When it comes to your dental health, no pain is really considered ‘normal’, and the type of discomfort you’re experiencing can often be an indicator of a more serious underlying concern.
But it’s natural to have questions about your condition or wonder how urgent it is. For instance, if you developed a jaw ache on one side of your mouth, you might question whether you require a same-day emergency appointment with your dentist. Continue reading to learn about 3 potential causes behind the throbbing and how your provider might help!
Concern #1: TMJ Disorders
Your jaw is anchored to your skull via two sliding-disc joints, known as the temporomandibular joints (or TMJ), which are located just below your ears on each side of your face. Under normal circumstances, they provide your mandible with a full range of motion: you can shift your jaw forwards and back, left to right, or open and close your mouth.
But if you grind your teeth, sustained an injury, or have dental misalignments, you might be putting added pressure on these sensitive joints, which can cause them to become painfully inflamed. This condition, known as TMJ disorder, or TMD, can affect one or both sides of your face. Your dentist can help reduce symptoms by providing a custom-fitted nightguard for bruxism or an athletic sportsguard to help cushion your teeth and help ensure your jaw is properly aligned.
Concern #2: Tooth Decay
Did you know that cavities are contagious? They occur when certain unhealthy bacteria thrive and produce acids that erode the protective outer layer of your teeth. Then, the germs can spread to neighboring teeth, or even penetrate your jawbone and destabilize the foundation of your mouth.
If you’ve noticed throbbing only on one side of your mouth, it might be due to progressing tooth decay and requires treatment as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Your dentist may need to take X-rays or other images to determine the extent of the damage and develop an appropriate treatment plan if a routine, tooth-colored filling isn’t enough.
Concern #3: Growing Molars
Depending on your age, you might also develop aches as your molars arrive. Although your first two sets typically erupt between the ages of 6 to about 13 years old, the third set, known as wisdom teeth, don’t usually appear until the ages of about 17 to 25. Most people have 4 of these total; one for each quadrant of the mouth. But that’s not always the case.
For example, some people only develop 1, 2, or 3 of these last molars, which means they might only affect one side of the mouth. It’s believed that our ancient ancestors developed them out of necessity for survival, but today, they often cause unnecessary aches, overcrowd neighboring teeth, or become trapped or impacted in the gums or jawbone. They’re extracted more frequently than not as a result.
If you’re still unsure why your jaw hurts, the best next step is to contact your dentist for an appointment so they can help.
About the Practice
Patients at Patriot Dental benefit from two providers who are passionate about improving their lives by enhancing their dental health. Dr. Lisonbee and Dr. Henry share decades of combined experience working with patients of all ages, and today, they collaborate to offer a comprehensive menu of services to meet your unique needs conveniently under one roof. They prioritize patient care and comfort and offer same-day emergency visits and oral conscious sedation so you don’t have to wait long for relief. You can request an appointment on the website or call (850) 477-1120.