Understanding Ear and Jawn Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Woman holding her cheek due to ear and jaw pain

Multiple conditions, like TMJ, an ear infection, or stress, can cause jaw pain by your ear. While the pain can often resolve on its own, there are certain things you can do to alleviate the pain. Additionally, you should know when the pain is severe enough to see your doctor or dentist.

Many patients ask, “can an ear infection cause jaw pain?” The answer is yes—pressure or inflammation in the ear can radiate through the TMJ, causing pain on one or both sides of the face.

What Are Some Ear and Jaw Pain Causes?

The most common cause of pain in the jaw by your ear is problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

In addition to ear pain caused by this jaw disorder, you may experience other TMJ symptoms like headaches, severe sinus pressure, and eye pain. Still, it helps to look at all possible ear and jaw pain causes before assuming it’s TMJ.

However, some other common reasons for sharp pain by the ear and jaw pain may include:

Osteoarthritis
Psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Stress
Sleep apnea
Swimmer's ear
Migraine
Sinusitis
Teeth grinding
Dental issues

Jaw Pain and Near Ear Treatments

If you are experiencing jaw and joint pain, the best thing you can do is to treat it with alternating heat and cold to reduce inflammation and pain. You can use an electric heating pad or a hot pack on your jaw for 10 to 20 minutes and then use an ice pack simultaneously

To help relieve pain associated with TMJ, try to correct your posture, maintain the resting position of your jaw, exercise your jaw, avoid yawning or yelling, and get a good night's sleep.

Jaw pain near the ear treatment can also include things like oral appliances, physical therapy, or even injection therapy, depending on how severe it is and the cause.

Doing these things can help manage your pain and prevent it from returning. If your jaw and ear pain still bother you after trying these methods to relieve the pain, you should contact your dentist or doctor, depending on the reason behind your pain.

At Raleigh TMJ, we specialize in treating issues associated with ear and jaw pain and provide treatment options. If you are experiencing discomfort or pain that you believe is caused by TMJ - it's important that you contact us to learn more about our services!

What Are Symptoms of Ear Infection Jaw Pain?

If you have jaw and ear pain due to an ear infection, you will have a lot of swelling and pain near your ear and jaw on one side of your face. Additionally, you will most likely have a fever and low energy level. Symptoms of ear infection jaw pain can also include pressure behind the eardrum, difficulty chewing, and muffled hearing.

This level of infection can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is vital to see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment. Your doctor will treat you for mastoiditis, a bacterial infection of the mastoid cells surrounding your inner and middle ear.

If you are experiencing ear and jaw pain on one side, think of this as a signal flare from your body. These symptoms go together because of how connected they are.

It can impact simple daily activities like chewing and speaking. When the joint becomes inflamed, the pain can quickly transfer from your ear to your jaw and back.

Common triggers of jaw and ear pain:

Teeth grinding
Stress
Arthritis
Awkward sleeping position
Excessive chewing

While infections and joint disorders are typically to blame, less common causes like neuralgia or cysts in the jawbone can also be the reason for persistent ear and jaw pain. These cases require imaging like a CT scan to diagnose accurately.

If the pain worsens with cold weather or chewing, bring that detail up during your evaluation—it could help pinpoint the origin more quickly.

Is Ear and Jaw Pain Serious?

Ear and jaw pain can be severe if a fever, swelling, or tooth pain accompanies it. You may have chronic TMJ disorder if you experience ear and jaw pain without fever or swelling for longer than three months. Ear and jaw pain causes can range from minor muscle strain to infection or joint dysfunction, so don’t ignore persistent symptoms.

Ear and jaw pain is not typically serious if it comes and goes, but it should be treated more seriously if you have more serious symptoms besides the pain and if it does not go away after that three-month mark.

Can Stress Cause Jaw and Ear Pain?

Yes, clenching your jaw or tensing your muscles during stressful moments can irritate both the joint and the area around the ear

There are even times when your pain might not be from the joint at all. If your wisdom teeth are impacted or you have abscessed molars, they can press on nerves that are nearby, creating sharp or radiating pain that feels like it’s coming from both the ear and jaw.

In these cases, you’ll need dental X-rays to make sure that there aren’t any hidden infections or structural issues. You should also keep in mind that dental alignment problems or missing teeth can shift your jaw, triggering tension and soreness around the ear.

Can Stress Cause Ear and Jaw Pain?

Stress can cause jaw pain by the ear when clenching or when relaxed. It is a common cause of pain in the mouth, ears, teeth, jaw, and sinus cavities. When you are anxious, you tend to tighten your jaw muscles, which can cause pain in both your mouth and ears.

Can an Ear Infection Cause Jaw Pain?

Many people are surprised by the connection between ear infections and jaw pain. When you have an ear infection, the inflammation and pressure can directly affect the area around your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which sits right next to your ear canal.

This can cause pain that feels like it's coming from your jaw when it's coming from the ear canal. When one area is irritated, it creates a domino effect that can cause many of the surrounding areas to become affected as well. Can an ear infection cause jaw pain? Absolutely, and it’s one of the most overlooked signs.

Final Thoughts on Ear and Jaw Pain

If you're dealing with jaw pain near your ear, it can be the result of many different conditions like:

TMJ
Stress
Ear infection
...and more

You should contact your doctor immediately if a fever, fatigue, or other flu-like symptoms accompany your pain. If you believe that the jaw pain in your ear is due to TMJ, Raleigh TMJ, and Sleep Therapy Centre can help.

No matter the cause, whether it’s TMJ, anxiety, or an infection, it’s important to understand the connection between the jaw and ear so you can find relief that lasts.

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