What’s Causing Your Oral Pain or Sensitivity?
It Might Not Be Your Teeth
Do you have tooth or gum sensitivity but no clear diagnosis from your dentist? Maybe you’ve been told to try Sensodyne or another medicated toothpaste—and just wait to see if it helps. But pain doesn’t happen without reason. If you’re still looking for answers, this post is for you. (TLDR at the bottom)
When the Usual Answers Aren’t Enough
Unexplained oral pain can sometimes be traced beyond your teeth and gums—to your muscles, nerves, and even your posture. Understanding how the nervous system interacts with the soft tissues of the head, neck, and jaw can shed light on pain that doesn’t show up in a dental exam.
The Trigeminal Nerve 1 (Cranial Nerve V) is the main nerve responsible for sensation in the face, including the teeth and gums. It has three branches—mandibular, maxillary, and ophthalmic—that relay sensory information and also help control chewing and jaw movement.
Compression of this nerve can cause multiple symptoms of dysfunction- including pain in your gums and teeth!
How Nerve Compression Develops
We often think of nerve entrapment in extreme terms: sharp pain, numbness, or tingling. But compression starts subtly. Early signs that can be missed include:
- Reduced Temperature in local tissues due to reduced blood flow
- Increased sweating from overstimulated nerves
- Persistent muscle tightness or stiffness
- Trigger Point Formation and resulting referred pain (pain felt in a different area than its source)
As compression develops in the Trigeminal Nerve, it can lead to jaw tension, bruxism (grinding/clenching), and pain or sensitivity in the gums and teeth 2. It is important to note that although the trigeminal nerve is embedded in layers of fascia, fascia restrictions are commonly overlooked in Trigeminal Nerve dysfunction.
The Muscles Behind Oral Pain
In some cases, oral pain or sensitivity comes before any dental damage occurs. In others, it’s the reverse—gum disease or cavities cause nearby muscles to tense and teeth to grind, so it’s important to let your dentist examine you first to rule out dental issues or issues that may require a neurologist. When dental issues are cleared, muscle dysfunction is a common factor that should be examined next.
Key muscles involved include:
- Sternocleidomastoid (in the neck) – contributes to forward head posture and may refer pain to the face, though not directly into the mouth
- Trapezius– or traps muscle has been shown to trigger jaw tension when in dysfunction
- Temporalis, Masseter, and Digastric muscles – all controlled by the mandibular branch of the Trigeminal Nerve and capable of referring pain to specific teeth
- Facial and jaw muscles – often impacted by posture, stress, or misaligned bite
These muscular issues can compress or irritate nearby nerves, creating a feedback loop of pain and tension.
Posture Matters More Than You Think
A common root cause we see in cases like these is forward head posture. When the head shifts out of alignment, it strains the muscles and fascia in the neck and face. Over time, this can lead to:
- Trigeminal nerve irritation
- Chronic headaches
- Jaw tension and TMJ dysfunction
- Neck and spinal issues
- Even balance, vision, or hearing problems
There are several other root causes that can lead to these issues. A crick in the neck that never fully went away. Stress related teeth grinding or shoulder clenching. Arthritis or disc issues in the neck triggering muscle tightness. If you’re experiencing oral pain and also suffer from similar conditions, addressing these may be the key to resolving your oral pain.
What Conventional Treatments Miss
Unfortunately, dental exams won’t always find your problem.3 When dental exams and X-rays don’t show a clear cause, you’re often told to “watch and wait.” A toothpaste prescription is usually given to “calm the nerves”—and if that doesn’t work after a few months, a neurologist referral may follow. The neurologist may then give you prescription medications or nerve blocks to address your pain.
However, this approach often overlooks the role of soft tissue and posture. If there’s no structural nerve damage or oral disease, the pain could still be your body’s way of signaling an underlying issue. Masking the symptom without addressing the source may allow dysfunction to worsen.
A Holistic Approach to Pain Relief
If your dentist has ruled out dental disease but you’re still experiencing symptoms, neuromuscular therapy may help. By releasing tension in the muscles and fascia surrounding the Trigeminal Nerve, we may be able to reduce or eliminate your oral pain—without medication or invasive procedures.
This approach focuses on the interconnected systems of the body—how posture, movement, and muscle health all impact how you feel.
Next Steps
- Always start by visiting your dentist to rule out structural oral issues like cavities, abscesses, or gum disease.
- If no clear dental cause is found, consider a consultation with a Neuromuscular or Manual Therapist.
- If you’re in the Houston area, feel free to call us at (713) 254-0611 to discuss your situation and whether a holistic approach is right for you.
TLDR: Tooth and gum pain/sensitivity aren’t always caused by dental disease. Poor posture and soft tissue dysfunction can irritate the nerves that give teeth and gums sensation, leading to pain or sensitivity—even when your teeth are fine. Talk to your dentist first; if they don’t find anything wrong, call us at (713)254-0611 for a free phone consultation.