Q: What can cause facial pain?
A: Chronic facial pain is an affliction that bothers some 15 percent of American adults. It can range from moderate pain and clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth or trying to speak to more intense pain in and around the ear and in the jaw. The pain can radiate into a general ache in the head and/or the neck.
An infection in the sinus, tooth or gums is sometimes the cause of facial pain. Even the early stages of periodontal, or gum, disease, can result in pain. The pain also may emanate from a muscle problem, the jaw or from the temperomandibular joint, which is where the upper and lower jaws meet in front of the ear. Your dentist will most likely be able to diagnose the problem through a thorough exam that might include x-rays.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment could include something as simple as stress-reducing exercises or taking muscle-relaxing medication. Some cases have been resolved by wearing a mouth guard at night to prevent teeth grinding. Your dentist is the best source of answers for your questions about facial pain and ways to treat it.
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