Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsJaw SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Jaw Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)is an inflammatory condition that occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. RA commonly affects joints throughout the body, including the jaw. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, which leads to redness, swelling, pain, warmth, and stiffness in the affected areas.
This article discusses RA in the jaw, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
LaylaBird / Getty Images
Symptoms of RA in the Jaw
Chances are, you haven’t paid much attention to your jaw joint. But, when it’s inflamed—as occurs with rheumatoid arthritis—it’s almost impossible to ignore. Your jaw moves frequently throughout the day as you talk, eat, and swallow.
Symptoms of RA in the jaw can include:
These symptoms are also common with otherconditions that affect the TMJ. However, one of the hallmark signs of RA is that it affects joints on both sides of the body at the same time. Other conditions that cause jaw issues usually only affect one side of your jaw.
RA in the jaw can also cause other symptoms, such asTMJ headaches, earaches, and ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears.
How Is RA in the Jaw Diagnosed?
Diagnosing RA begins with your healthcare provider collecting information about your symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis affects your whole body—not just the jaw. Early on, symptoms of RA usually appear in the hands, fingers, and wrists.
Symptoms
Symptom criteria fordiagnosing RAtypically include:
Blood Work
Blood work is important in the diagnosis of RA. General blood tests offer information about levels of inflammation in the body.
Other specific blood tests look for the presence ofrheumatoid factor(a specific antibody that occurs with inflammatory conditions),anti-cycliccitrullinatedpeptide(CCP),erythrocytesedimentation rate(ESR or sed rate), andC-reactive protein(CRP) in the blood.
Imaging
As your condition progresses, imaging is useful in determining how much damage RA has caused to a specific joint, such as your jaw.X-raysare often the first step in imaging an inflamed joint. This image provides information about the bones in your joint, how they are aligned, and whether there has been joint damage (erosive disease).
Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) is most often used to assess soft tissues in your joints, such as the articular disk in your TMJ.Computed tomography(CT) can be used to further assess the damage that RA has done to the bones of your jaw.
Treating Jaw Pain from RA
Jaw pain from RA can be treated with medications and home remedies.
Medications
Rheumatoid arthritis is treated with medications that target your overactive immune system to decrease inflammation throughout the body. These medications—called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, orDMARDs—can help decrease pain in your jaw and other joints in your body. However, they can take months to start working.
Anti-inflammatory medications are commonly used to treat jaw pain from RA. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen) help reduce swelling and jaw pain. If these aren’t effective, your healthcare provider might prescribe a steroid medication, such as prednisone.
Home Remedies
Jaw pain can also be treated with home remedies, such as:
8 Things to Stop Doing If You Have TMJ Pain
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. RA often targets joints throughout the body, including the jaw. Symptoms of RA in the jaw include pain, stiffness, clicking, and limited movement. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications and home remedies.
A Word From Verywell
How to Find a Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Frequently Asked QuestionsRA can cause jaw pain at the TMJs—the joints that can be felt in front of your ears when you move your jaw up and down. RA causes pain in both sides of the jaw, which is often worse when you eat hard or chewy foods, or open your mouth all the way.Rheumatoid arthritis causes breakdown of structures in your jaw, including cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bone. Inflammation in the joints cause pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and limited movement.Rheumatoid arthritis can cause gum disease and infections, which can cause your teeth to loosen.
RA can cause jaw pain at the TMJs—the joints that can be felt in front of your ears when you move your jaw up and down. RA causes pain in both sides of the jaw, which is often worse when you eat hard or chewy foods, or open your mouth all the way.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes breakdown of structures in your jaw, including cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bone. Inflammation in the joints cause pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and limited movement.
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause gum disease and infections, which can cause your teeth to loosen.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Temporomandibular disorder (TMD).Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA and joint pain: Can rheumatoid arthritis cause jaw pain?Oral Health Foundation.Jaw problems and headaches.Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA diagnosis: What criteria are used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?Savtekin G, Sehirli AO.Rheumatoid arthritis in temporo-mandibular joint: A review. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2018;21(10):1243. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_117_18Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA medications: How effective are RA medications for pain?
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Temporomandibular disorder (TMD).Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA and joint pain: Can rheumatoid arthritis cause jaw pain?Oral Health Foundation.Jaw problems and headaches.Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA diagnosis: What criteria are used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?Savtekin G, Sehirli AO.Rheumatoid arthritis in temporo-mandibular joint: A review. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2018;21(10):1243. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_117_18Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA medications: How effective are RA medications for pain?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Temporomandibular disorder (TMD).Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA and joint pain: Can rheumatoid arthritis cause jaw pain?Oral Health Foundation.Jaw problems and headaches.Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA diagnosis: What criteria are used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?Savtekin G, Sehirli AO.Rheumatoid arthritis in temporo-mandibular joint: A review. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2018;21(10):1243. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_117_18Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA medications: How effective are RA medications for pain?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA and joint pain: Can rheumatoid arthritis cause jaw pain?
Oral Health Foundation.Jaw problems and headaches.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA diagnosis: What criteria are used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?
Savtekin G, Sehirli AO.Rheumatoid arthritis in temporo-mandibular joint: A review. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2018;21(10):1243. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_117_18
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network.RA medications: How effective are RA medications for pain?
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
