Why Does My Jaw Hurt When I Chew?

Key Takeaways

• Jaw pain with chewing often involves the temporomandibular joint or the muscles that control the jaw, but several different problems can produce similar symptoms.
• Clenching and grinding can increase the workload placed on the jaw. Some patients develop symptoms after repeatedly loading the jaw rather than because the joint is structurally damaged.
• Clicking and popping are common and do not automatically mean something is seriously wrong. A painless click may require no treatment, while painful clicking, locking, or loss of motion deserves closer evaluation.
• Jaw pain can overlap with headaches, ear-area symptoms, neck pain, and dental problems. A good evaluation considers these relationships without assuming one body region is always causing another.
• Significant swelling, fever, dental infection, trauma, inability to open or close the mouth normally, progressive neurological symptoms, or jaw discomfort associated with concerning chest symptoms requires appropriate medical or dental evaluation.

The Jaw Joint Is Small, but Its Workload Is Enormous

Most people barely think about their jaw until using it becomes uncomfortable.

Then ordinary activities such as:

• Eating
• Biting into an apple
• Chewing steak
• Yawning
• Talking
• Singing

can become surprisingly difficult.

Patients often point directly in front of the ear and say:

“It hurts right here every time I chew.”

That area contains the temporomandibular joint, commonly called the TMJ.

But pain around the jaw does not necessarily mean the joint itself is the only problem.

The muscles controlling the jaw, teeth, surrounding tissues, and other structures can produce overlapping symptoms.

What Is the TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw—the mandible—to the temporal bone of the skull.

You have one joint on each side.

These joints allow the jaw to:

• Open
• Close
• Glide
• Move side to side

Inside each TMJ is an articular disc that helps the joint move and distribute forces.

Jaw movement is therefore more sophisticated than a simple hinge.

When you open your mouth, the joint combines rotation with translation.

That complex movement is one reason different TMJ problems can produce very different symptoms.

TMJ and TMD Do Not Mean Exactly the Same Thing

Patients frequently use the term TMJ to describe jaw pain.

Technically, TMJ is the joint itself.

Temporomandibular disorders, or TMD, is a broader term for a group of conditions involving the:

• Jaw joints
• Muscles controlling the jaw
• Associated structures

That distinction is useful because not every patient with TMD has the same problem.

One person’s symptoms may be primarily muscular.

Another may have a joint-related disorder.

Another may have a combination.

Chewing Is Repetitive Loading

Every bite requires coordinated muscular contraction and joint movement.

Most of the time, the system handles that load without difficulty.

But symptoms can appear when the amount of demand exceeds what the jaw currently tolerates.

That may happen after:

• Prolonged chewing
• Very chewy or hard foods
• Frequent gum chewing
• Clenching
• Grinding
• Dental procedures requiring prolonged mouth opening
• A sudden increase in jaw activity

The concept is similar to other musculoskeletal regions.

A painful jaw does not necessarily mean the tissue is badly damaged.

Sometimes the system has simply become overloaded or sensitive.

Jaw Muscles Can Become Painful

Several powerful muscles control the mandible.

Two commonly discussed muscles are the:

• Masseter
• Temporalis

These muscles generate substantial force during biting and chewing.

When overloaded, patients may experience:

• Jaw soreness
• Facial aching
• Temple pain
• Fatigue while chewing
• Tenderness when pressing the muscles
• Headache symptoms

A patient may believe the joint itself hurts when much of the discomfort is actually coming from the surrounding muscles.

That is one reason palpation and movement testing can be useful during evaluation.

Clenching Can Load the Jaw Without the Patient Realizing It

Some people clench their teeth while:

• Concentrating
• Driving
• Working
• Exercising
• Feeling stressed

They may not recognize the habit until the jaw becomes sore.

Unlike chewing, clenching can create sustained muscular contraction without much movement.

A patient may notice:

• Jaw fatigue late in the day
• Temple headaches
• Facial tension
• Tender jaw muscles

The goal is not to tell every patient with TMD that stress is the cause.

It is to identify whether clenching appears to be one meaningful contributor to the total workload placed on the jaw.

Grinding During Sleep Is Different From Conscious Clenching

Sleep-related tooth grinding, or sleep bruxism, occurs during sleep and is not simply a habit that someone can decide to stop while unconscious.

