Jaw Pain | Jawbone

Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can have many different causes. One of these causes can be an inflammation in the jawbone and is treated with an antibiotic. Furthermore, jaw pain can occur due to tension or malpositioned teeth.

Here a splint or an orthodontic therapy can help. It is also possible that the jawbone is very sensitive to pressure in places. The reason for this can be a so-called abscess.

This is a kind of pus accumulation underneath the tooth. Here too, the cause is a persistent inflammation. In the typical signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, warming, pain), a dentist should be consulted.

The dentist can usually clarify by means of an x-ray whether the cause of the jaw pain is an inflammation and in this case prescribe an antibiotic. In the worst case, a very painful lower jaw can be a sign of a heart attack. Therefore the signs should not be ignored.

Inflammation in the jawbone

Irritation or swelling of the oral cavity often occurs. In most cases these are harmless and disappear after a few days. However, if the signs of inflammation persist, these signs may indicate an inflammation in the jawbone.

The causes for this inflammation can be very different. In many cases, a dental accident with an accompanying fracture is the reason for the developing inflammation. Furthermore, accumulations of pus that have been present for a long time can also be the cause of an inflammation of the jawbone.

One can distinguish between ostitis (inflammation of the bone) or osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone marrow). They differ in the parts of the bone affected by the inflammation. Usually these are accompanied by periostitis (= inflammation of the periosteum (bone skin)).

Inflammation can often be detected on X-rays. It is very important not to ignore the signs of a persistent inflammation. The therapy is usually carried out with antibiotics. An untreated, persistent inflammation can lead to necrosis, i.e. death of the bone. This in turn can lead to tooth loss.