Home Dental treatment My jaw hurts near my temple. Jaw pain near ear

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My jaw hurts near my temple. Jaw pain near ear

The reasons why the jaw hurts near the ear are divided into dental, surgical, and neurological. Diseases of the ENT organs can also play the role of a provoking factor. If the pain is caused by dysfunction of the maxillary or mandibular joint, you should not expect serious consequences. In the case of an infectious nature of the problem, antibiotics and physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed. For differential diagnosis, MRI, radiography are performed, general analysis blood.

When pain occurs in the cheekbone or jaw area near the ear, this may indicate diseases of the soft tissues of the face, inflammation of the lymph nodes, ears, sinuses, gums and teeth. Before you see a doctor, you need to choose the right specialist: an otolaryngologist, a dentist or a surgeon. First, you should make an appointment with a therapist and tell him about your complaints. For correct diagnosis, laboratory and clinical tests are prescribed.

Reasons why the jaw hurts near the ear on the left and right side accompanied by pain when chewing:

Pathologies of the temporomandibular joint, gums, and dental apparatus. This is the specialization of dentists and maxillofacial surgeons. A dental surgeon will also help when it comes to such serious processes as phlegmon and jaw abscess.
Inflammatory process in the nasal sinuses. In the lateral region of the nose there are maxillary sinuses. There is a cavity behind the ear. She approaches the appendage temporal bone. The mucous membrane sometimes becomes inflamed, as evidenced by It's a dull pain in the cheekbones. IN in this case assistance is provided by an otolaryngologist.
Inflammation of the tonsils, larynx and surrounding tissues. The disease is provoked by a purulent-inflammatory process. Pain often appears after the infectious disease, tumors. In such cases, you must contact an ENT doctor.
Peripheral diseases nervous system. An inflammatory process occurs in nerve tissues. Pain appears, for treatment of which you should consult a neurologist or therapist.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes. Sometimes lymph from the larynx, nose or ears, infected with pathogens, enters the tissues. In adults, this disease is treated by a therapist. If we are talking about a child, you need to go to the pediatrician.

If you delay a visit to the doctor, more complex pathologies may arise:

inflammatory and purulent processes in tissues;
infectious diseases of the ears, nose and mouth;
imbalance of electrolytes and problems with metabolism in tissues;
tumors of various etiologies;
inflammation of nervous tissue and peripheral vessels.

If jaw pain appears after visiting the dentist, you should seek help from the same specialist. However, if the problem arose not after tooth extraction, but as a result of the installation of a brace system, the pain is considered normal. This condition goes away on its own within 2 months. If its intensity does not decrease, then a consultation with the attending orthodontist would not hurt.

It is necessary to contact a trauma surgeon if pain in the jaw and cheekbones appears after an injury. Unpleasant sensations can be a consequence of both a regular bruise and a dislocation, fracture and abscess.

The bone near the ear hurts when pressed

There are two possible options here: inflammation of the nerve endings or dental diseases. If pain appears in the jaw bone near the ears or in the muscles, it may be due to the following reasons:

Injury. The integrity of the facial bones is compromised if a person receives a strong blow to the head. At the same time, it is accompanied by a constant aching pain that intensifies when pressed.
The appearance of a wisdom tooth. When it erupts, painful sensations are not uncommon. Some experience less discomfort, while others experience significant pain when pressing on the cheekbone area.
Osteomyelitis of the jaw. The pathology extends to the entire bone. Pathogenic microbes provoke the onset. They penetrate into the root canals. The pain can be quite strong and aching.
Pulpitis, caries. The pain in these diseases increases in the morning (after sleep) and at night. It is clearly felt when pressing on the cheekbone in the affected area.
Arteritis. The pain occurs in the jaw area and is usually burning.
Violation functional characteristics temporomandibular joint. Pain is felt not only when pressing, but also when a person opens his mouth and chews food.
phlegmon, abscess, fistulas, boils. Common symptom These ailments are painful sensations when pressing on the jaw at rest.

Some people experience a cracking jaw when yawning. But besides this, sometimes there is pain. It goes on for a long time, manifests itself when chewing food, opening the mouth, and even at rest.

If such pain does not go away the next day, this may indicate the presence of diseases:

bursitis;
jaw arthritis;
dislocation of the jaw joint;
sprain in the jaw muscle.

When you see a doctor with such symptoms, he sends the patient for an X-ray. If it turns out that the joints are healthy, the patient is referred to UHF or prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Treatment takes a week. Physiotherapeutic procedures in combination with painkillers promote recovery.

It happens that when you open your mouth, a click is heard, accompanied by a feeling of discomfort. This phenomenon is explained by the exit of the jaw joint from joint capsule. He moves to the side. As soon as he manages to return to his place, a crunch is heard.

Often the cause is an injury. Clicking with pain can provoke tension in the jaw muscle during singing and talking, and an incorrect bite.

What to do in this case:

Timely diagnosis. To determine the first reason correctly, it is important to apply for medical care. The specialist prescribes magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy and radiography.
If the function of the jaw joint is impaired, consult a dentist. The doctor will carry out long-term work aimed at re-filling the tooth or correcting the bite, replacing dentures, etc. At the same time, a course of anti-inflammatory drugs will be prescribed.
Until you see a specialist, you can alleviate the condition at home by applying a warm compress. If the affected area becomes inflamed, ice should be applied. For the entire period of treatment, you should avoid rough foods and give preference to soft, ground foods. It is necessary to talk less and generally provide complete rest to the affected joint.
Use relaxation techniques. Tibetan hormonal gymnastics and similar methods will help cope with pain or reduce its intensity.

