Many people experience waking up with a sore jaw or aching teeth, particularly after a long night of grinding or clenching their teeth while they sleep. This is a condition known as wakeful jaw pain and it can be caused by a few different factors.
Firstly, bruxism, or the habit of grinding or clenching the teeth throughout the night, can cause this type of pain. This habit is estimated to affect between 8 to 15 percent of the population and is usually caused by a combination of life stress, sleep disorder or TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems. People who suffer from bruxism can wake up with a stiff jaw or an aching feeling in their teeth as the force of clenching and grinding puts too much pressure on the jaw joint and teeth.
A less common but more serious cause might be an infection such as an abscess. Tooth abscesses can cause pain when pressure builds up inside the tooth and can even cause the tooth to become loose after extended periods of time. Pain is typically felt when eating, drinking or biting down and can progress if not treated expeditiously.
Another factor that can cause wakeful jaw pain is a misaligned bite which is often caused by crooked or missing teeth, a broken filling or injury to the mouth. In this case, teeth may be touching unnaturally when closing the jaw, putting pressure on them and causing pain when waking up in the morning.
To diagnose a cause for wakeful jaw pain, it is best to see your dentist for a checkup and any necessary treatments. If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend wearing an oral splint to prevent further damage to your teeth and jaw from the condition. If you suspect an infection, it is essential to intervene with antibiotics and root canal treatment to prevent the spread of the infection. If bite misalignment is identified, your dentist may suggest adjusting the bite by realigning, replacing or fixing one or more teeth to re-establish a higher level of comfort for you.
In conclusion, wakeful jaw pain can be caused by several different conditions, including bruxism, infection, and misalignment. If you experience such pain, it is best to see a dentist to identify the cause and take action to fix it. Your dentist would be able to provide insight in to the best course of treatment to help relieve your uncomfortable waking experience.