Possible clues include:

• Morning jaw soreness
• Tooth wear
• Dental concerns
• Morning facial fatigue

Dentists are particularly important when bruxism is suspected because they can evaluate:

• Teeth
• Bite-related issues
• Dental wear
• Whether an oral appliance is appropriate

Musculoskeletal treatment can address relevant jaw or neck symptoms, but it should not replace appropriate dental evaluation.

Clicking and Popping Are Common

A jaw that clicks can be alarming.

Patients sometimes assume:

“My jaw must be damaged because it clicks.”

Not necessarily.

TMJ sounds are relatively common, and a painless click does not automatically require treatment.

One potential source of clicking is movement of the articular disc within the joint.

In some patients, the disc changes position during jaw movement and then returns as the mouth opens, producing a click.

The sound itself is less important than the complete clinical picture.

A Painful Click Is More Meaningful Than a Painless Click

Suppose one patient says:

“My jaw has clicked for 15 years, but it never hurts and opens normally.”

Another says:

“My jaw started clicking last week, it hurts every time I chew, and now it sometimes catches.”

Those are not equivalent presentations.

We become more interested when clicking is accompanied by:

• Pain
• Locking
• Catching
• Restricted opening
• A significant recent change

The objective is not necessarily to eliminate every sound a joint makes.

It is to restore comfortable function.

Jaw Locking Deserves Closer Evaluation

Some patients describe their jaw as temporarily getting stuck.

Others lose the ability to open the mouth normally.

Still others may have difficulty closing after opening very wide.

These patterns can involve different mechanical problems.

A jaw that repeatedly locks or has a substantial loss of motion should be properly evaluated rather than simply stretched aggressively.

The exact direction and nature of the restriction matter.

Limited Mouth Opening Can Have Several Causes

A patient may struggle to open because of:

• Pain
• Muscle guarding
• Joint dysfunction
• Disc-related problems
• Trauma
• Other medical or dental conditions

Therefore, measuring jaw opening is useful, but the number alone does not tell us the diagnosis.

We also observe:

• Whether opening is painful
• Whether the jaw deviates
• Whether clicking occurs
• Whether movement changes with repetition
• Where the patient feels the restriction

Movement behavior gives the measurement clinical meaning.

The Jaw Can Deviate When It Opens

Watch yourself slowly open your mouth in a mirror.

Ideally, the jaw should move in a reasonably controlled path.

Some patients notice that the jaw:

• Shifts to one side
• Makes an S-shaped movement
• Deviates before returning toward center

This can provide information about coordination between the two TMJs and the muscles controlling them.

But small deviations are not automatically pathological.

As with other findings, they need to correlate with symptoms and function.

Arthritis Can Affect the TMJ

The temporomandibular joint can develop degenerative changes just like other synovial joints.

TMJ osteoarthritis may contribute to:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Reduced motion
• Grinding or crepitus
• Difficulty with harder foods

But imaging findings require clinical correlation.

The presence of degeneration does not automatically tell us:

• How much pain someone should have
• Whether the degeneration is the primary symptom source
• What treatment the patient needs

We treat the patient and their functional problem, not an image alone.

Jaw Pain Does Not Always Come From the TMJ

This is one of the most important diagnostic points.

Pain in the jaw region can sometimes originate from:

• Teeth
• Gums
• Sinuses
• Salivary glands
• Ear-related structures
• Nerves
• Other medical conditions

A tooth infection, for example, should not be treated as a temporomandibular disorder.

If symptoms suggest a dental source, dental evaluation becomes the appropriate pathway.

Ear Symptoms and TMD Can Overlap

The TMJ sits immediately in front of the ear.

Patients with TMD sometimes report sensations such as:

• Ear-area pain
• Fullness
• Pressure

That proximity can make the source difficult for patients to identify.

However, actual ear disease also occurs.

Symptoms such as:

• Hearing loss
• Ear drainage
• Fever
• Significant dizziness
• Other concerning ear symptoms

may require medical or ENT evaluation.

We should not label every symptom near the ear as TMJ dysfunction.

Headaches and Jaw Pain Often Occur Together

The temporalis muscle is both a chewing muscle and a structure located around the temple.

Patients who clench or have TMD may therefore experience headache symptoms.