The treatment method for diseases associated with clicking and pain in the jaw joints is determined by the nature of the inflammatory process and the degree of its neglect. General recommendation- ensuring complete rest for the affected area.

It all depends on the localization. For pain in upper jaw, it can be:

Osteomyelitis of the upper jaw. Caused by improper treatment of sinusitis, tooth removal or extraction, unsuccessful sinus lift and implant installation. The pain may radiate slightly to left jaw or right.
Sinusitis. Most often develops on one side. It is provoked by injuries to the nose or skull, prolonged exposure to the cold, pulpitis of the upper molars or periodontitis. Unpleasant sensations occur in the jaw and eye socket. The point of maximum sensitivity is marked near the nose. Pus or mucus flows from both nostrils or one of them. At the same time, it blocks half of the nose. The voice becomes nasal.
Gingivitis. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums leads to an increase in temperature and unpleasant sensations. The pathology extends to the entire jaw area. In parallel appears bad smell from mouth.
Alveolitis. Painful sensations are caused by the fact that after tooth extraction, its socket becomes inflamed.

For pain in the lower jaw:

Submandibular abscess or phlegmon.
Glossitis. Accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue. It is a consequence of burns - thermal or chemical, as well as infection and injury. A person’s jaw ache, he ceases to feel the taste of food. His tongue hurts.

Also, localization under the jaw indicates possible development the following ailments:

Submandibular lymphadenitis. Lymph nodes become inflamed when a person suffers from sore throat, conjunctivitis, periodontitis, or furunculosis. The diagnosis is confirmed based on tenderness and elasticity of the lymph nodes. They can be easily felt and are mobile. If they are hard to the touch and do not move, a consultation with an oncologist is required.
Infectious mononucleosis. The disease is viral in nature. Accompanied by damage to a group of lymph nodes located under the lower jaw. The temperature rises, but the symptoms of intoxication are mild.
Sialolithiasis. The functioning of the salivary glands is disrupted. Solid inclusions are determined in them. Swelling is detected on the right or left. A small amount of pus is released into the oral cavity. A person does not notice this, but his presence is felt through stale breath.
Sialadenitis. Inflamed salivary glands. The temperature rises and the secretion of saliva increases. A person's appetite decreases and weakness appears. A painful formation is clearly felt at the angle of the jaw.
Pharyngitis. There is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat. A cough, pain radiating to the jaw, and sore throat appear.

When a person suffers from respiratory diseases, the infection spreads throughout the body. An inflammatory process develops, accompanied by painful sensations. That's why with a runny nose, colds and others viral diseases Cheekbones and jaw may hurt.

Please note the following facts:

If the pain is localized in the cheekbone area almost under the eye, this indicates the development of sinusitis. It is necessary to contact an otolaryngologist.
If the unpleasant sensations are localized in the area between the lower and upper jaws, a runny nose or cold may be to blame. Viruses and bacteria move into the joint sac, causing inflammation on its surface. As in the previous case, the problem is solved by contacting an ENT specialist.
A cold provokes inflammation of the jaw nerve. In such cases, it makes sense to go to a neurologist.
If you have an ear infection, your cheekbones may also hurt. Often this condition is accompanied by an increase in temperature. For treatment, the person is referred to an otolaryngologist.
After tooth extraction, slight pain in the jaw appears. If it does not subside over time, the surgeon may not have completely removed the diseased tooth. It is necessary to contact a more qualified dentist to correct this poor quality work.

An ambulance should be called when the pain is sharp and unbearable. This happens when the jaw is fractured or dislocated.

Not only with otitis media, pain in the ear is combined with discomfort in the jaw area. This also indicates diseases such as:

carotidynia. Nerve endings located near carotid artery, get irritated. Paroxysmal pain develops. It is most felt in the upper jaw and spreads to the ear, neck, oral cavity, and spreads to the face. When pressing on the side of the neck and just below the Adam's apple, it causes acute pain. The syndrome is provoked by migraine, soft tissue tumors located near the carotid artery. Carotidynia is also the result of temporal artery dissection;
neuralgia of the ear node. The pain is burning, paroxysmal. It starts at the temple and passes through the ear, continuing to the lower jaw and chin. It is slightly felt in the teeth. There are clicks in the ear and increased salivation. It is provoked by sinusitis, sore throat, and if the face is blown while walking in windy weather;
erythroothalgia syndrome. The jaw hurts slightly, but the maximum discomfort is felt in the ear. It turns red. Hurts lower jaw and the back of the head, with transition to the forehead. The syndrome occurs as a result of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, cervical spondylosis and damage to the thalamus.

TMJ dysfunction

Functional diseases of the temporomandibular joint are accompanied by pain in the area of the jaw joints near the ear when talking, opening the mouth wide and chewing. They can be recognized by other signs:

the amplitude of mouth opening is limited;
the jaw gets stuck in the open or closed position;
when trying to talk, grinding, crackling and clicking noises are heard;
increased fatigue of facial muscles;
periodically there are sensations that the upper and lower rows of teeth do not meet correctly;
one side of my face is swollen.

Sometimes ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and dizziness occur.

Data from the patient’s complaints, panoramic x-ray full face, assessment of bite type.

