Home Prosthetics and implantation It hurts to open the mouth on the right side. Why does your jaw hurt when chewing and when does it become dangerous?

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It hurts to open the mouth on the right side. Why does your jaw hurt when chewing and when does it become dangerous?

Every person throughout his life has at least once encountered painful sensations in the jaws. That my jaw hurts right side, there is nothing strange - people different ages suffer from this disease with astonishing frequency. Pain accompanies the processes of chewing, swallowing, yawning, interferes with conversations and Everyday life brings nothing but trouble. Soreness can be present in both jaws, or only in the upper or lower. A dentist, maxillofacial surgeon or neurologist will help you find out why your jaw hurts.

Scientists from different countries have long found out that each person has his own sensation of pain. Depending on your lifestyle, bad habits, gender, age and even race of the patient discomfort can be perceived completely uniquely by different people.

Pain manifestations depend on many different factors:

patient's age;
individual pain threshold;
sensitivity to analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs;
presence of concomitant diseases;
pregnancy and lactation;
history of fractures of both jaws;
history of concussions and open head injuries.

When first contacting a doctor, it is necessary to describe the nature of the pain as accurately as possible: its occurrence in connection with chewing or swallowing, concomitant conditions, duration (short pain lasts up to 5 minutes, medium - up to 30, and long - more than 1 hour), intensity (weak The patient tolerates pain without taking medication; at moderate and high intensity, he cannot do without pills). You should also check whether the pain radiates to other parts of the body, and whether the pain responds to pain medications.

Pain is classified by nature as follows:

piercing;
cutting;
cramping;
dull;
aching;
paroxysmal;
pulsating;
compressive;
twitching;
causalgic;
shooting.

Infectious and inflammatory causes

Infectious diseases are often accompanied by damage to the bone structures of the masticatory apparatus. When an infection occurs in one part of the body, it spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body, which can lead to the development of purulent processes in the lower jaw.

Characteristic symptoms are the inability to close the mouth independently without resorting to the help of specialists, excessive salivation, impaired swallowing and speech, severe pain in the area of the temporal mandibular joint, displacement of the jaw at an incorrect angle: lower jaw as if “dangling” in limbo.

A fracture of the lower jaw is a violation of the integrity of the bone. Both open and closed occur with equal frequency. Intense unbearable pain, the presence of blood in the mouth, movement of the dentition, severe swelling and discoloration of the skin will suggest a traumatic diagnosis. For differential diagnosis with a bruise or crack in the lower jaw, an x-ray or ultrasound examination patient.

Removable dentures or braces. During the initial installation of a prosthesis or tightening braces, unpleasant sensations may occur, described by patients as pain in the jaw on the right. This pain indicates a compositional functional rearrangement in the dentition and is not a sign of any pathology. But if the pain does not lose its intensity or increases during the first few months, it is recommended to immediately visit a dentist or orthodontist.

Many people experience pain in the jaw area when opening their mouth or when chewing. The reasons for this phenomenon can be varied. Often, painful sensations in the jaw can appear due to traumatic injuries to the maxillotemporal joint, inflammation in the trigeminal or facial nerves, pathologies of gums and dental diseases. Quite often the ear and temple are involved in the pathology. Let's look at the main causes of pain in the jaw.

Why does my jaw hurt when I open my mouth and chew?

Most often, damage to this area of the skeleton occurs as a result of a car accident, a fall, or a strong blow to the jaw. So, with a bruise, swelling of the bruised area, pain when touched, and hemorrhage may be observed. Discomfort from a bruise will intensify when you try to open your mouth or chew food, and may radiate to your ear. Within 4-5 days, symptoms may decrease and disappear.

Subluxations or dislocations of the temporomandibular joint are also possible. In this case, normal closing of the mouth is impossible, and chewing even very soft food causes sharp pain. In some cases, the jaw crunches when moving without causing significant pain. The patient feels a shift of the jaw to one side. In this case, only a traumatologist will help get rid of the problem.

The most dangerous jaw injury is a fracture. The pain is intense and constant; there is significant swelling and areas of bruising in the area of injury. With complex and numerous fractures, the jaw crunches in several places, which is accompanied by severe pain. An early visit to the doctor will undoubtedly speed up the healing process. However, even the most favorable outcome requires long-term care and treatment.

Dental disorders

Pain in the jaw when moving can be caused by: dental problems, such as: periodontitis, pulpitis, inflammatory lesions of the dental nerves. With these pathologies, the pain has a pulsating, aching character, discomfort increases at night, when chewing and freezing. There may also be numbness of the soft tissues around the jaw, headaches, and the ear may also become inflamed.

