03 Aug The Link Between Jaw Pain and Heart Attacks in Women
A woman in her fifties came to see us recently, describing a dull ache along her jawline. She figured it was from clenching her teeth in her sleep, or maybe even an old filling acting up.
But when she described her other symptoms, we advised her to see a doctor. Jaw pain isn’t always a dental problem. Sometimes it’s your body sending up a much bigger warning sign.
And the link between jaw pain and heart attacks in women deserves more attention.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women Are Very Different to Symptoms in Men
When people picture a heart attack, they picture crushing chest pain and someone clutching their chest. That’s the textbook version, and it happens to plenty of women, too. But heart attack symptoms in women often show up differently than they do in men.
Instead of obvious chest pain, women are more likely to notice:
- Pain or pressure that spreads into the jaw, neck, or upper back
- Nausea or a feeling like the flu is settling in
- Shortness of breath, even while resting
- Sudden, unexplained fatigue that feels far worse than a rough night’s sleep
Chest pain is still the most common symptom for women, but jaw and neck pain rank almost just as high on the list of the warning signs of a heart attack. Because these symptoms feel so unrelated to the heart, many women chalk them up to stress or a bad night’s sleep instead of seeking help.
Why Jaw Pain and Heart Attacks in Women Are Connected
The connection comes down to something called “referred pain.” Your heart and jaw share overlapping nerve pathways, so when the heart is in distress, the brain sometimes reads that signal as pain coming from the jaw instead. It’s the same reason a heart attack can feel like arm pain or back pain in some people.
Heart disease is actually the leading cause of death for women in the United States. And when heart disease symptoms show up somewhere as unexpected as the jaw, it’s no wonder most people don’t make the connection.
TMJD, Migraines, Bruxism, and Other Causes of Jaw Pain
Most of the time, jaw pain is related to a dental problem or another condition that can be treated. Jaw pain can stem from conditions like:
- Bruxism (grinding your teeth at night)
- Misaligned bite (prevents your jaw from relaxing)
- Cluster headaches and migraines
- TMJ disorders
When to See a Dentist About Jaw Pain
If the pain is isolated on one side of your jaw, it could be a cavity or a dental abscess. If you tend to feel it in the morning when you wake up, it’s most likely from grinding your teeth while you sleep. And if your jaw feels sore after you’ve been eating or chewing gum, it may be related to a TMJ disorder or a misaligned bite.
When to See a Doctor About Jaw Pain
If you have jaw pain along with nausea, shortness of breath, or what feels like a panic attack, don’t wait for a dental appointment. Go to urgent care or the ER.
Holistic Dental Care in Prescott, AZ
As holistic dentists, we know exactly how closely your dental health is connected to your physical health. A problem that affects your mouth or jaw could be related to a problem in an entirely different part of your body. Making those connections is what we do best, because we always put your wellbeing first.
If your jaw has been bothering you and you’re not sure what’s causing it, don’t just brush it off. We’ll take a close look, rule out any dental causes, and let you know if what you’re feeling warrants a call to your doctor, too.
Contact Prescott Dentistry to make an appointment today.
Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 7/27/26.