For inflammation trigeminal nerve the pain is sharp. It is burning, drilling. This is the most sensitive nerve on the face. Some of its fibers are responsible for chewing. If the trigeminal nerve is to blame for the discomfort, the jaw hurts near the ear on the right or left.

If at the same time there is discomfort when swallowing, then neuralgia is diagnosed. laryngeal nerve. Symptoms include cough, hiccups, discomfort in the tongue, and the temporomandibular joint. Salivation increases. The pain in some cases spreads to the eyes and even the chest. Paroxysmal behavior is characteristic. Patients complain of dry mouth.

Cranial neuralgia manifests itself as a consequence of long and sharp impulses in relation to the affected cranial nerves. Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve is rarely diagnosed. The localization of painful sensations is characteristic, coming from the root of the tongue or tonsil and moving into the pharynx, to the jaw angle and ear. It is provoked during conversation or eating, sometimes when moving the tongue. It is unilateral in nature, burning, shooting, lasting from 1 to 3 minutes. The attack is accompanied by a dry cough. It can be determined by the characteristic posture of the patient. He tilts his head in the direction that worries him more.

Tumors

The formation of a tumor in the bones, osteogenic sarcoma, may be indicated by pain in the jaw near the ear. Before they appear key features, there is a loss of sensitivity in the nerve endings. A person feels numbness in the muscles. At the same time, slight swelling and discomfort in the bones and joints are noted.

Atheroma - benign tumor. Gives similar symptoms. Of the most obvious signs: a lump located behind the ear. This is a consequence of the increase cervical lymph node. It can be felt like a moving ball of increased density. It is not particularly dangerous until it becomes inflamed. In this case, pus accumulates in it. Inflammation forms, sometimes in several lymph nodes. Feels like strong pain near the ear, which does not go away for a long time. The temperature rises. A person complains of general weakness and headache. Redness of the skin is observed near the inflamed lymph node. If the disease is not treated, the infection will spread throughout the body and lead to sepsis.

Jaw joint treatment

So, the cause of pain in the jaw joint can be pathologies of the ENT organs, articular and soft tissues, nerve fibers, and teeth. resort to self-treatment At home it is not recommended as it will aggravate the problem.

Often, such phenomena require the use of antibacterial drugs. UHF and physiotherapy have proven themselves well.

Drug treatment is prescribed by a doctor. In chronic disease of the cranial bones, destruction of cartilage tissue is observed. They are deformed. The level of mobility decreases, causing pain. For jaw pain caused by arthrosis, the following are prescribed:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Etoricoxib. They are combined with proton pump inhibitors if the person has the disease digestive system. We are talking about such medicines, like Omeprazole, Nolpaza;
vitamins and minerals: ascorbic acid, calcium, cholecalciferol;
agents leading to the renewal of cartilage tissue: hyaluronic acid;
injections of painkillers (injected into the joint): Diprospan. Prescribed in courses - once every six months.

Women under the supervision of a gynecologist-endocrinologist are prescribed hormone therapy. This is especially important during menopause. Treatment with ultrasound, laser, and paraffin shows good results. Some patients are recommended therapeutic massage.

Apitherapy, that is, treatment with bee venom, is most effective for arthrosis of the jaw joint. This substance contains biogenic amines. They have an analgesic effect and soothe inflamed areas.

Tips for using bee venom:

Bee venom enters the patient's body. It looks like this: on the first day a person is stung by one bee, on the second - by two. Gradually the number of bees is increased to 10.
No later than a minute later, the insect sting is removed from the affected area. In total, 55 bees are required to conduct one course.
The procedures are carried out every other day. Upon completion of the first course, take a break for one week. Only after this is a second one prescribed.
The second course takes one and a half months. At this time, a person receives poison from 3 insects every day. It is important to constantly change the location of the bite. The procedure can be repeated in the same areas only after 5 days.

The described specific method traditional treatment there are contraindications: allergic reactions, tumors, chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension.

Gelatin and honey

Another method traditional medicine involves the use of honey in combination with gelatin:

pour in a teaspoon of gelatin 0.05 l cold water for 12 hours;
After the gelatin swells, add a teaspoon of natural honey. Pour warm water;
The prepared mixture is taken before meals for 10 days. Take a break and then repeat the course;
treatment using honey and gelatin lasts up to 3 months.

Alcohol tincture

For preparation you will need:

acacia flowers - 4 spoons;
alcohol - 1 glass.

Flowers must be filled with alcohol. If it is not available, you can use vodka. The flowers are placed inside a container with dark glass and left for 7 days. The course lasts one month. During this time, rub the prepared infusion into the jaw area.

Shilajit solution

Take a 100% mummy solution. Drop onto a cotton pad and rub into the affected area for 5 minutes. If well tolerated, this interval can be increased to 10 minutes. Shilajit can be used not only in the form of compresses, but also taken orally. Here is the prescription:

mumiyo - 0.2 g;
honey - 1 spoon;
milk - 250 ml.

Milk is heated and honey and mumiyo are dissolved in it. Take one glass of the prepared solution daily. The course lasts 2 weeks.

Herbal infusion

An infusion of coltsfoot and oregano leaves perfectly relieves acute pain. To prepare you need:

40 g of herbs;
half a liter of alcohol.

Grind the herbs and pour in alcohol. Leave for 3 days. As soon as the tincture is ready, filter. Used as a means for rubbing diseased areas. An alternative to the recipe described above can be a compress made from a decoction of plantain or wormwood leaves.

Compress

To prepare a compress, you will need:

chamomile - 3 spoons;
boiling water - 1 cup.

