I have braces and i have very painful jaw pain in the left side of my jaw . what does that mean ?

Dental Pain: Dental pain can be caused by a number of things. Since you are currently being treated orthodontically, it would be wise for your orthodontist to check your bite, the brackets, and the wires to make sure everything is fine. You just may be sore from the actual procedure.

Jaw pain: You should see your orthodontist ASAP. It could be a wisdom tooth that is erupting. It could be muscle pain and inflammation in the muscles the move your jaw. It could be a problem with the jaw itself. Your orthodontist can tell you what is going on and how to treat this. In the meantime, use an OTC pain medication like ibuprophen and eat a soft diet.

Occlusion: It is likely the result of tooth movement creating an interference in your bite. Call the Orthodontist ASAP and get this checked. Ibuprofen (400 mg) 4 x day with at least 12 oz water for 3 - 5 days or until the pain gets better or until your appt. . Be sure to let them know you are in severe pain and need to be seen ASAP. Soft diet, no chewing on that side. Good Luck.

Possibilities: Pain may be due to bone/tooth ligament soreness from tooth movement, a cavity, teeth temporarily hitting each other too hard as positions change, fracture, muscle spasm, joint dysplasia, inflamed gums from compromised oral hygiene, and many other reasons. See your treating Dentist or (hopefully) Orthodontic Specialist for Rx. In the meantime, follow the pain mediation instructions from your DDS.

TMJ Disorder: f you’re experiencing this kind of jaw pain while wearing braces, you should see Orofacial Pain Specialist. When in doubt, it’s never a bad idea to seek the opinion of someone who is an expert in this field.