The jaw hurts when chewing: causes, diagnosis, diagnosis and treatment methods

Why does the jaw hurt when chewing? The causes of this pathological condition can be various injuries and diseases. To determine them and undergo a course of treatment, you need to contact a narrow specialist. Which doctor should go for a consultation, the local therapist will tell.

basic information

If a person has a jaw when chewing, then he will not be able to do without the help of a doctor. After all, such unpleasant sensations bring a lot of inconvenience, including during hygiene procedures, drinking, and even ordinary conversation.

Why does the jaw crunch when chewing? There are many causes for this condition. It can be associated with diseased teeth, injuries and lesions of nerve endings. Also, this problem often indicates the presence of any bone pathology.

To determine the choice of a specialist who can help the patient, it is necessary to pay attention to the localization and nature of the pain.

Sore and snapping jaw when chewing: causes

The treatment of pathologies that cause discomfort in the jaw joint should be handled only by a narrow specialist on the basis of data from a complete examination of the patient. It should be remembered that the timely and accurate identification of the causes of discomfort arising during chewing food allows the doctor not only to make the correct diagnosis, but also to prescribe appropriate therapeutic procedures that will significantly alleviate the patient's condition.

If a person has a jaw when chewing, then this is most likely due to:

• the presence of injuries to this part of the skeleton;
• wearing braces or dental prostheses;
• tooth problems;
• bite feature;
• the development of purulent-inflammatory diseases;
• the presence of a tumor;
• neurological diseases;
• the presence of degenerative diseases.

Getting injured

Even a slight blow to the jaw cannot pass without a trace. Moreover, mechanical injury to this part of the skeleton very often manifests itself after some time (that is, not immediately after the injury). Therefore, forgetting about the incident, many people are wondering why their jaw hurts when chewing, and what caused it.

Experts say that discomfort in the jaw joint can be associated with the following reasons:

• Dislocation. Few people know, but it is quite possible to get such an injury when yawning, abrupt opening of the mouth and even ordinary laughter. As a rule, a similar pathology develops in people prone to joint diseases. Recognizing dislocation of the jaw is quite easy. Outwardly, it looks like this: the lower part of the skeleton of the face is fixed with a bias in one direction and only with the mouth open. To get rid of a dislocation, urgent help of a traumatologist is necessary.
• If there is a blow to the jaw (with a fist, a blunt object or as a result of a fall from a height), a bruise forms. With such an injury, the bones of the skeleton of the face retain their integrity, however, the external soft tissues are damaged. This condition can cause soreness when opening the mouth. Also, a hematoma and swelling of the skin area are often formed at the site of the impact. In this case, patients rarely seek medical help, even if their jaw hurts when chewing. This is due to the fact that usually all symptoms of bruising go away on their own within two to three days.
• Osteomyelitis is traumatic. The main cause of this disease is an untreated jaw fracture, which was complicated by the patient’s reduced immunity or the presence of foci of infection in his mouth. Very often, the pathology in question develops as a result of an infected tooth, from which the infectious infiltrate has spread deep into the jaw tissue. Traumatic osteomyelitis is characterized not only by unpleasant sensations during chewing, but also, for example, throbbing pain, as well as an increase in body temperature and a deterioration in the general condition.
• Fracture. If a person's jaw crunches when chewing, then it is quite possible that this is due to the formation of a fracture, which can be obtained as a result of a strong blow, a fall from a height or an accident. It should be specially noted that such a mechanical injury can occur on the lower, upper, and both jaws simultaneously. In addition to acute pain, a fracture causes swelling and bruising, not to mention the complete lack of the ability to chew food. If the injury was serious (for example, in an accident), then the doctors perform splinting of the jaw. This procedure avoids a huge number of unpleasant consequences, including tooth loss, displacement of fragments, inflammation or infection of soft tissues.

• Subluxation. Most often, this kind of pathology is discussed if the patient has a lower jaw. Subluxation may result from actions such as coughing, yawning, or laughing. It is characterized by a shift of the lower jaw forward or to one of the sides (right / left). A similar injury develops due to stretching of the fibrous tissue, as well as the inability to properly fix the joint of the bones.

Braces and Dentures

Why does it hurt to chew, and the jaw on the right near the ear hurts? In some cases, this question should be addressed to orthodontists. After all, it is these specialists who are involved in the installation of various designs that are designed to correct bite. After such procedures, the patient may experience mild soreness during the entire period of getting used to braces or dentures.