Poured hot water chamomile flowers. Leave for 15 minutes. Apply the prepared compress to your face and leave it for 20 minutes. The procedure is carried out 2 times a day. For a short-term effect, use heating with buckwheat and salt.

Fir oil

The effectiveness of this natural remedy due to its good warming effect. Some patients may experience redness of the skin and allergic reactions. Some experts consider this to be normal. However modern doctors tend to believe that in case of any adverse effects it is better to abandon this method.

The oil should be slightly warm or at room temperature. It relaxes tense muscles, relieves spasm and inflammation.

Physiotherapy

With a doctor's permission, you can normalize the inflamed jaw tissue near the ear. How to do:

frown and then raise your eyebrows;
squint your eyes and make circular movements with them;
puff out your cheeks properly and draw them in;
roll your lips into a tube and stretch them out.

Exercises are performed daily in the morning. Each of them is given a few minutes. At the end of the gymnastics, relax facial muscles and lightly run your hands over them.

Prevention measures:

dress according to the weather, avoid drafts;
promptly treat viral diseases;
avoid stress;
carry out self-massage of the face;
eat well.

Pain when opening the mouth is a symptom that can occur when various diseases: diseases of the teeth, gums, ENT organs, nervous system, as well as as a result of injuries. In this material we will talk about the causes of pain when opening the mouth in the jaw near the ear on the left and right sides.

Mechanism of occurrence and nature of pain

Pain when opening a person's mouth may indicate a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. Depending on the intensity and duration of pain, there are:

acute pain - appears suddenly and stops just as suddenly;
chronic pain – worries a person constantly, fades away for a short time and quickly returns again.

Acute pain when opening the mouth can occur against the background of prolonged fixation of the mandibular joint in one position, for example, in a dental chair. In this case, fluid or blood accumulates in the jaw joint and any movement of the jaw causes severe pain. As a rule, to eliminate this pain it is enough to reduce the load on the mandibular joint - refuse chewing gum, carefully open your mouth when yawning.

Chronic pain when opening the mouth, which bothers a person constantly or occurs without apparent reason, can signal ongoing pathological processes in the jaw joint, for example, arthrosis. As a rule, such a disease develops due to the absence of lateral supporting teeth due to the increasing load on the bone and muscles.

Pain when opening the mouth can also occur due to diseases of the middle ear, and in young children - during teething.

Causes of pain when opening the mouth

There are many reasons for the development of pain in the jaw and mandibular joint, the most common of which are:

injuries and bruises to the jaw;
jaw fracture;
dislocation of the lower jaw;
degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the mandibular joint;
arthritis of the mandibular joint;
chronic diseases teeth, pulpitis;
sinusitis;
osteomyelitis;
inflammation of the tongue - glossitis;
oral stomatitis;
carbuncle or boil in the area of the nasolabial triangle;
neuritis facial nerve;
neuralgia;
inflammation of the trigeminal nerve;
oncological processes in the lower jaw.

Symptoms

The accompanying symptoms of pain when opening the mouth largely depend on the cause of the development of the pathology; let’s consider them in more detail.

Jaw injuries

A jaw contusion is the most common injury that causes severe pain with the slightest movement of the mouth. It is important to understand that a bruise is a violation of the integrity of soft tissues, without affecting the bone and the joint of the lower jaw.

A jaw bruise usually occurs as a result of a strong blow to the face or after a person falls on their face. The most frequent symptoms contusions of the lower jaw are:

pain when opening the mouth and making chewing movements;
hematoma in the chin and face;
impaired functioning of the jaw (impossibility of pronouncing sounds, pain when chewing, yawning and any manipulation that requires opening the mouth).

Jaw dislocation

Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint is characterized by displacement of the articular platforms relative to each other. A distinction is made between unilateral dislocation (when 1 joint is dislocated) and bilateral (when 2 joints are dislocated at the same time).

The causes of jaw dislocation are:

blows received in the face;
falling on your face;
excessively wide opening of the mouth, for example, when yawning, trying to bite off a large piece of food, yawning.

Dislocation of the lower jaw most often occurs in older people, which is associated with anatomical features joints and ligaments and much less frequently in children.

Clinical symptoms of temporomandibular joint dislocation are:

severe pain in the area of the affected joint or on both sides in case of bilateral dislocation;
the mouth is constantly open, and any attempt to close it causes the victim sharp pain;
salivation;
inability to speak normally.

In rare cases, chronic dislocations of the lower jaw may occur. This occurs against the background of spraining the ligaments that fix the joint, so subluxations can occur with any predisposing factor.

Jaw fracture

A fracture of the lower jaw differs from a bruise in the violation of integrity bone tissue, in traumatology, the following types of this pathology are distinguished:

complete fracture with displacement of bone fragments;
partial fracture, incomplete without displacement (as a rule, these are cracks in the bone area).

A complete fracture of the jaw can be open - when the integrity of the facial tissues is broken, or closed - without damaging the skin of the face.

Clinical symptoms of a jaw fracture are:

sharp pain in the jaw area;
hematoma;
swelling of tissues, noticeable to the naked eye.

In case of a fracture of the upper jaw, the victim develops bloody bruises under the eyes within 1-2 hours, which is a consequence of hemorrhage from the bone into the tissue.

Osteomyelitis as a cause of pain when opening the mouth

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory disease occurring in the bone marrow and periosteal tissues. The main reason The development of this disease is the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the bone tissue of the jaw. There are different ways of penetration of bacteria:

through diseased teeth that have not been treated for a long time;
with blood flow from foci of infection (for example, as a result of boils and carbuncles);
as a result of injury and infection of the wound surface.

