Three Signs That You May Have A Broken Jaw

A broken jaw is a serious medical condition for which you should promptly seek care. It's possible to sustain a broken jaw in a number of ways, but this type of injury can especially occur during an automotive collision and while playing sports. If you break your jaw in a car accident, first responders will likely care for you. However, if you're playing sports and believe that you've broken your jaw, you'll want to get the help of a teammate and seek medical care at a local emergency care center. Once there, a medical professional can X-ray your jaw to ascertain whether it is indeed broken. Here are some indicators that could suggest a broken jaw:

Visual Cues

In many cases, there will be some obvious visual signs of trauma to your jaw. A common indicator is that it doesn't appear in a proper alignment. For example, when your jaw is closed, your upper and lower teeth don't line up in the manner to which you are accustomed. This is a strong indicator that there is a major problem with your jaw, and while a break is likely, you could also be facing a dislocation. Sometimes, a teammate will be the first person to notice that the appearance of your jaw seems problematic.

Intense Pain

An indicator of a broken jaw that you'll quickly realize is that your jaw and the area around it is extremely sore. While it's possible to sustain a broken jaw without a lot pain — this can sometimes occur when your adrenaline is high and you aren't immediately aware of different bodily sensations — it's highly likely that you'll experience at least some degree of discomfort after a blow to your jaw. If you're in a lot of pain, you need to consider that the jaw may be broken, and seek emergency health services right away.

Inability To Open It

Another indicator that you could be dealing with a broken jaw is that you cannot open and close it. A break in the jawbone affects the performance of this part of your body, and you may be aware of an issue when you try to speak after the blow to your upper body. If you can't open your jaw, don't try to force the issue — you could end up complicating the problem and making your recovery more difficult. Instead, just get to an emergency care center as quickly as possible.