Why Does My Jaw Hurt While Smoking Weed? [11 Possible Causes]

You ever smoke a joint and suddenly feel like your jaw’s on strike? Well, friend, you’re not alone.

Smoking weed can indeed affect your jaw.

The connections between cannabis consumption and jaw discomfort aren’t always direct, but they’re present nonetheless. It’s a blend of factors: physical reactions, potential underlying conditions, and even the way you hold or puff on your joint.

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.

To truly get a grip on why your jaw is protesting during your peaceful puff, we’ll need to understand more of this topic.

So let’s light up our understanding and venture into the specifics.

Table of Contents

Why Does My Jaw Hurt?
What Can I Do to Prevent It?
When to Consult a Doctor

Why Does My Jaw Hurt When I Smoke Cannabis?

When it comes to jaw pain and cannabis use, several factors might be at play.

Here are some possible causes that we’ve found, which might relate to you as a user:

1. Heart Conditions and Cannabis Use

Did you know there could be a link between toking up and heart issues?

Sounds scary, I know.

But the good news is, it’s all about being informed and taking care of yourself. Sometimes, heart problems can sneakily show up as jaw pain.

This might be especially true if you’re older, a woman, or have diabetes.

If you feel weird like jaw pain, fatigue, or trouble breathing after smoking weed, it’s a good idea to see a doc right away.

2. Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium plays a key role in muscle relaxation.

So if you’re running low, your muscles might be on edge, leading to tension in your jaw.

Since a lot of us are low on this mineral (partly because of lifestyle choices like substance use), it’s worth considering as a reason behind your jaw tension.

3. Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Ever wake up with a sore jaw? You might be grinding your teeth in your sleep, a condition known as bruxism.

It’s not great for your teeth or jaw, and it can be a big pain—literally.

Some stoners who grind their teeth have said their jaw pain feels like it’s coming from their masseter muscles—that’s the big muscle that makes your jaw clench.

4. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ for short, is a pesky problem that causes pain and movement issues in your jaw joint and the muscles around it.

If you have TMJ and smoke weed, you might notice your pain ramping up a notch, thanks to the strain smoking puts on your jaw.

5. Inhaling Techniques

When you smoke, you’re using your facial muscles in a different way.

If you’re hitting your joint too hard or awkwardly, you could be overworking your face and jaw muscles, and causing yourself some discomfort.

6. Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth—that’s when they’re stuck under your gum—can be a real pain in the jaw. If you’re lighting up, you might notice this pain getting worse.

7. Dry Mouth or “Cottonmouth”

Weed is famous for leaving you feeling like you’ve got cotton balls in your mouth, which can be a downer.

When your mouth’s dry, it can mess with swallowing and oral health, and could lead to discomfort or even pain in your jaw.

8. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Here’s a less common cause, but it’s worth a mention: trigeminal neuralgia. This condition causes severe facial pain, and some folks have said that smoking weed triggers it. But don’t panic, more research is needed here.

9. Allergic Reactions

While it’s not common, some people can be allergic to cannabis.

If you’re getting jaw pain, skin rashes, or having trouble breathing after using weed, you might be one of them.

10. Indirect Effects on Eating Habits

Weed and munchies go hand in hand. But all that chowing down on hard, crunchy, or chewy foods could be tough on your jaw, leading to pain.

11. Altered Perception

Weed’s psychoactive effects can make you feel things more intensely, including minor discomfort or tension in your jaw.

Don’t sweat it too much—it might just be your heightened awareness playing tricks on you.

Whatever the case may be, it’s apparent that your jaw is currently hurting, and we need to find a solution to remedy that.

In the next section, we’ll explore different ways to fix your jaw pain from smoking weed.

What Can I Do to Prevent Jaw Pain When Smoking Weed

Acknowledging that you might be experiencing the causes mentioned above, here are some possible ways to remedy the pain in your jaw caused by weed use:

Look After Your Heart

Got a heart condition or predisposed to one? If so, and you’re smoking weed, you might wanna check in with your doc to be on the safe side.

Jaw pain plus fatigue, dizziness, or trouble breathing after a smoke? That’s a signal to get some medical help, pronto.

Regular doctor’s visits can keep you on top of your heart health.

Also Check: How Do You Meditate While High?

Up Your Magnesium Game

If your muscles are acting up, you might be low on magnesium.

