The Potential Causes of Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can usually be traced back to one or two main (and common) causes. Nighttime bruxism (teeth grinding) is a leading cause of jaw pain. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the axis of the jaw, where all the muscles that work your mouth connect, and when it works all night to grind your teeth together it can get tired and cause jaw pain or fatigue.


Another very common cause of jaw pain is when a change occurs in your bite. Under normal circumstances your teeth fit together like a precise puzzle. The ridges and valleys of each top tooth fits precisely into the ridges and valleys of all the bottom teeth.


When teeth move around because of a change in the mouth, it can feel like there is no “right way” for your jaw to close which will usually cause jaw pain.

What Can be Done About Jaw Pain?

If you experience jaw pain or fatigue that lasts longer than a week you should call our office and schedule an appointment. Depending on what we find to be the root cause of your issue we can build a treatment plan that will set your jaw at ease and make everything go back to normal!