You wake up and the jaw hurts on one side. Or maybe you notice a click every time you open your mouth wide — but only on the left. Or you have been dealing with a dull, nagging pain near your ear for weeks, and you cannot quite figure out why. One-sided jaw pain is more common than most people realize. And while it can feel alarming, it is usually something that can be explained — and treated — once you understand what is going on. Is my jaw pain something to worry about? 5