Advanced pulpitis or caries can become a trigger for the formation of odontogenic osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis involves damage to the jaw bone of an infectious nature. This disease can be manifested by high body temperature, severe redness of the skin over the affected area, and general weakness. Pain may also be felt in the ear. A dentist diagnoses this disease and confirms general analysis blood and X-ray lower jaw. The slightest suspicion of the presence of osteomyelitis requires immediate contact with a specialist. If left untreated, the infection can easily involve pathological process brain.

A common cause of jaw pain is the eruption of wisdom teeth. This process can cause a lot of painful sensations in the jaw, and possibly in the ear, which is associated with inflammation of the adjacent tissues, and sometimes pathological ingrowth of the tooth.

Neurological disorders

Pain in the jaw area can be caused by inflammation of the nerves. Neuritis most often occurs as a result of hypothermia or exposure to a draft. Trigeminal neuritis is accompanied by boring and burning pain in the jaw on one side (right or left) and in the face as a whole, which becomes more intense at night, when the affected area cools and when opening the mouth. Upper neuritis laryngeal nerve manifests itself as intense pain in the area of the right or left half of the lower jaw. With neuritis of the glossopharyngeal nerve, the patient complains of intense pain in the thickness of the tongue and tissues under it, radiating to the jaw. Treatment of neuritis may include nonsteroidal drugs, analgesics, decongestants, and, if necessary, antibacterial and antiviral medications are also included. Good effect can be obtained if the pathology is treated not only with medication, but also using physiotherapy.

Facial artery lesion

Damage to this vessel of an inflammatory nature (arteritis) causes pain and a burning sensation along the artery, numbness of the soft tissues of the chin, cheekbones, upper lip. Treatment of this pathology should include glucocorticoids and cytostatics.

Impaired functionality of the maxillotemporal joint

Such disorders are associated with damage to the masticatory muscle, which is the connecting link between the lower jaw and the skull. Impairment of the functional abilities of the jaw can be caused by malocclusion or hypothermia, wide mouth opening or intense chewing movements. Pain in the jaw near the ear (near the joint) radiates to the temples and cheeks. Any movement in the affected area may be accompanied by a clicking sound or discomfort. Treatment of jaw dysfunction requires a competent and comprehensive approach.

Dysfunction of the maxillotemporal joint is also one of the causes of pain

Carotidynia

This pathology is considered a form of migraine. In this case, throbbing pain in the jaw area occurs for no noticeable reason and disappears on its own, sometimes it radiates to the ear and temple.

Osteogenic sarcoma

Sarcoma is a malignant bone formation. One of the earliest signs of this pathology in the jaw joint is pain during chewing or opening the mouth. The ear can also be involved in the pathological process, which is explained by its close location. Treatment of this disease should be carried out under the supervision of an experienced oncologist.

What to do if your jaw hurts?

Most pathologies that cause pain in the jaw joint or the jaw itself require competent medical care. A sore ear can also indicate possible damage to the maxillotemporal joint and jaw. Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary research methods and figure out why the jaw and ear hurt. That is why it is so important to seek help in a timely manner, with the appearance of the first signs of pathology. It is considered unacceptable to make any attempts to eliminate problems in these cases. An illiterate attempt to get rid of the problem can seriously aggravate the disease and the general condition of the patient.

Thank you

The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Jaw pain – symptom, which dentists most often encounter. But it is not always associated exclusively with dental pathology.

Pain can be caused by diseases of the jaws themselves, ENT organs (nose and paranasal sinuses, throat, ears), lymph nodes, tongue, gums, nervous system, masticatory muscles etc.

The main reasons leading to jaw pain include:

injuries;
inflammatory and infectious diseases;
pathology peripheral nerves and vessels;
tumor processes.

Jaw pain when wearing orthoses

Jaw pain is a very common symptom in patients who wear orthodontic structures: braces and dentures.

It is believed that for people with braces pain syndrome in the jaw area and headaches – quite normal phenomena. At the same time, increased tooth instability is noted. All these are signs that the braces are installed correctly, the teeth are moving, and the correct bite is being formed. An orthodontist must warn his patients about this.

The pain syndrome when wearing removable dentures is disturbing due to the fact that the jaws are not yet accustomed to these structures. Thus, this symptom can be considered normal only at first. Some time later It's a dull pain in the jaw and the discomfort should completely disappear. If this does not happen, you need to consult a doctor.

Malocclusion

Pain in the jaw area can accompany significant malocclusion. In these cases, it is worth visiting an orthodontist and consulting about the possibility of correcting improper teeth closure.

Pain due to jaw injury

The pain is characteristic feature jaw injuries. The severity of pain and accompanying symptoms determined by the nature of the injury.