What are orthodontic structures and why does the jaw hurt from chewing on their right or left? According to doctors, such devices are installed directly on the teeth. They are able to move them relative to the dentofacial line, which, in fact, leads to the development of discomfort. No matter how strange it may seem, but it is painful sensations that indicate the correct correction of a pathological bite. If the discomfort when using orthodontic constructions is amplified, interferes with normal eating or does not allow you to communicate with others, then you should seek the help of a dentist.

If a person has a lower jaw after installing prostheses, which are necessary as a replacement for lost teeth, it is also recommended to consult a dentist. Although the latter claim that at the initial stage of using dental structures, the patient may feel a little soreness. In this case, after a certain time, the discomfort should disappear. If this does not happen, then it is likely that the prosthesis was either improperly installed, or an inflammatory process arose due to manipulations in the oral cavity.

Tooth problems

What to do if it hurts to chew and the jaw hurts near the ear on the right or left? This condition may indicate the development of some dental diseases. By the way, the presence of problems with teeth can cause painful sensations not only in the ears, but also on the back of the head and even in the temples.

So, if the jaw hurts near the ear on the right or left, then it is likely that the patient has one of the following dental diseases:

• Periodontitis Discomfort with this pathology is acute. It should be noted that pain during periodontitis often accrues and transforms into pulsating. When pressing on the jaw and while eating, the discomfort noticeably increases.
• Pulpitis. This term is used to refer to an inflammatory process that affects the dental nerve, resulting in paroxysmal pain that intensifies at night. In addition to the affected tooth, pain can occur in the zygomatic and occipital region, as well as respond to the opposite jaw.
• Alveolitis. With such a disease, patients often complain that their jaw hurts near the ear when chewing. Indeed, discomfort from an inflamed hole can easily radiate to other parts of the head. If therapy of this disease was not carried out in a timely manner, then it can go into limited osteomyelitis, which is often accompanied by purulent fusion of the jaw.

If a person has lymph nodes under the jaw, then this may be due to teething wisdom. It is no secret to anyone that their growth is accompanied by soreness, as well as inflammation of the gums, fever and discomfort of the entire skeleton of the head. Such sensations arise as a result of the fact that the jaw of an adult is already formed, so there is not always enough space to place additional molars.

When teething, not only the lymph nodes under the jaw hurt, but discomfort occurs in the cheek area, which extends to the ear and throat. Also, a patient with a similar problem may have difficulty swallowing and chewing.

If a person has a jaw sore near the ear on the right or left, and this is due to teething, then you should consult a dentist. After all, due to the incorrect location of the mentioned teeth, inflammatory processes can occur.

Bite feature

Irregular tooth positioning can also cause soreness when chewing food. What is the reason for this? The fact is that an incorrect bite contributes to an incorrect load distribution, which requires a person to make additional efforts.

This pathological condition is often accompanied by pain in opening the mouth and talking, spasms of the jaw muscles and headaches. An incorrect bite requires a mandatory visit to the dentist, since ignoring this problem often leads to the formation of dislocations, which are provoked by weakening of the ligaments caused by the non-standard location of the temporomandibular joint.

Purulent-inflammatory diseases

Quite often, a purulent process of an acute nature provokes the development of pain in one of the jaws. The most common diseases of this kind include:

• A boil in the nose, on the face. Such a sore is characterized by acute purulent inflammation of the skin. Most often, the focus of its distribution is limited, but at the same time it has a pronounced soreness, giving in one or another area.
• Osteomyelitis. Such a disease is characterized by inflammation of bone and soft tissue. Osteomyelitis is accompanied by soreness of the teeth, which passes to the entire jaw, and is also manifested by swelling and asymmetry of the face.
• Phlegmon. The signs of this disease are similar to the symptoms of osteomyelitis - swelling of the face, severe pain in or under the teeth, fever. The area of ​​inflammation with phlegmon can spread.
• Abscess. Such a disease often occurs as a result of a crack in the jaw or any other mechanical damage to this part of the skeleton, as well as a concomitant infection. If an abscess develops above, then the patient has difficulty opening his mouth and swallowing, and if below, then there is pain when chewing. Such a pathology contributes to the occurrence of edema of the submandibular triangle, as well as distortion of the shape of the face.

Neoplasms

With frequent and severe pain in the jaw during chewing, you should definitely make an appointment for a consultation with the maxillofacial surgeon. Indeed, in the absence of injuries and inflammatory diseases, such a pathology may indicate the development of a malignant or benign neoplasm.

Most often, tumors in the jaw cause mild chronic pain.