Depending on the prevalence of the pathological process, osteomyelitis can be limited (one or several teeth are affected) or diffuse (several parts of the jaw are affected).

Clinical symptoms of osteomyelitis are:

sudden increase in body temperature to 38.0-39.5 degrees;
fever;
chills;
muscle pain;
lack of appetite;
throbbing acute pain in the area of localization of the inflammatory process;
difficulty opening the mouth;
general weakness;
change in speech, slurring;
inability to swallow and eat;
swelling and sharp redness of the gums at the site of the lesion;
there is a discharge of pus between the affected tooth and gum;
enlargement and pain of large lymph nodes.

Furuncle

A boil is called purulent inflammation sebaceous gland and hair follicle. When several adjacent hair follicles are involved in the inflammatory process, they speak of a carbuncle. Favorite places for carbuncles and boils to be localized are the face and neck, since these places are most often exposed to contamination and microscopic damage (especially typical for women who squeeze out pimples or blackheads on their own at home). There are several reasons for the formation of carbuncles and boils on the body:

damage to the integrity of the skin and penetration of pathogenic bacteria with dirt;
failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
excessive oily skin;
hormonal imbalances in the body;
diabetes;
inflammatory diseases nose, paranasal sinuses nose and middle ear;
weak immunity.

Clinical symptoms of boils and carbuncles are:

difficulty opening the mouth – the patient experiences severe pain;
increase in body temperature (until the abscess breaks through);
swelling and sharp pain of tissue in the affected area;
headache and signs of general intoxication of the body;
sharp redness of the inflamed area - within a few days, a purulent “head” appears at the top of the swelling, from which a small amount of pus, lymph and blood is released.

Dental diseases

Pain when opening the mouth often occurs with advanced dental diseases, namely:

pulpitis;
caries;
periodontitis;
periodontal abscess;
dental cyst;
tooth trauma – tooth fracture, gum bruise, tooth dislocation.

With dental diseases, the pain is usually so severe that it radiates to the ear, upper or lower jaw, or temple. Sometimes the patient himself cannot explain to the doctor where it hurts. The pain in most cases is sudden, throbbing in nature and appears mainly at night.

Neuralgia as a cause of pain when opening the mouth

Neuralgia is a disease characterized by damage peripheral nerves, as a result of which a person experiences severe pain along the innervation of this nerve.

Pain when opening the mouth can be caused by neuralgia of the following nerves:

1. Trigeminal neuralgia - this nerve innervates the oral cavity and face and is anatomically divided into 3 branches - the orbital nerve, the maxillary and mandibular. As a result of damage to the maxillary and mandibular nerves, the patient experiences severe pain when trying to open his mouth. In most cases, pain occurs and intensifies at night and is similar in nature to a severe burning sensation. A sudden attack of pain occurs when there is a draft, washing the face with cold water, eating hot food, or touching the face. A few seconds before the onset of a painful attack, the patient experiences a sensation of “goosebumps” crawling across the face or itching of the facial skin.

2. Neuralgia of the superior laryngeal nerve - when this nerve is inflamed, the pain takes on an acute pulsating character. Pain sensations are localized in the area of the lower jaw and larynx with irradiation to the ear, temple, and eye. During an attack of pain, the patient may experience a cough and a sore throat.

3. Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve - this nerve innervates the muscle responsible for raising the pharynx and parotid gland and provides taste sensitivity. When the glossopharyngeal nerve is damaged, in addition to pain when opening the mouth, a person experiences pain in the throat, ear and lower jaw.

4. Neuralgia of the ear ganglion (node) - this node is affected as a result of complicated purulent otitis, sinusitis, periodontitis. A person develops sharp pains pulsating in nature with irradiation into the lower jaw, neck, and back of the head.

Methods for diagnosing pain when opening the mouth

To establish the exact cause of pain when opening the mouth, the doctor prescribes to the patient comprehensive examination which includes:

careful collection of anamnesis - what triggered the pain, whether there were facial injuries, whether teeth hurt, whether the patient spent a long time in a draft, etc.;
consultation with the necessary specialists – traumatologist, dentist, neurologist;
general blood and urine analysis;
X-ray of the jaw - helps to accurately identify the location of the inflammatory process and determine whether there is a fracture;
CT scan – this study allows you to accurately identify the localization of the inflammatory process, the structural features of the teeth and the condition of the periodontium, the condition of the maxillary sinuses.

Treatment of pain when opening the mouth

Treatment of pain when opening the mouth directly depends on the causes of its occurrence; this is presented in more detail in the table.

Cause of pain	How to treat?
Trauma to the face and jaw (bruise, fracture)	A fixing bandage is applied, analgesics are prescribed to eliminate pain, and a cold heating pad or ice pack is applied to relieve tissue swelling.
Dental diseases	Carious cavities are sanitized, cysts and abscesses are removed surgically, after which a course of antibiotics must be prescribed
Neuralgia	Prescribe B vitamins by injection, NSAIDs, antispasmodics, antiviral drugs. After significant improvement, physiotherapeutic treatment is added
Sinusitis, glossitis	Antibiotics, a course of physiotherapeutic procedures, and general restorative drugs are prescribed
Middle ear diseases	Antibiotics, ear drops, painkillers, antipyretics if necessary

Forecast

The prognosis for pain when opening the mouth is favorable if a person immediately consults a doctor and does not self-medicate. In the absence of timely medical care, the disease can progress, complications arise, which in the future can lead to disability of the patient.