Bruise of the jaw area

A bruise is the mildest type of injury, in which only the soft fabrics, while the bone does not suffer. When the face is bruised in the area of the upper or lower jaw, acute pain, swelling, and bruising occur. These symptoms are not very pronounced and disappear completely within a few days.

If there is an injury accompanied by a bruise to the face and pain in the jaw, it is worth visiting the emergency room and undergoing an x-ray to rule out more serious injuries.

Jaw fracture

A jaw fracture is a fairly serious injury. At the moment of damage there is a strong sharp pain in the jaw, severe swelling and hemorrhage under the skin. When moving the jaw, the pain intensifies significantly. If there is a fracture of the lower jaw, then the patient is completely unable to open his mouth; attempts cause very severe pain.

Fractures are especially serious upper jaw. If the pain is accompanied by hemorrhage around the eye sockets (the so-called “spectacles symptom”), then there is every reason to suspect a fracture of the base of the skull. If droplets of blood or clear liquid come out of the ears, the injury is very serious. You need to call an ambulance immediately.

In the trauma center, for the purpose of more accurate diagnosis, X-ray examination. After establishing the nature of the fracture, apply a special bandage, or resort to surgical treatment. Fractures of the base of the skull are treated only in a hospital.

Dislocation

Dislocation of the lower jaw is an injury that usually occurs when the mouth is suddenly opened. Most often it happens to people who are used to opening bottles and all sorts of hard packaging with their teeth, and have joint diseases in the form of arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

At the moment of dislocation, a fairly strong sharp pain occurs in the area of the lower jaw and the temporomandibular joint. At the same time, other symptoms occur:

the mouth is fixed in an open position, making it very difficult for the patient to close it;
the lower jaw is not completely occupied correct position: it is pushed forward, or beveled to one side;
naturally, this leads to speech impairment: if no one was nearby and saw how it happened, it can be difficult for the patient to explain what happened to him;
since it is impossible to swallow saliva normally, it is released in large quantities and flows out of the mouth.

A doctor at an emergency room diagnoses a dislocation very easily - when he sees a person with his mouth wide open, complaining of severe pain in the lower jaw joint. Reduction is carried out manually. After this, an x-ray is prescribed to rule out a fracture.

Pain after a jaw fracture

Sometimes after a jaw fracture, in the long term, patients are bothered by aching pain. In this case, they may be due to:

damage to the necks, ligaments of teeth and gums by the wire with which the doctor fixes the splint;
repeated fracture or displacement of fragments, if sharp pain in the jaw is again accompanied by swelling and hemorrhage;
massive trauma and nerve damage.

If pain occurs after an injury, you can take painkillers. If they do not help, and the pain is very strong and does not go away for a long time, then you need to consult a doctor.

Pain in the jaw due to purulent-inflammatory diseases

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a purulent-inflammatory disease of the bone, in in this case upper or lower jaw. You can often find the second name for this pathology – dental caries. It develops when an infection enters the jaw with blood flow from diseased teeth, or due to injury.

With osteomyelitis, there is quite severe pain in the upper or lower jaw. Other symptoms are also clearly visible:

increase in body temperature, sometimes very significant - up to 40 o C, or even more;
swelling under the skin in the area of the pathological focus;
the swelling can be so great that the face becomes skewed and asymmetrical;
if the pain in the jaw is caused by an infection from a tooth, then when examining the oral cavity you can see this affected tooth - as a rule, there will be a large carious defect and pulpitis;
at the same time, the submandibular lymph nodes become inflamed, resulting in pain under the jaw.

Osteomyelitis, especially of the upper jaw, is a serious pathology that can lead to serious complications. Therefore, if acute pain in the jaw occurs in combination with the symptoms described, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Cellulitis and abscesses

Abscesses and phlegmons are purulent pathologies that most often affect the soft tissues located under the tongue and forming the floor of the oral cavity. In this case, symptoms similar to osteomyelitis are noted: acute sharp pain in the jaw or under the jaw (damage to the lymph nodes), swelling, increased body temperature.

Pain in the jaws can also be caused by a paratonsillar abscess - an abscess that is a complication of tonsillitis, and is located on the side of the tonsil, on the right or left.

Furuncle

A furuncle is a purulent focus that is located on the skin in the form of an elevation, in the center of which there is a purulent-necrotic head. People call this disease a boil.

With a boil, the cause of pain in the jaw is beyond doubt - the pathological formation is located on the skin and manifests itself very clearly in appearance.

If the boil is on the face, then this condition is dangerous in terms of the possibility of infection spreading into the cranial cavity. Therefore, you should not try to squeeze it out yourself - you need to see a doctor.

