Ear and Jaw Pain

The trigger point associated with ear and jaw pain is located in the muscles of the jaw and anterior neck. If you are wondering, why is it that ear and jaw pain go together, it is due to the location of ear and jaw in the human facial structure. The jaw joint is called temporomandibular and is located in front of the ear. When there is pain in this area, there is ear pain as well, as you will notice that your ear muscles have tightened. More often than not, ear and jaw pain is as a result of temporomandibular dysfunction, i.e. over tensing of the jaw muscles. There are a number of causes of this condition. Read further to know more about it.

Ear and Jaw Pain - Causes
There are number of causes of ear and jaw pain. Let's see what are they.

Teeth Grinding
This is often the cause of ear and jaw pain in children. Teeth grinding is known as bruxism. In this condition, people can clench, gnash and grind their teeth. Sometimes this condition can be a conscious action, at others, it can be an unconscious action. In case of severe bruxism, the person may require splints, mouth guards, behavior therapy or dental procedures to get the misaligned teeth fixed. When there is severe ear and jaw pain, it points towards temporomandibular disorder.

Temporomandibular Disorder
When joints stiffen up abnormally and there are symptoms like headache, lockjaw as well as ear and jaw pain, it is due to temporomandibular disorder, also called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) . Along with teeth grinding, it can also be caused due to anxiety, fatigue, stress, nail biting, etc. This condition affects women more, especially in the childbearing age. It is characterized by pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues and limitations in the jaw movements.

Cancer
Cancer of the salivary glands, present in the throat, neck and mouth can also give rise to sharp ear and jaw pain. This is a rare type of cancer. The cause of this is exposure to radiation, persistent use of tobacco in any form and also if there is a family history of the same. The symptoms of this condition are facial swelling and numbness, difficulty while swallowing, recurring pain around the salivary glands, etc. A main salivary gland is located in front of the ear hence, there can be ear and jaw pain.

Dry Socket
If a blood clot is dislodged, while tooth extraction, it exposes the bone and nerves underneath, giving rise to ear and jaw pain. There are referred pain, which radiate from the socket, through the jaws and into the ears. Click here to know about dry socket after tooth extraction.

Sinus Infection
Sinus infections can also lead to ear and jaw pain. When the sinuses are blocked, they can radiate pressure on the ear and subsequently also on the jaw.

Referred Pains
If the jaw muscles are overworked, there can be pain in these muscles. The origin of pain are the jaw muscles, but the pains can also be felt in the ear.

Ear and Jaw Pain - Treatment
Depending on the cause of ear and jaw pain, the treatment will vary. If it caused due to temporomandibular disorder, pain killers and muscle relaxants may be given. Some physiotherapy exercises can also prescribed. For temporary relief, you may want to try using hot compress. If the pain is severe, surgery might be required. In case of cancer of the salivary glands, radiation, chemotherapy, re-constructive therapy or surgery may be required, depending on the spread of cancer. Treatment for ear and jaw pain due to dry socket, include pain killers, medicated dressing and socket flushing.

Since there are various reasons, which can cause ear and jaw pain, it is always good to have yourself examined by a health care professional as at times, it can be confusing to understand, what is the underlying cause of the problem. Take care!