Taking magnesium supplements can chill out muscle tension, including in your jaw.

But remember, before popping those Cannabis pills, get in touch with a healthcare professional. They’ll guide you on the right dosage.

Keeping Teeth Grinding in Check

Grinding your teeth in your sleep? It might be causing your jaw to ache.

You can fight back by lowering your stress, wearing a dental guard at night, or trying different weed strains. Who knows? A certain type of cannabis might lessen your teeth grinding.

If you’re game, try cannabis topicals on your jaw—it could do the trick.

Tackling TMJ Disorder

If you’ve got a TMJ disorder and weed seems to make it worse, it’s probably time to see your doctor.

They can offer solutions like physical therapy, meds, or a special mouthpiece to ease the strain on your jaw joint.

Change Up Your Inhaling Style

Inhaling like a vacuum cleaner might be messing with your jaw.

Try taking it easy when you smoke, or switch to a vaporizer.

A softer inhale could stop your facial muscles from working overtime.

Talk to Your Dentist about Wisdom Teeth

Think your wisdom teeth are causing your jaw pain? It’s time to see your dentist.

They can sort you out with treatments or even surgery to get rid of the pain.

Also Read: How Do You Deal With Weed Breath?

Deal with Dry Mouth

If weed leaves your mouth feeling like the Sahara, try to keep hydrated, use over-the-counter products to fight dry mouth, or pick strains known to cause less dryness.

This might help you dodge jaw discomfort.

Also Check: How Long Does THC Stays in Your Saliva Glands?

Get Medical Help for Trigeminal Neuralgia

If you think you’ve got trigeminal neuralgia, get to a doctor, stat.

They can provide treatments that will make your life a lot more comfortable.

Handling Allergic Reactions

Breaking out in a rash or struggling to breathe after smoking up? You could be allergic.

Hold off on the weed, and see a healthcare professional to figure out what’s causing your reaction.

Snack Smart

Getting the munchies? Try softer foods and slow, mindful chewing to give your jaw a break.

Understand Perception Shifts

Remember, weed can amplify your feelings, including any minor discomfort.

If you’re getting too aware of tension in your jaw, think about trying a strain with less psychoactive kick or reducing your intake. It could help you feel more at ease.

These tips can be useful if you want to try and manage the issue by yourself, but don’t make them your end-all-be-all solution.

You should highly consider talking to a doctor if you’re experiencing this problem. In the next subheading, we’re going to discuss just that.

Honestly, the best advice is to listen to your body.

If your jaw discomfort is just a mild annoyance that disappears once the munchies hit, you probably don’t need to start dialing your doctor’s office.

On the other hand, if your jaw is causing you real grief or the pain is sticking around like a bad houseguest, then it’s probably time to get it checked out.

And hey, we’ve talked about a whole bunch of things that might be behind your jaw pain, remember?

Heart issues, magnesium deficiency, teeth grinding (or bruxism if you’re fancy), TMJ disorder, your inhaling techniques, wisdom teeth problems, cottonmouth, trigeminal neuralgia, allergic reactions, your eating habits, and even the psychoactive effects of weed itself.

If you’re reading this and a light bulb’s going off because you realize you’ve got a heart condition, grind your teeth at night, or you’re allergic to some stuff, then definitely give your doc a ring.

And remember, severe or sudden pain—especially when it comes with other symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or difficulty breathing—needs immediate medical attention. So don’t tough it out, okay?

But don’t worry too much.

Just because you’ve got a bit of jaw pain doesn’t mean there’s a major health crisis.

It’s just a sign that you might need to tweak how you’re doing things, like adjusting your inhaling technique, dealing with dry mouth, or changing up your munchie snacks.

But if you have a question or two that’s been bothering you, or you’re still not sure if you’re ready for a chat with your doctor, feel free to leave a comment below.

Our community here at BMWO might have the answers you need or share a similar experience with this issue.

If you want to learn more about topics similar to this one, our Blog is a treasure trove of insightful reads. You might want to check it out.

Alternatively, you can check out our product section if you’re in the mood for some shopping. From flowers and edibles to shrooms and vapes, we’ve got you covered.

Curious about what’s popular? You can head over to our Best Sellers section; it’s worth a peek.

In the end, it’s all about keeping your smoking sesh enjoyable. So if jaw pain is harshing your mellow, talk to your doctor.

Trust me, they’ve heard it all before.

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