Some headache disorders can also coexist with jaw and neck symptoms.

The useful clinical question is not simply:

“Do you have headaches?”

It is:

“How do the headaches relate to the jaw symptoms?”

For example:

• Does chewing reproduce the familiar headache?
• Does clenching increase temple pain?
• Is the headache actually a migraine pattern?
• Does the neck appear to contribute?

These distinctions help prevent every headache from being attributed to jaw tension.

The Neck and Jaw Function as Neighbors, Not as a Simple Cause-and-Effect Chain

Jaw pain and neck pain frequently coexist.

The cervical region and jaw share muscular, neurological, and movement relationships.

For some patients, evaluating the neck provides useful information.

But it is too simplistic to say:

“Your neck is out, and that’s why your TMJ hurts.”

The relationship can be more complex.

A patient may have:

• Primary TMD with secondary neck tension
• A cervical problem contributing to the overall symptom pattern
• Independent jaw and neck problems
• A broader headache disorder involving both regions

The examination helps determine whether the cervical spine is clinically relevant.

Stress Can Influence Jaw Symptoms Without Making Them Imaginary

Stress is often discussed with jaw pain because some people clench more during periods of increased stress.

Stress can also influence:

• Sleep
• Pain sensitivity
• Headache frequency
• Muscle tension

That does not mean the patient’s jaw pain is psychological or imaginary.

It means the nervous and musculoskeletal systems respond to the environment.

When clenching is part of the patient’s pattern, recognizing it can reduce unnecessary loading of already sensitive tissues.

Temporarily Changing Food Texture Can Reduce Irritation

During an acute flare, repeatedly testing the jaw with:

• Tough steak
• Hard candy
• Chewy bread
• Gum
• Large bites

may keep provoking symptoms.

A temporary shift toward foods requiring less chewing can reduce mechanical demand while the irritated tissues settle.

The important word is temporary.

The long-term goal is generally not to make the patient afraid of normal chewing.

It is to restore the capacity to eat comfortably.

Avoiding Extreme Opening Can Be Useful During a Flare

A painful jaw may also be irritated by repeatedly opening as far as possible.

Examples include:

• Very large bites
• Prolonged dental opening
• Forceful yawning

Temporarily reducing extreme motion may help during an irritable phase.

But permanently avoiding normal jaw movement can create its own problems.

As symptoms improve, comfortable motion should usually be restored progressively.

When Jaw Pain With Chewing Should Be Evaluated

Evaluation becomes appropriate when:

• Pain persists or repeatedly returns
• Chewing is becoming difficult
• Mouth opening is restricted
• The jaw repeatedly locks or catches
• Clicking becomes painful
• Symptoms follow trauma
• Headaches repeatedly accompany jaw pain
• Ear-area symptoms remain unexplained
• The patient is uncertain whether the source is dental or musculoskeletal

Dental or medical evaluation becomes particularly important when there is:

• Tooth pain
• Facial or jaw swelling
• Fever
• Suspected infection
• Significant dental trauma
• New unexplained neurological symptoms
• Severe progressive symptoms

And although it is less common, jaw discomfort can occasionally occur as part of a cardiac symptom pattern.

Jaw pain associated with symptoms such as:

• Chest pressure or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Unexplained exertional symptoms

requires urgent medical assessment rather than being assumed to be TMJ pain.

The central question is not:

“Does my jaw click?”

It is:

“Which structure is actually producing the pain, what is loading it when I chew, and is this truly a temporomandibular musculoskeletal problem or something that requires dental or medical care?”

How Doyle Chiropractic Evaluates Jaw Pain With Chewing

The evaluation begins by determining whether the symptoms behave like a temporomandibular musculoskeletal problem.

Dr. Geoffrey Doyle may ask about:

• Exact pain location
• When the symptoms began
• Whether chewing reproduces the pain
• Foods or activities that make symptoms worse
• Clenching or grinding
• Morning versus evening symptoms
• Clicking, popping, catching, or locking
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Ear-area symptoms
• Recent dental procedures
• Dental pain or sensitivity
• Recent trauma
• Previous TMJ problems

When the history supports a musculoskeletal presentation, the examination may assess:

• Comfortable and maximum mouth opening
• Jaw movement during opening and closing
• Side-to-side movement
• Clicking or other joint sounds
• Tenderness around the TMJ
• Masseter and temporalis muscles
• Muscle activation during clenching
• Cervical movement when relevant
• Neurological findings when indicated

The objective is not simply to confirm that the jaw hurts.