When a person experiences discomfort or the jaw hurts near the left ear and it hurts to chew, then it is worth paying attention to the nature of the discomfort. Because this symptom can be caused by existing pathologies or a resulting illness that requires urgent examination and treatment.

It is also necessary to determine whether other symptoms are present.

Reasons for the manifestation of the symptom

In the case when the jaw begins to hurt on one side and radiates into the ear, you should speak about the presence of a possible disease:

Pathologies of the gums, maxillodental apparatus and mandibular temporal joint.
Diseases of the air-circulating sinuses.
Inflammatory and infectious process in the tonsils and adjacent tissues, as well as in the throat.
Pathologies of the nervous system of peripheral nature.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Pathologies of the gums, maxillodental apparatus and mandibular temporal joint interfere with the full functioning of the lower jaw on the right and left sides, and also cause discomfort to the ear.

As a rule, jaw problems are solved dentists and surgeons maxillofacial specializations performing surgical treatment, eliminating abscesses, osteomyelitis and phlegmon of the jaw. These complications extending into the ear are noted due to negative influence sick teeth.

Diseases of the air-circulating sinuses arise due to one inflammatory and advanced purulent process, tumors of the cavity of the bone process located behind the ear.

An otolaryngologist deals with this disease.

The inflammatory process in the tonsils and adjacent tissues, as well as an infection in the throat, is treated by an ENT doctor.

Problems with the nervous system of a special peripheral nature are provoked by irritation or prolonged inflammation nerve ganglia, accumulating the bodies and roots of nerve cells.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes located in the lower jaw occurs simultaneously with the collection of infected lymph from the soft facial tissues, throat, nose and eyes.

It happens that they find themselves cancer cells, when malignant formations are located in the mucous membranes, soft tissues of the occipital and facial region, as well as in the bones.

It is important to pay attention to the fact that in the absence of deviations from the norm, the lymph nodes are not palpable, do not hurt, and do not cause harm to the ear.

Pain in the jaw on the left and right side

Discomfort in the jaw, depending on its location, may indicate the presence various kinds illness.

So, under the influence of diseases, it begins to hurt with:

Left side.
Right side.

Pain in the jaw on the left indicates the presence conditions of angina or heart attack. Since, as a result of this type of pathology, blood circulation in the heart vessels is disrupted, which can cause pain behind the sternum and in the center chest. And in some cases the pain radiates to the jaw on the left side.

Usually the right side of the jaw and ear begins to hurt due to the influence of infections and inflammatory processes or neoplasms. An exception may be an injury characterized by pain, bruising and swelling, which makes it difficult to open the mouth freely.

When an increase in body temperature appears and the jaw on the right begins to ache, then we should talk about the presence of a purulent area, caused by polio as a complication of tonsillitis or an illness of the lymph nodes of the submandibular nodes.

When the jaw hurts constantly, and the sensations have pulling properties, we should talk about the manifestation of formations.

Oncological factor

Pain on the right side of the jaw may occur due to malignant formation bone tissue or osteogenic sarcoma.

Before the main symptoms appear, the sensitivity of the nerve processes decreases, and significant numbness is noted. As this disease progresses, the jaw bones and joints begin to ache with numbness.

A person may be in pain due to the presence of a benign tumor - atheroma. It is caused by one lump near the ear, or rather, behind it. This fact occurs due to the growth of the lymph node and, at the time of palpation, resembles a moving ball with a dense structure.

In most cases, the formation does not pose a threat, but at the same time it can become inflamed, painful and fester.

This effect is demonstrated by intense long-term pain near the ear, deterioration of the patient’s general condition - fever and headache.

Mostly skin covering near lymph node becomes red and, in the absence of adequate treatment, infection from pus can spread throughout the body, causing blood poisoning.

When a patient experiences discomfort in a lump, otitis media is often recorded - a process of inflammation of the external or inner ear. In this case, there is a need to see an otolaryngologist.

Pain while chewing

When your jaw begins to hurt when chewing or opening your mouth, you need to think about the possibility of jaw dislocation or the presence of a disease such as osteomyelitis.

Other ailments with similar symptoms include:

Periodontitis.
Caries accompanied by inflammation of the nerve ending.
Pulp damage.

As a rule, a person begins to experience a throbbing jaw ache with an increase in sensations at night.

Methods for solving the problem

When the true cause of pain in the jaw near the ear on the right or left side is established, the doctor prescribes treatment appropriate to the specific case.

For example, with identifying the following diseases and the action of certain factors:

Cyst, periodontitis or pulpitis.
Pain from wearing leveling braces.
Problematic wisdom tooth.
Pain resulting from wearing dentures.

When diagnosing a cyst, periodontitis or pulpitis, the necessary surgical intervention. Several days after the operation, during which source of pain eliminated, and the discomfort should completely disappear simultaneously with the healing of the surgical wound.

Pain in the jaw and ear that occurs from wearing leveling braces is considered normal until a certain time, because correcting the bite should be accompanied by pain in the jaw and near the ear. In this case, the dentist can only slightly loosen or tighten the locks and prescribe painkillers to relieve the symptom.

The patient has to wait until the alignment process is completely completed.

In a situation in which a wisdom tooth has moved to the side or inward as it grows, it is customary to remove it. And if this is not done, then in the future he will embarrass adjacent teeth And injure soft tissue, which will lead to increased pain.

