I have chronic jaw pain. i was never told by my dentistthat i grind my teeth. for the past month now, the pain has increased even with aleve (naproxen). what should i do?

Jaw Pain: Sometimes you can't tell you grind your teeth, unless someone hears you while you sleep. Dentists can see signs on teeth as well but not always recognizable. It's important that you go to your dentist and get evaluated for proper treatment to alleviate your pain.

Needs a diagnosis: Chronic jaw pain can have many causes. Alleve or any pain medication may relieve some of the pain but what you really need is a firm diagnosis and a treatment plan. Infection of your teeth or gums will not spontaneously resolve. Musculoskeletal issues may respond to modifications of your bite or splint therapy. Find a dentist who will get to the bottom of the problem and treat the pain's source.

Causes?: Chronic pain means you have had pain for weeks, perhaps months. Grinding your teeth may cause the muscles around the ear to become tense and painful. Jaw pain can be related to bad teeth, trauma, grinding your teeth, or a systemic condition. Pain is associated with stress, too. So, controlling your stress level could decrease your jaw pain. You should ask your dentist to evaluate for TMJ probs.

See a specialist : Start with seeing your general dentist but you may need to see a prosthodontist (specialist) or a TMJ specialist (not an official specialty). Grinding and clenching is difficult to manage but in all likelihood you will need a custom mouthguard to relieve the pressure on your jaw joints and thereafter if the teeth are badly broken down, several crowns to reconstruct your bite.