Fish Oil and Jaw Pain

The anti-inflammatory components of fish oil may help relieve pain in your jaw joint. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are believed to alleviate joint pain. Anti-inflammatory agents may also benefit conditions affecting the jaw such as myofascial pain syndrome and temporomandibular joint disorder. Consult your doctor before taking fish oil to treat any painful condition.

Components

Fish oil contains essential omega-3 fatty acids the body cannot produce itself, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, are primarily found in fish, plant and nut oils. Fish oil contains the beneficial essential omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. It is important to have an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are believed to decrease inflammation, whereas omega-6 fatty-acids -- in the majority of foods you eat -- may promote it, reports the UMMC.

Benefits

The UMMC says fish oil may benefit heart disease, cancer, arthritis and joint pain associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil lubricate the joints to help them work more effectively while relieving inflammation, states Dr. Mehmet Oz on ShareCare.com. Fish oil is thought to reduce joint friction, grinding and pain. Oz recommends taking 2 g of fish oil caplets daily, which is the equivalent of eating 13 oz. of fish per week, without the possible contaminants.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

The Invisible Disabilities Association of Canada recommends anti-inflammatory substances -- as in fish oil -- for sufferers of the neuromuscular condition, myofascial pain syndrome, or MPS. This chronic, painful disorder involves tender points in the muscles, or trigger points, that cause pain when touched that may spread throughout the entire affected muscle, according to the Mayo Clinic. MPS is linked to jaw and neck pain as well as pain in other parts of the body.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The anti-inflammatory components in fish oil might help relieve temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, according to the Invisible Disabilities Association of Canada. This disorder affects the muscles located around the jaw joint that -- when working properly -- contract and relax so that you are able to open and close your mouth, eat and talk. TMJ may cause sore, stiff muscles around the jaw, along with headaches and neck aches.

Precautions

Fish oil, while believed by most people to be safer than anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, should only be taken under the care of a doctor, cautions the UMMC. According to the UMMC, omega-3 fatty acids, such as in fish oil, can increase bleeding in patients taking blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin or aspirin. Fish oil may also increase blood-sugar levels of diabetics taking the medication Glucotrol. Fish oil can cause gas, bloating, belching and diarrhea as well.