Why Does Your Jaw Hurt on One Side?
One-sided jaw pain can originate from several structures on that side of the face: the temporomandibular joint (the hinge where your jaw meets your skull), the teeth, the gums, the sinuses, or the nerves that supply the area. Because these structures are all close together, it can be hard to tell where the pain is actually coming from without a proper examination.
The character of the pain provides clues. A dull, constant ache near the ear often points to a TMJ problem. Sharp, throbbing pain centered on a specific tooth suggests infection. Sudden, electric-shock-like pain may indicate a nerve issue. Your description of the pain, along with a clinical exam, helps your provider narrow down the cause.
Common Causes of Jaw Pain on One Side
Several conditions commonly cause jaw pain that affects one side more than the other. Here are the most likely causes, starting with the most common.
TMJ Disorder (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction)
TMJ disorder is one of the most frequent causes of one-sided jaw pain. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull on each side of the face. When this joint or the muscles around it become inflamed, strained, or displaced, the result is pain, clicking, popping, or difficulty opening the mouth.
TMJ pain is often felt in front of or just below the ear on one side. It may worsen with chewing, yawning, or talking for extended periods. Clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxism), stress, arthritis, and jaw injury are all common contributing factors. Many cases of TMJ disorder improve with conservative treatment, such as soft foods, jaw rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and a night guard.
Tooth Infection or Abscess
A severe cavity or cracked tooth can allow bacteria to reach the inner pulp of the tooth, causing an infection. As the infection progresses, it can form an abscess, a pocket of pus at the tip of the tooth root. This causes intense, throbbing pain that radiates into the jaw on that side.
An abscessed tooth may also cause swelling in the face or gums, a bad taste in the mouth, sensitivity to heat, and sometimes fever. A dental abscess requires treatment. Antibiotics alone do not resolve the underlying problem. You will typically need root canal treatment from an endodontist or extraction by your dentist or oral surgeon.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth that do not have enough room to fully emerge can become impacted, meaning they are stuck beneath the gum or angled against the neighboring tooth. This can cause pressure, pain, and swelling in the back of the jaw on one side.
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are also prone to infection (pericoronitis) because the gum tissue covering them traps food and bacteria. Symptoms include pain at the back of the jaw, swollen gums, difficulty opening the mouth, and sometimes a bad taste. An oral surgeon evaluates and, if needed, surgically removes impacted wisdom teeth.
Sinusitis
The maxillary sinuses sit directly above the upper back teeth. When these sinuses become infected or inflamed, the pressure can cause pain that feels like it is coming from the upper jaw or teeth on the affected side.
Sinus-related jaw pain is usually accompanied by nasal congestion, a runny nose, facial pressure, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The pain often worsens when you bend forward or lie down. If your jaw pain coincides with cold or allergy symptoms, sinusitis may be the cause.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve condition that causes sudden, severe, shock-like pain in the face. The trigeminal nerve carries sensation from the face to the brain, and when it is compressed or irritated, the result is intense bursts of pain lasting seconds to minutes.
This pain is typically one-sided and can affect the jaw, cheek, or forehead. It may be triggered by light touch, chewing, speaking, or even a breeze on the face. Trigeminal neuralgia is less common than the other causes listed here, but it is important to diagnose because it requires specific medication or, in some cases, surgical treatment.
Other Possible Causes
- Bruxism (teeth grinding): Chronic clenching or grinding, often during sleep, can strain the jaw muscles and joint on one side.
- Jaw fracture or injury: Trauma to the face from an accident, sports injury, or fall can fracture the jawbone or damage the TMJ.
- Salivary gland problems: A blocked or infected salivary gland under the jaw can cause pain and swelling on one side.
- Ear infection: Infections in the middle or outer ear can cause pain that radiates to the jaw area.
- Osteomyelitis: A rare bone infection in the jaw, usually following a dental procedure, extraction, or severe infection.
When Jaw Pain Is an Emergency
Most causes of one-sided jaw pain are not life-threatening, but there are situations that require immediate medical attention.
Jaw pain combined with chest pain, pressure or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, pain radiating to the arm or shoulder, sweating, or nausea can be a sign of a heart attack. This is especially true for women, who are more likely than men to experience jaw pain as a heart attack symptom. If you have these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
You should also seek urgent care if you have jaw pain with a high fever and facial swelling, if you cannot open your mouth, or if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing. These can indicate a spreading infection that needs prompt treatment.
How Jaw Pain Is Diagnosed
Your dentist or specialist will start by asking about the location, type, timing, and triggers of your pain. They will examine your teeth, gums, jaw joint, and the muscles of your face and neck.
Diagnostic tools may include dental X-rays to check for tooth decay, infection, or impacted teeth. A panoramic X-ray provides a view of the entire jaw. If a TMJ problem is suspected, your provider may order a CT scan or MRI to evaluate the joint and the disc inside it. For nerve-related pain, a neurological exam and sometimes an MRI of the brain may be needed.
Treatment Options Based on the Cause
Treatment for one-sided jaw pain depends entirely on the underlying cause. Here is a summary of common approaches.
TMJ Disorder Treatment
Most TMJ cases respond to conservative measures: eating soft foods, applying ice or moist heat, avoiding wide jaw opening, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, and using a custom night guard (occlusal splint) to reduce clenching and grinding. Physical therapy and jaw exercises can also help.
If conservative treatment does not provide relief, your provider may recommend corticosteroid injections into the joint, arthrocentesis (flushing the joint with fluid), or, in rare cases, surgery.
Tooth Infection Treatment
A tooth infection requires treatment of the source. This usually means root canal treatment to remove the infected tissue inside the tooth, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the infection has spread beyond the tooth, but they are not a substitute for definitive dental treatment.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth Treatment
If an impacted wisdom tooth is causing pain or infection, surgical removal is the standard treatment. An oral surgeon performs this procedure, often under sedation or general anesthesia. Recovery typically takes about a week. Learn more about the healing process in our guide to [tooth extraction healing stages](/tooth-extraction-healing-stages).
Other Treatments
- Sinusitis: Decongestants, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and, if bacterial, a course of antibiotics prescribed by your physician.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: Anticonvulsant medications such as carbamazepine are the first-line treatment. If medication does not control the pain, surgical options are available.
- Bruxism: A custom night guard reduces the forces on the jaw and teeth during sleep.
Cost of Diagnosing and Treating Jaw Pain
Costs depend on the cause and the treatment required. A dental exam with X-rays typically costs $100 to $300. A CT scan or MRI of the jaw ranges from $300 to $1,500 depending on the imaging facility.
Treatment costs vary widely. A night guard for TMJ disorder costs $300 to $800 through a dentist. Root canal treatment ranges from $700 to $1,500. Wisdom tooth extraction by an oral surgeon typically costs $300 to $800 per tooth. Most dental insurance covers diagnostic exams and medically necessary treatments. Costs vary by location, provider, and case complexity.
Which Specialist to See for Jaw Pain
Start with your general dentist. They can evaluate for dental causes like infection, decay, and impacted teeth. If the pain is related to the TMJ or jaw muscles and does not resolve with initial treatment, you may be referred to an oral surgeon or an orofacial pain specialist.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon handles surgical treatment of jaw problems, including impacted teeth, jaw fractures, and TMJ surgery. For nerve-related jaw pain like trigeminal neuralgia, a neurologist may be involved. You can find oral surgeons with verified credentials on our [oral surgery specialty page](/specialties/oral-surgery).
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