It is to determine whether the dominant problem appears to involve:

• Joint mechanics
• Muscle overload
• Movement control
• Irritability from excessive loading
• Cervical contribution
• Another condition requiring dental or medical evaluation

Treatment Depends on What Is Actually Producing the Symptoms

TMD is an umbrella term.

That means two patients with “TMJ pain” may require very different approaches.

For appropriately selected musculoskeletal presentations, conservative care may include:

• Education
• Temporary load modification
• Therapeutic exercise
• Controlled jaw mobility
• Soft tissue treatment
• Manual treatment when appropriate
• Cervical treatment when clinically relevant
• Habit awareness
• Gradual return to normal chewing
• Class IV laser therapy in selected cases

Dental co-management may also be appropriate, particularly when there is:

• Bruxism
• Significant tooth wear
• Dental disease
• Bite-related concerns
• A possible need for an oral appliance

The treatment plan should follow the diagnosis rather than applying the same TMJ protocol to everyone.

Reducing Jaw Load Can Give an Irritated System Time to Settle

When chewing is painful, temporarily reducing the amount of mechanical demand can be useful.

That may mean limiting:

• Gum chewing
• Very hard foods
• Extremely chewy foods
• Large bites
• Repeated extreme mouth opening

This is similar to modifying activity after other musculoskeletal injuries.

The objective is not complete avoidance.

It is to reduce unnecessary irritation while maintaining comfortable movement.

As symptoms improve, normal chewing demands can be progressively restored.

The Resting Position of the Jaw Can Matter

Many patients do not realize that the teeth normally do not need to remain clenched together throughout the day.

For someone who habitually clenches while concentrating, becoming aware of that pattern may reduce hours of unnecessary muscular loading.

A simple concept is:

Lips can be together while the teeth remain slightly apart and the jaw stays relaxed.

This is not a cure for every temporomandibular disorder.

But when daytime clenching is a meaningful contributor, reducing unnecessary sustained contraction can be useful.

Jaw Exercises Should Match the Deficit

A painful jaw does not automatically need aggressive stretching.

Exercise may focus on:

• Controlled opening and closing
• Improving movement coordination
• Restoring appropriate mobility
• Gentle isometric strengthening
• Improving muscular control
• Gradually rebuilding chewing tolerance

The correct exercise depends on the presentation.

A patient with restricted movement may need a different approach from someone with excessive mobility or instability.

Similarly, a patient with acute joint irritation should not necessarily be pushed immediately into repeated maximal opening.

Movement Quality Can Be Trained

Some patients open their mouths with a noticeable deviation or poorly controlled movement pattern.

In appropriate cases, rehabilitation may include slow, controlled opening and closing while attempting to improve the movement path.

This can help the patient develop awareness and control.

The objective is not to force the jaw into a perfectly straight line at all costs.

Small asymmetries can occur without pathology.

We are looking for changes that correlate with:

• Pain
• Catching
• Functional limitation

and then determining whether improving control changes the patient’s symptoms.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Soft tissue treatment may be appropriate when examination identifies relevant muscular tenderness or guarding.

Common areas can include the:

• Masseter
• Temporalis
• Other associated jaw and cervical muscles

Treatment may reduce discomfort and make movement easier.

But repeatedly treating tender muscles without addressing why they are overloaded may produce only temporary improvement.

If the patient continues clenching for hours each day or immediately returns to excessive chewing during an acute flare, the muscular demand remains.

The treatment plan should address both the symptoms and the factors perpetuating them.

Chiropractic and Manual Treatment

Manual treatment may be incorporated for selected musculoskeletal TMD presentations.

Depending on the examination, treatment may address clinically relevant dysfunction involving the:

• TMJ region
• Cervical spine
• Upper thoracic region
• Associated soft tissues

The purpose is to improve movement and reduce mechanical sensitivity when those findings are relevant.

It should not be explained as putting the jaw or cervical vertebrae “back into place.”

And manual treatment is not appropriate as a substitute for dental or medical care when the patient has:

• Infection
• Significant acute trauma
• Suspected fracture
• Major structural injury
• Other conditions requiring specialist evaluation

The diagnosis determines whether manual care belongs in the plan.