The removal operation is performed under local anesthesia. After its implementation, as a rule, there are no complications if you follow the doctor’s recommendations.

In cases where the jaw and the area near the ear begins to hurt due to wearing dentures, the doctor makes the required adjustment. You should not endure the pain, because in any case it is important to visit the dentist from time to time for examination and appropriate therapy.

Pain in the jaw when opening the mouth can bring significant discomfort to a person’s life, making it difficult to eat and colloquial speech. This symptom may indicate the presence of diseases, so to eliminate the pain you should contact medical institution. The type of disease may require consultation with a dentist, surgeon, neurologist and other specialists. The examination will determine the pathology and prescribe treatment.

The facial skeleton includes the upper and lower jaws. The upper one is paired - it consists of two bones, has four processes and a body containing an air sinus inside. The lower jaw is unpaired; its mobility is ensured by the temporomandibular joint.

Teeth and muscles, which are attached to the surface of bone tissue, are involved in chewing food and pronouncing sounds.

Jaw movements are carried out using the temporomandibular joint. Some diseases lead to the appearance of pain, a characteristic click when opening the mouth. Sometimes pain occurs when pressing on the jaw and is felt on one side or both at the same time.

Pain may be due to bone damage or joint disease. In some cases, for example, with cardiac pathologies, it can radiate to the jaw, resulting from disturbances in the functioning of other organs.

Intense pain is observed when the jaw bones are fractured or the joint is damaged. In such cases, the patient cannot even open his mouth.

If these symptoms occur, you should seek immediate medical attention to avoid severe complications and deterioration of health.

Factors contributing to jaw pain

All causes of pain in the jaw are divided into several main groups. When diagnosing a disease, it is taken into account clinical picture. Contact us early stage the development of the disease largely contributes to the success of its treatment.

Tissue damage due to trauma

Diseases leading to tissue inflammation and pus formation

Such pathologies include the predominant part of dental diseases. An infection, often bacterial, less often viral or fungal, takes part in the development of the inflammatory process in the oral cavity. Common purulent diseases are:

Boils. The disease occurs as a result of infection entering the skin hair follicle through damaged skin. The inflammation gradually spreads to the deeper soft tissues, pus forms in them, which causes pain due to compression of the nerve endings.
Osteomyelitis. The disease is very dangerous and requires compulsory treatment, since inflammation affects not only soft tissues, but also bones, including Bone marrow. The cause of the disease odontogenic osteomyelitis is the penetration of infection from teeth affected by periodontitis, purulent cysts in the area of the tooth roots. The hematogenous form of the disease develops when pathogens are carried through the bloodstream. Symptoms of osteomyelitis: jaw pain, increased body temperature, chills, enlarged lymph nodes, the face swells, takes on an asymmetrical shape, and headache and toothache may occur.
Abscesses and phlegmons. Both types of inflammatory processes are accompanied by tissue swelling, the formation of a large amount of pus, and severe pain. If they appear, you should immediately seek medical help. With an abscess, the focus of inflammation is closed, with phlegmon - diffuse. There is a danger of its spreading to new areas with the appearance of life-threatening complications. The patient's body temperature rises, his jaw hurts when opening his mouth, and it is difficult for him to chew and swallow. There is general weakness, headache, and possible tissue necrosis at the site of inflammation.

Installation of dentures and braces

Patients may experience some discomfort after installing crowns and bridges, or when wearing braces. Usually this soreness is temporary and is considered normal. The jaw can also hurt if there are disturbances in its structure, leading to the formation of a malocclusion. There are methods to correct it and eliminate pain.

Neoplasms

Pain in the jaw when chewing can occur from the formation of a tumor. Since the symptoms are initial stage the diseases are mild, patients often seek help for more later stages development of the disease. TO benign neoplasms include adamantioma, osteoma, osteoblastoclastoma. Malignant tumors divided into the following groups:

sarcomas formed from connective tissue;
cancers - develop from epithelial tissue;
osteogenic sarcomas - originate from bone tissue and usually affect a specific type of bone.

Malignant neoplasms most often occur in the lower jaw. These types of tumors pose a particular danger to life and health, differing rapid growth and the spread of metastases to other organs.

To diagnose diseases, radiography, computed tomography, and morphological studies of tissue samples are used.

Diseases near the auricle

There are a number of diseases in which the jaw may hurt in areas bordering the ear. Often this symptom occurs with arthritis - an inflammatory process in the jaw joint, the intensity of pain in which increases at night. Arthrosis - pain can be caused by age-related changes and increases with physical activity, subsiding into a state of rest.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using radiographic examination. Timely treatment will help avoid immobilization of the jaw.

Among neurological reasons Discomfort in the jaw can include neuralgia and bruxism. The first disease manifests itself when one of the nerves providing innervation to the face is pinched - trigeminal, superior laryngeal or glossopharyngeal. The pathology is accompanied by sharp pain, the intensity of which increases when eating food, increased salivation, and unpleasant sensations are also noted when blowing the nose and yawning. It is necessary to begin treatment at the initial stage of the disease to prevent the situation from worsening due to irreversible changes in tissues.

