Head
Jaw pain
Pain in the jaw — usually from the jaw joint, teeth or muscles, but occasionally a referred warning of a heart attack or, in older adults, of inflammation of the arteries that can threaten sight, so the cause must be pinned down.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of jaw pain and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is jaw pain?
Jaw pain most often arises from the structures of the jaw and face themselves: the jaw joint in front of the ear (the temporomandibular joint), the chewing muscles, the teeth and gums, the sinuses or the ear. These causes are common and rarely dangerous, typically worsening with chewing, jaw movement or stress, or alongside dental or sinus problems.
- Get urgent help: Call 999 if jaw pain spreads from or to the chest, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, nausea or a feeling of pressure — this can be a heart attack. Seek urgent same-day help if you are over 50 with new jaw or scalp pain on chewing and tenderness over the temples — this can be giant cell arteritis, which can threaten sight.
- Self-care: Once a clinician has confirmed your jaw pain comes from the jaw joint or chewing muscles, simple measures often help.
About jaw pain
Jaw pain most often arises from the structures of the jaw and face themselves: the jaw joint in front of the ear (the temporomandibular joint), the chewing muscles, the teeth and gums, the sinuses or the ear. These causes are common and rarely dangerous, typically worsening with chewing, jaw movement or stress, or alongside dental or sinus problems. However, the jaw shares nerve pathways with the heart, so pain can be referred there from elsewhere, and two patterns must never be missed. First, jaw pain that spreads up from the chest, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, nausea or a feeling of pressure, can be a heart attack — pain is not always felt in the chest. Second, in people over 50, a new pain in the jaw or scalp that comes on when chewing, with tenderness over the temples, can signal giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of the arteries that is urgent because it can cause sudden, permanent loss of sight. These possibilities shape how jaw pain should be assessed.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if jaw pain comes with any of these warning signs:
- Call 999 if jaw pain spreads from or to the chest, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, nausea or a feeling of pressure — this can be a heart attack.
- Seek urgent same-day help if you are over 50 with new jaw or scalp pain on chewing and tenderness over the temples — this can be giant cell arteritis, which can threaten sight.
- Seek urgent help for jaw pain with sudden loss of vision, double vision or a severe headache.
- Seek urgent help for jaw pain with facial swelling and fever, or difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing.
- See a doctor or dentist promptly for severe, persistent or worsening jaw pain, or a hot, swollen, painful area around a tooth.
When to see a doctor
Call 999 without delay if jaw pain comes with chest pain or pressure, sweating, breathlessness or nausea, because a heart attack does not always cause classic chest pain. If you are over 50 and develop new jaw or scalp pain that comes on with chewing, with tender temples or any visual change, seek urgent same-day help, as giant cell arteritis can cause irreversible sight loss. For jaw pain that is clearly linked to the jaw joint, teeth, sinuses or ear, see a dentist or doctor promptly, especially if it is severe, persistent or worsening, comes with facial swelling and fever, or makes it hard to open your mouth or swallow.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of jaw pain
Jaw pain has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Once a clinician has confirmed your jaw pain comes from the jaw joint or chewing muscles, simple measures often help. Rest the jaw by eating softer foods and avoiding wide yawning, hard or chewy foods and chewing gum, and apply a warm compress to ease tense muscles. Be aware of clenching or grinding, especially at stressful times or overnight, and try to keep the jaw relaxed with the teeth slightly apart during the day; a dentist can advise if grinding is a problem. Gentle jaw exercises and managing stress can reduce muscle-related pain. See a dentist for tooth or gum causes. None of this applies to jaw pain that spreads from the chest or comes with sweating or breathlessness — that is an emergency.
Answers
Jaw pain: frequently asked questions
Can jaw pain be a heart attack?
Yes. Heart pain can be referred to the jaw, so jaw pain that spreads from the chest, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, nausea or a sense of pressure, can be a heart attack. Call 999 — pain is not always felt in the chest.
What causes most jaw pain?
Most jaw pain comes from the jaw joint and chewing muscles, the teeth and gums, the sinuses or the ear. It often worsens with chewing or jaw movement and is rarely dangerous, but the cause should still be confirmed.
Why is jaw pain on chewing serious in older people?
In people over 50, new jaw or scalp pain that comes on with chewing, with tender temples, can be giant cell arteritis — inflammation of the arteries that can cause sudden, permanent sight loss. It needs urgent same-day assessment.
Can clenching and grinding cause jaw pain?
Yes. Clenching or grinding the teeth, often during stress or sleep, strains the jaw joint and muscles and is a common cause of jaw pain. Keeping the jaw relaxed, eating softer foods and seeing a dentist can help.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Temporomandibular disorders.
- British Heart Foundation: heart attack warning signs.
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