Causes of Biting Pain You May Not Think of

If you experience shooting, sharp pains, or a dull ache when you chew, you might be living with cracked tooth syndrome. This condition involves micro-fractures of the teeth, many of which are caused by bruxism. The micro-fractures are difficult to see with the untrained eye, which is why it is so important that you visit our office regularly for periodic exams.

If you feel pain in your jaw when you bite down, it may be the result of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. This jaw pain may be a result of inflammation in the joint that connects the skull and the lower joint. Other symptoms include difficulty chewing, facial pain, pain around the ear, and locking of the joint, which makes it difficult to open and close the mouth.

If you suffer from advanced gum disease or brush your teeth too aggressively, you may experience gum recession. When the gums pull away from the teeth, the tooth root will be exposed. This could lead to extreme sensitivity when biting, as well as when you consume hot or cold foods and drinks.

If you have a severe sinus infection, you could also experience biting pain. The roots of certain teeth sit close to the sinuses, and sinus infection pressure can mirror tooth pain. If you experience other symptoms of a sinus infection, try taking a nasal decongestant to see if this alleviates some of your biting pain.

If you are unsure of the source of your biting pain, please give our office a call. We are happy to help diagnose the problem and to create an appropriate treatment plan. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Plano TX, Addison TX, Garland TX, Richardson TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND!