteroid sprays
    • Reduction of inflammation
    • Facilitate the drainage of the excess mucus
  • Surgical intervention – recommended for those who are unresponsive to the conventional treatment.

Complications of Right Jaw Pain

These are the complications that can occur in those who present jaw pain on the right side:

  • Pain at the level of the ear
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Clicking or popping sound (yawning or chewing)
  • Swelling at the level of the face
  • Inability to open the mouth to the full range of motion
  • Difficult swallowing or breathing (requires emergency medical assistance)
  • Pain at the level of the chest.

Prevention

These are the measures that you can take, in order to prevent the jaw pain:

  • Relaxation of the jaw (conscious effort) – reduce the experienced pressure
  • Dental treatments – teeth realignment (especially valid for children)
  • Maintain excellent dental hygiene – prevent dental problems, such as infections at the level of the jaw
  • Avoid the strenuous pressure at the level of the jaw – choose a comfortable pillow, avoid keeping the phone between the jaw and the shoulder
  • Wearing splints for bruxism (no more teeth grinding)
  • Intra-aural devices (reduced pressure at the level of the joints)
  • Stress relieving exercises – relieve the pain at the level of the jaw
  • Arthrocentesis procedure – realignment of the jaw (injection of anti-inflammatory substances).

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