Facial Pain Common in Adults

The American Dental Association reported that >15% of adults have chronic facial pain. Some common symptoms individuals experience include pain in or around the ear, jaw tenderness, clicking or popping noises when the mouth opens, headaches, and neck pain. Because all of these symptoms do not share a common cause, a dentist can help pinpoint the source of the pain with an exam and dental x-rays. Oftentimes, the pain is the result of a sinus problem, toothache, or earlystage periodontal disease. Sometimes the pain is associated with facial muscles, the jaw, or the temporomandibular joint. The recommended treatments for facial pain may include stressreducing exercises, muscle relaxants, or a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding.