Q What should i do for a achy jaw? My upper jaw has been aching for the past four days. The ache also spreads to my cheekbones and causes a fair amount of pain there as well. My mom suggested that this could be from grinding or clenching my teeth in my sleep or subconsciously throughout the day, which i think is fairly probable. I have been taking excedrin extra-strength over the last few days to help with the pain, but it only lessens the pain a little. Any ideas on what i can do for the pain, or what i can do about the teeth-clenching?
Your jaw pain seems likely to have arisen from teeth grinding (bruxism). Yet, at this point a visit to the dentist is a must in order to rule out other causes of jaw pain esp since the bruxism pain is usually mild and starts gradually. The exact etiology of bruxism is yet to be unearthed however the possible causes are stress, abnormal functioning of the central nervous system, smoking, genetics, certain medications, minor teeth defects etc. To manage this condition, aim at reducing stress, cut down on smoking and get a dental guard. Keep yourself in a relaxed state of mind every night before sleeping. Get your teeth thoroughly assessed for any damage and get them rectified. Cutting back on caffeine, colas, alcohol is also helpful.