The Pain in Your Jaw When You Eat

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A sore jaw after a particularly chewy meal is easy to explain. But if your jaw repeatedly starts hurting while you are eating, especially if it is a new symptom, it is worth noticing.

One common cause is a dental problem. A damaged tooth, infection, gum problem, or an issue with a filling can make chewing uncomfortable. You may notice that the pain is worse when you bite on one particular side or around a particular tooth.

The jaw joint can also be responsible. The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, connects your jawbone to your skull. Problems affecting this joint can cause pain when chewing, clicking or popping when you open your mouth, headaches around the temples, or difficulty opening your mouth fully.

Teeth grinding and clenching can make things worse. Some people do it while sleeping without realising it, while others clench their jaw during periods of stress or concentration. A dentist can look for signs of wear and discuss whether your jaw pain may be related.

Pay attention to the location and timing of the pain. Does it happen every time you chew? Is it only on one side? Does it disappear when you stop eating? Does your jaw feel tired unusually quickly? These details can help your dentist or GP work out what may be happening.

There is one less common but important reason not to ignore new jaw pain. In older adults, pain in the jaw while chewing can occasionally occur with giant cell arteritis, a condition involving inflammation of blood vessels.

It can also cause a new headache, scalp tenderness, or changes in vision, and requires urgent medical assessment because untreated inflammation can threaten eyesight.

Most jaw pain will have a much simpler explanation. But if it is new, persistent or accompanied by a new severe headache or visual symptoms, seek medical advice rather than waiting for it to disappear.

Sometimes the useful health clue is not the pain itself, but the very specific moment when it appears. If chewing suddenly becomes uncomfortable in a way it never was before, make a note of it and get it assessed.