The Neck Should Be Treated When the Neck Is Actually Relevant

Because jaw pain and neck pain frequently coexist, cervical treatment can become part of the plan for some patients.

But the decision should be based on examination.

For example, cervical treatment may be more relevant when the patient also demonstrates:

• Neck pain
• Restricted cervical motion
• Headache related to cervical movement
• Relevant muscular or mechanical findings

We should not assume every patient with TMD needs their neck treated simply because the two regions are anatomically related.

Clinical relevance matters more than theoretical connection.

Class IV Laser Therapy

Class IV laser therapy may be incorporated as an adjunct for selected musculoskeletal jaw conditions when clinically appropriate.

Its potential role is generally within a broader conservative program that may include:

• Load modification
• Exercise
• Manual treatment
• Soft tissue care
• Patient education

Laser therapy should not be presented as a treatment for every cause of facial or jaw pain.

It does not treat:

• Dental infection
• Tooth decay
• Serious joint pathology requiring specialist management
• Cardiac causes of referred jaw pain

Nor does it replace appropriate dental or medical evaluation.

Oral Appliances Are Primarily a Dental Decision

Patients with clenching or grinding frequently ask whether they need a night guard.

An oral appliance may be appropriate for some patients, particularly when protecting the teeth or managing certain bruxism-related problems is important.

But appliances are not interchangeable, and not every patient with jaw pain needs one.

That decision is best made in coordination with a dentist who can evaluate:

• Teeth
• Bite
• Dental wear
• Oral health
• Appliance indications

Musculoskeletal care and dental care can complement one another rather than compete.

The Goal Is to Restore Normal Jaw Function

A successful outcome is not necessarily:

“My jaw never makes another sound.”

A more meaningful outcome may be:

• Eating comfortably
• Opening normally
• Yawning without significant pain
• Talking without fatigue
• Reduced headache burden
• Fewer painful flare-ups
• No recurrent locking
• Greater tolerance for normal foods

Some patients retain a painless click even after their primary symptoms have resolved.

If function is normal and the joint is not painful, eliminating the sound itself may not be necessary.

The Dr. Doyle Perspective

“With jaw pain, I want to know what the patient actually can’t do comfortably. Is it chewing? Opening wide? Do they wake up sore because they’re grinding? Does the jaw lock, or does it just click? And I always want to make sure we’re not missing a dental problem. A painless click that’s been there for ten years is very different from a jaw that suddenly hurts, locks, and won’t open. Once we understand which problem we’re dealing with, we can decide whether it belongs in our office, with the dentist, or sometimes both.”

— Dr. Geoffrey Doyle, DC

Our Clinical Experience

Jaw pain is a good example of why symptom location alone is not enough to determine treatment.

One patient may develop soreness in the masseter and temples after a stressful period involving substantial daytime clenching.

Another may have painful clicking and restricted opening that behaves more like an intra-articular TMJ problem.

Another may describe pain near the jaw but examination reveals that a tooth is the more likely source.

And another may have a combination of:

• TMD
• Headaches
• Neck pain

that benefits from coordinated management of several relevant factors.

The patient may point to the same general area in every example.

The diagnosis—and therefore the treatment—can be completely different.

Measuring Recovery by What the Patient Can Do

For jaw pain, functional outcomes are often straightforward.

Can the patient:

• Chew comfortably?
• Eat normal foods?
• Open the mouth without significant pain?
• Yawn?
• Talk for extended periods?
• Sleep without waking with severe jaw soreness?
• Get through the workday without escalating facial tension?
• Avoid recurrent locking?

We may also monitor:

• Mouth-opening range
• Movement quality
• Pain intensity
• Headache frequency when relevant
• Muscular tenderness
• Frequency of flare-ups

The objective is to improve the patient’s everyday function rather than repeatedly chasing a tender spot.

When Imaging May Be Useful

Many uncomplicated musculoskeletal TMD presentations do not require immediate imaging.

Imaging becomes more relevant when there is concern for:

• Significant trauma
• Structural joint pathology
• Persistent locking
• Progressive restriction
• Arthritis
• Other conditions that may change management

Different imaging methods answer different questions.

