Pain in front of ear that affects opening of mouth. sudden onset. happened overnight. don't grind teeth. there is no bump but pain originates @joint?

TMJ syndrome: Even if you do not grind your teeth, you may have slept with your jaw in an unusual position which caused the jaw joint to be painful. For the next several days: soft diet, no gum chewing, do not open real wide to eat things such as sub sandwiches, etc. Advil or aleve (naproxen) for pain (if you are not allergic), ice pack on that side 10 - 15 min.(place cloth over skin, then icepack to avoid frostbite).

See a dentist: That is the regions and symptoms that go along with tmd or TMJ disorder (not just tmj, everyone has 2 of those) you should get a consult to see if you need treatment. Commonly it happens occasionally then the occurrences increase and or the intensity increases. You may have simply irritated the area and it will be fine but you don't want long term probs either. Best of luck.

Acute TMJ Disorder: Many times a combination of factors will trigger symptoms: stress, anxiety, muscle spasm, etc. If your symptoms persist, see your doctor or dentist for eval.