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This can be severe, and is described as a pain boring up through the jaw, usually on one side at a time. It seems at its worst when the neck muscles are tense; when lying down; or when taking hot food or drink.
The pain resembles toothache, and unfortunately many people have had a full dental extraction in an attempt to gain relief. The pain persists after dental treatment, and even people who have had dentures for years have experienced this ‘toothache’. The jaw pain (and all pain associated with withdrawal) goes, but if it is too much to bear, see your doctor. Many people have had dramatic relief from a drug called Tegretol. It is the drug used for the notoriously painful condition trigeminal neuralgia. Withdrawal jaw pain closely resembles this. Aspirin or Paracetemol rarely help this pain. Some people have been helped by having their neck and shoulders massaged, or by sucking ice, or rinsing their mouths with whisky. Others have been helped by having a removable plastic shield, called an occlusion splint, fitted over their bottom teeth. They wear this at night and it prevents jaw clenching. Ask your dentist for advice.
Trigeminal neuralgia can be a symptom of depression. Perhaps that is where the old term ‘face ache’ for a miserable person comes from.
Stinging or aching in the front teeth is also reported. Check that you are eating properly. Low blood sugar can trigger off this jaw pain.
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