Why Does My Child’s Jaw Hurt on One Side?

As a parent, it can be hard to see your child in pain and not know how to help them. If your kiddo is feeling discomfort on one side of their jaw, you may be wondering what’s causing it, and what you can do to make it go away. Here’s a few potential reasons this could be happening, and why it may be important to visit their emergency dentist right away.

What Causes One-Sided Jaw Pain?

While there are many different reasons your child’s jaw may ache on one side, the good news is that they’re usually not serious. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common causes of this type of discomfort.

Toothache

One of the most common causes of jaw pain is a toothache. Toothaches in children can be from many things, including:

• Cavities or tooth decay
• A tooth abscess or infection
• Gum recession
• Exposed dentine
• Bite or alignment problems
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• An emerging or impacted wisdom tooth
• Gum disease
• Erupting tooth
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)

If they are experiencing any type of dental or tooth related pain, it’s important to bring them to an emergency dental appointment as soon as possible, as they could be experiencing a serious infection. Call their dentist’s office and explain the issue in as much detail as possible, and their staff will recommend next steps and schedule them for a visit as soon as possible if necessary.

TMJ Disorder

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition where the delicate joints of the jaw become inflamed or misaligned, causing pain and difficulty when your child opens and closes their mouth. It can also cause headaches, neck and back pain, tinnitus (ringing ears) and migraine headaches. Your child’s dentist can treat this condition and help alleviate pain while helping to restore function to their jaw.

Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are thankfully temporary, but they can still be extremely uncomfortable. If your child has been sick or suffers from sinus allergies, they could be at a higher risk for this condition. If they have cold or nasal symptoms that do not go away within a week or so, schedule an appointment with their pediatrician or allergist for further help.

Ear Infection

Because the ears are located so close to the jaw, ear infections can often cause jaw and sinus pain. Thankfully, these are usually easy to clear up with the help of antibiotics from a pediatrician, so if your child has been experiencing ear pain in addition to their jaw pain, talk to their doctor about your options.

Migraine Headache

Migraine headaches can be caused by many things, including temporomandibular joint pain. Thus, if they are experiencing frequent headaches or any other symptoms of a TMJ disorder, schedule an appointment with their pediatrician today. If it is a TMJ condition, their dentist can help too, as treatment for TMJ problems can often help clear up not just jaw pain, but pain elsewhere in the body that may be affected by the condition.

Remember, jaw pain on one side can be caused by a variety of things. If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing jaw pain due to a dental problem such as a cavity, infection, or TMJ disorder, schedule an urgent appointment with their dentist and get them the relief they need as soon as possible!

About Dr. Pearson

As a child, Dr. Allen Pearson didn’t have the best experiences getting dental care, which motivated him to become a pediatric dentist so future generations didn’t have to experience what he did. Today, that passion still drives him, and he’s proud to help promote healthy, beautiful smiles right here in Wylie. Dr. Pearson is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Texas Dental Association, just to name a few. If your child is experiencing jaw pain or any other dental emergency, please call Wylie Children’s Dentistry as soon as possible for fastest service. We can be reached directly at 972-429-7070.