For example:

• X-rays or CT can provide information about bony structures.
• MRI can provide additional information about soft tissues and the TMJ disc when clinically indicated.

Imaging should be ordered because the result is expected to clarify a meaningful diagnostic question—not simply because the jaw hurts.

When Dental Referral Is Appropriate

Dental evaluation becomes particularly important when symptoms suggest:

• Tooth decay
• Dental infection
• Cracked or damaged teeth
• Significant tooth wear
• Gum disease
• Bruxism requiring dental management
• Other oral pathology

Facial swelling, significant tooth pain, fever, or suspected dental infection should not be managed as routine musculoskeletal TMD.

Dental infections can become serious and require appropriate treatment.

When Oral Surgery or TMJ Specialty Evaluation May Be Appropriate

Specialist evaluation may be warranted for problems such as:

• Persistent or recurrent locking
• Significant structural joint dysfunction
• Major trauma
• Suspected fracture or dislocation
• Severe progressive restriction
• Symptoms that fail to improve with appropriate conservative management

Most jaw pain does not automatically require surgery.

But conservative treatment should not become a reason to delay specialist assessment when the clinical pattern indicates that it is necessary.

When Jaw Pain Requires Urgent Medical Attention

Jaw pain is usually musculoskeletal or dental.

Occasionally, however, jaw discomfort can occur as referred pain from a cardiac problem.

Urgent medical evaluation is appropriate when new or unexplained jaw discomfort occurs with symptoms such as:

• Chest pressure, tightness, or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness
• Unexplained symptoms brought on by exertion
• Pain spreading into the arm, shoulder, back, or chest

The patient does not need to have dramatic chest pain for cardiac symptoms to deserve attention.

Similarly, significant facial swelling associated with:

• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapidly worsening infection symptoms

requires urgent medical or dental assessment.

Those presentations should never be treated as routine TMJ dysfunction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my jaw hurt when I chew?

Possible causes include temporomandibular joint irritation, muscular overload, clenching, grinding, arthritis, disc-related TMJ problems, dental conditions, and other causes. The location and behavior of the pain help distinguish among them.

Is TMJ the same thing as TMD?

No. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint itself. TMD, or temporomandibular disorder, refers to a broader group of conditions affecting the jaw joints, muscles, and associated structures.

Is jaw clicking bad?

Not necessarily. Painless clicking is common and may not require treatment. Clicking becomes more clinically meaningful when accompanied by pain, locking, catching, or loss of normal movement.

Why does my jaw hurt more in the morning?

Morning jaw soreness may be associated with nighttime clenching or grinding, although other causes are possible. Dental evaluation may be useful when sleep bruxism or tooth wear is suspected.

Can clenching cause headaches?

Clenching can overload the muscles involved in chewing, including the temporalis muscles around the temples, and may contribute to headache symptoms in some patients. Not every headache associated with jaw pain is caused by TMD.

Can neck problems contribute to jaw pain?

Jaw and cervical symptoms can overlap, and cervical dysfunction may be clinically relevant for some patients. However, neck problems should not automatically be assumed to cause every case of TMD.

Should I stop chewing if my TMJ hurts?

During an acute flare, temporarily reducing very hard or chewy foods and avoiding unnecessary gum chewing may reduce irritation. The long-term goal is usually to restore comfortable normal chewing rather than permanently avoiding jaw use.

Can chiropractic care help TMJ pain?

For appropriately selected musculoskeletal TMD presentations, conservative care may include manual treatment, exercise, soft tissue therapy, and treatment of clinically relevant cervical dysfunction. Dental or medical care may also be necessary depending on the cause.

Do I need a night guard for jaw pain?

Not everyone does. Oral appliances may be appropriate for some patients, particularly when bruxism or dental protection is a concern. A dentist should determine whether an appliance is appropriate.

When should I see a dentist instead of a chiropractor for jaw pain?

Dental evaluation is important when symptoms suggest tooth pain, infection, dental injury, significant tooth wear, or another oral-health problem. In some cases, coordinated dental and musculoskeletal care is appropriate.

When should I worry about jaw pain?

Significant facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, major trauma, inability to open or close the jaw normally, progressive neurological symptoms, or jaw discomfort associated with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or unexplained exertional symptoms requires appropriate urgent evaluation.