To benign neoplasms include such species as:

• Osteoma. This is a tumor that grows slowly from bone tissue. It is characterized by such common signs as malocclusion, restriction in the degree of opening of the mouth, deformation of the jaw, etc.
• Adamantioma. With such a neoplasm, the size of the jaw significantly increases, which leads to pain and difficulties in the process of chewing food. In the future (with tumor growth), this discomfort intensifies.
• Osteoblastoclastoma. For such a benign tumor, slight aching pain is characteristic, which gradually intensifies, and with an increase in the size of the neoplasm, they acquire an ongoing character.

Osteogenic sarcoma and cancer are types of malignant tumors. Almost always, such diseases are accompanied by severe soreness, including when pressing the jaw. It should also be noted that with cancer and sarcoma, the patient feels discomfort in the neck, near the ear and in the area of ​​direct deformation of the jaw bones. The most severe pain in these types of tumors is observed in the chin.

Neurological problems causing discomfort in the jaw

If a person clicks his jaw while chewing, then this may be due to damage to the nerve endings. Also, such a pathology often causes pain that radiates to the lower part of the face.

Neurological diseases that cause problems with the jaw include:

• The defeat of the trigeminal nerve, which causes paroxysmal and rather sharp pain on one side of the face (usually worsens at night).
• Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve, accompanied by severe pain in the tongue, which is gradually transmitted to the face and lower jaw. Such discomfort is paroxysmal in nature and lasts about three minutes, after which it subsides.
• Inflammation of the upper laryngeal nerve causes severe pain in the submandibular region, moving to the chest and face. Jaw cracking also occurs when yawning or chewing.
• Carotidinia is a type of migraine that is caused by carotid artery disease. Discomfort with it occurs in the upper jaw and gives to the face, ear. An attack with carotidinia can last up to several hours.

Degenerative diseases

If a person clicks his jaw while chewing and at the same time pain in the ear occurs, then they speak of the presence of degenerative pathologies of the temporomandibular joint, namely:

• arthritis;
• arthrosis.

Such diseases can be caused by hypothermia, infection, high stress, malocclusion or mechanical damage. For joint pathologies of the jaw, a prolonged aching pain is characteristic, which flows into the ear region. By the way, it is arthritis and arthrosis that can be the reason why a person's jaw clicks when chewing.

Treatment and the cause of the development of degenerative diseases should be prescribed and identified by a narrow specialist - a rheumatologist.

How is it diagnosed, and who makes the diagnosis?

To find out the cause of pain in the jaw that occurs when eating, you should undergo a full medical examination. However, before this, you need to contact a therapist. After interviewing and examining the patient, the latter is obliged to refer him to a narrower specialist. Thus, a visit to the dentist will make it possible to find out whether this problem relates to diseases of a dental nature, an oncologist - whether to worry about the presence of neoplasms, an otolaryngologist - whether there are problems with the ears or throat, etc. Also, the patient may need to consult a neurologist, cardiologist and rheumatologist.

Most often with jaw discomfort, the patient is sent for x-ray of this part of the face. This type of examination can detect the presence of degenerative diseases, injuries, oncology, etc. If necessary, an ultrasound scan of the submandibular lymph nodes, as well as laboratory tests of blood and urine, which confirm the development of the inflammatory process in the body, can be prescribed to the patient.

Risk group

Who is most likely to experience pain in the jaw? The following persons are at risk for such discomfort:

• over 55 years old;
• undergoing operations and injuries of the jaw;
• with missing or broken teeth;
• with arthrosis or arthritis of other joints;
• refused to splint the jaw after her injury;
• women who have reached menopause;
• with inflammatory diseases of a chronic nature;
• with diseases in the jaw area and malocclusion;
• whose family members have jaw joint dysfunction.

Common methods for treating jaw diseases

How to get rid of discomfort in the jaw area? The treatment of the disease that causes such discomfort is selected in accordance with the diagnosis. The following areas of therapy are possible:

• Drug treatment involving the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antibiotics.
• The help of a traumatologist, in which a dislocated joint is fixed or a fracture is immobilized.
• Surgical intervention.Usually, an operation is performed if the correct fusion of the jaw bones is required (for example, after an injury). In addition, surgery can be performed if necessary to sanitize the purulent foci, remove a malignant neoplasm or cross the branch of the nerve plexus (if neuralgia is very strong, and treatment with medications does not help).
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Preventive measures

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• visit a dentist twice a year;
• completely abandon the use of chewing gum;
• engage in myogymnastics;
• do local self-massage of the jaw;
• sleep on an orthopedic pillow.

Compliance with these tips will help to avoid the development of certain diseases that most often cause discomfort in the jaw area.