Bruxism is a disease in which involuntary clenching of the jaws and grinding of teeth occurs. It is usually caused by stress or nervous system disorders and is often found in people with malocclusion. Periodically repeated attacks lead to abrasion of dental dentin, inflammatory processes in tissues, changes in joints, causing pain. The frequency and severity of bruxism symptoms can be reduced by removing nervous tension using relaxation exercises and massage. Special day and night splints will help protect your teeth and joints.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

Pain in the lower jaw and neck may occur with acute heart attack myocardium. This is a life-threatening condition that causes necrosis of the heart muscle. The main causes of the disease are spasm of the vessels supplying the heart with blood, closure of their lumen with atherosclerotic plaques or a blood clot. The following symptoms indicate the development of a heart attack:

pain in the chest area lasting more than 15 minutes, which does not go away even when taking nitroglycerin and painkillers;
the patient has difficulty breathing;
sweating increases.

Irradiation of heart pain from the sternum to the jaw sometimes occurs during angina attacks - spasm coronary arteries leading to insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

If symptoms of cardiac dysfunction appear, immediate medical attention is required.

Severe pain in the jaw near the ear, wings of the nose, or extending into the eye socket is characteristic of arteritis - inflammation of the walls of the arteries. When large vessels are affected, pain may be noted on a significant area face, neck.

Additional causes of jaw pain

Pain sometimes occurs for a number of other reasons. Doctors will help you understand their origin. Rarely encountered causes of pain include:

Tetanus - a disease accompanied by muscle cramps and difficulty swallowing. If symptoms of pathology appear, you must immediately contact a medical facility. Antitetanus serum is used to treat the disease.
Carotidynia is a type of migraine. Pain occurs during attacks, the duration of which can reach 1 hour. They spread to the lower jaw, ear area, and eye sockets.
Red ear syndrome - usually develops with damage to the thalamus, cervical spondylosis.
In children, pain in the jaw occurs when they have mumps ( mumps), disturbances in the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in the body.

Treatment

Therapeutic tactics depend on the type of disease and are aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology and relieving pain. Cold compresses are used to treat bruises, dislocations are reduced, and surgical intervention may be required to align bone fragments in fractures.

At purulent diseases To remove pus, abscesses are opened and a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed. Painkillers and antidepressants are used to relieve the symptoms of carotidynia.

In case of myocardial infarction, urgent hospitalization of the patient is necessary with the prescription of thrombolytics, drugs that normalize blood pressure, prevent blood clotting, and narcotic analgesics.

In case of inflammation in teeth and periodontium, oral cavity sanitation is carried out.

For neoplasms, surgical or combination treatment, supplemented with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Pain in the jaw on the right is not necessarily associated with dental diseases, although this is what most people who feel such discomfort will think about. In fact, the causes of such pain can be diseases of the nasopharynx, tongue, gums, nervous system, and the muscles of the jaws themselves. These may be inflammatory diseases and infectious nature, injuries, diseases of nerves and blood vessels, as well as tumors. We will try to help you decide exactly why the jaw on the right hurts, what to do and which specialist to contact.

A natural difference between traumatic pain will be the presence of the injury itself. In this case, the bruise will manifest itself as severe pain, bruising, swelling and will go away on its own in a few days. A sign of a fracture on the right, in addition to pain, bruising and swelling, is a sharp increase in pain when moving the jaw and the inability to open the mouth. If the cause of the pain is a dislocation of the lower jaw on the right, the pain is felt in the area of the temporomandibular joint and lower jaw. At the same time, it is difficult to close your mouth, and the jaw itself moves to the side. In this case, you need to go to the emergency room.

If the right passes in the background high temperature, most likely it is caused by the presence of a purulent focus in this area. If the temperature reaches 40C and above, the pain is pronounced and manifests itself not only in the jaw, but also under it (due to the involvement of submandibular lymph nodes), and the jaw area itself is significantly swollen, perhaps this is a purulent inflammation of the jaw bone -. The cause of such symptoms may also be on the right - a consequence of tonsillitis. You need to contact a surgeon.

The reason why the jaw hurts on the right may be pathological processes in the temporomandibular joint. Aching, constant pain, crunching and noise in the jaw can be a sign of arthrosis, or degenerative damage to the joint. In this case, the pain becomes stronger when moving the jaw (chewing, opening the mouth, closing the jaws), radiating to the ear, and in the morning there is stiffness in the joint. (arthritis) is very similar in manifestation to arthrosis, so only a dental specialist can determine the exact cause using x-rays. It will also help determine dysfunction of the right temporomandibular joint caused by malocclusion, inflammation or previous trauma. In this case, pain occurs when chewing, closing teeth and yawning, often on the forehead, cheek. When you open your mouth forcefully or abruptly, you may hear a clicking sound in the joint.

Chronic pain in the jaw area on the right side may indicate the presence of a tumor. Most often, the pain is aching, intensifying as the malignant tumor grows. The nature of the tumor, as well as its manifestations, can be different. Therefore, if you have been having pain in your jaw on the right for a long time, and the pain is becoming more severe, there is facial asymmetry, tooth loss or chewing problems, be sure to consult a surgeon.

Teeth located in the right half of the mouth that are affected by pulpitis, as well as periodontitis, can radiate into the jaw. In this case, the main source of pain is in or near the tooth, and the pain itself is provoked by food (sweet, hard, different temperatures). And the dentist will help you.

Burning, boring, severe pain of a sharp nature, radiating to the right jaw, may be a sign of trigeminal neuralgia, namely its lower branch. Here you need to contact a neurologist.

Cause of pain in the area right jaw, or rather, along its lower edge, more often in the middle with irradiation into the orbit, there may be inflammation facial artery. This cannot be done without the help of a surgeon.