Frequently Asked Questions

I have been having a pain in my lower right jaw for a couple of days, and headaches. Today it feels a little like it might be my tooth, but it mainly hurts to open my jaw up really wide, or to chew. Any suggestions? Or should I schedule an appointment with my dentist? And if so, how immediately?

A quick test can help you know if it is tooth or muscle/joint related. Your dentist will need to know these same answers to help you.
1. Put one finger inside your mouth and one opposite on the cheek. Press the two fingers together as far back in the cheek as you can reach. If the muscle is very sore to touch, then this is likely a muscle/joint problem caused by stress or anxiety. The initial treatment is to eat soft foods, use warm moist heat on the muscle, avoid chewing gum and reduce caffeine intake, and give it a couple of days. If it improves, you are on the road to recovery.
2. If the muscle is not sore, get a cotton tipped applicator and place it on the chewing surface of the tooth that may be the problem. Apply biting pressure to the cotton tip and see if the tooth is sore or painful. If it is, make an appointment with your dentist soon.

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