Pain in the jaw near the ear – pathology of the temporomandibular joint

Among the pathologies of the temporomandibular joint, the most common are arthritis, arthrosis, and dysfunction. In this case, the localization of the symptom is very characteristic: pain occurs in the ear and jaw. Ear pain may occur exclusively.

Arthrosis

Arthrosis is a degenerative lesion of the temporomandibular joint, characterized by constant aching pain in the jaw. There is a set of characteristic symptoms:

many patients note both pain and crunching in the jaw - and sometimes various noises and crunches may be the only manifestation of the pathology;
pain intensifies during strong opening of the mouth, closing of the jaws, chewing, which often forces patients to chew food only on one side;
There is stiffness in movements in the joint in the morning.

Even if the entire specified set of signs is present, this does not always make it possible to put accurate diagnosis arthrosis. You need to visit a dentist who will perform an examination and order an x-ray.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease of the temporomandibular joint of inflammatory origin. Its leading symptoms are pain and crunching in the jaw near the ear, a feeling of stiffness in movements. The following features are characteristic:

the pain may wear varying degrees intensity, from a slight feeling of discomfort to very painful sensations;
the sounds that are felt when the joint moves can be different: crunching, clicking, noise;
Often the disease begins with a person feeling stiffness in the joint in the morning.

As you can see, the nature of pain and other symptoms of arthritis is very similar to arthrosis. If there is pain in the ear and jaw, the disease can be confused with otitis media. The diagnosis is made after examination by a doctor and x-rays.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint can be a consequence of trauma, degenerative or inflammatory process, malocclusion or chewing muscles. In this case, there is pain in the jaw when yawning, chewing, tightly closing teeth, in combination with the following symptoms:

pain in the jaw area often radiates to other areas: temple, cheek, forehead;
when the mouth is opened strongly and sharply, the patient feels clicking sounds;
jaw movements are impaired.

Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint as a cause of pain is diagnosed after examination by a doctor and X-rays.

Chronic pain in the jaws due to tumors

Tumors of the upper and lower jaw can be benign or malignant. Chronic pain syndrome is very typical for them.

Benign tumors of the jaws

Some benign tumors jaws do not show themselves at all. For example, with ordinary osteoma, pain almost never occurs. But there are also tumors of the lower jaw that are accompanied by chronic pain syndrome:
1. Osteoid osteoma – a tumor that causes sharp pain in the jaw. As a rule, they occur at night. This tumor grows very slowly and may have no other symptoms for a long time. Gradually it becomes so large that it leads to facial asymmetry.
2. Osteoblastoclastoma At first it manifests itself only in the form of mild aching pain in the jaw. Gradually they are growing. The patient's body temperature rises. A fistula forms on the skin of the face. If you look around oral cavity, you can notice a pale pink swelling on the gums. There is pain in the jaw when chewing. As the tumor grows, facial asymmetry becomes clearly visible.
3. Adamantinoma– a tumor, the first sign of which is a thickening of the jaw. It increases in size, as a result of which the chewing process is disrupted. The pain syndrome gradually begins to increase. On late stages The disease causes severe sharp pain in the jaw, which is especially pronounced during chewing.

All benign jaw tumors that are asymptomatic or accompanied by pain are subject to surgical treatment.

Malignant tumors of the jaws

Often benign and malignant tumors jaws are so similar clinical manifestations that they cannot be distinguished from each other without special research.
1. Cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the skin and mucous membrane. It very quickly grows into the soft tissues located around the jaws, leading to loosening, exposure of the necks and loss of teeth. At first, the pain bothering the patient is not very intense, but over time it intensifies.
2. Sarcoma is a tumor from connective tissue. Characterized by rapid growth. It can increase significantly in size in a relatively short time. Accompanied by intense pain in the jaw of a shooting nature. On initial stages pain does not bother you; on the contrary, there is a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes.
3. Osteogenic sarcoma - a malignant tumor arising from bone tissue lower jaw. It is characterized by not very severe pain in the jaw for a long time. The pain intensifies when palpated and spreads to the face.

Used for the treatment of malignant tumors of the jaws surgical methods, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc.

Dental pathologies

Pain of this origin is called odontogenic. They are symptoms of diseases such as:

Caries is a pathological process that is accompanied by tooth destruction, the formation of a carious cavity in it, and irritation of nerve endings.
Pulpitis is damage to the soft tissues of the tooth (pulp); this is a deeper process that is a complication of caries.
Periodontitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues surrounding the teeth.
A periodontal abscess is an abscess that is located next to a tooth.
Limited osteomyelitis of the jaw is the result of the spread of pathogens and inflammation from the tooth into the bone tissue. It may be the beginning of a more extensive purulent process in the bone.
Dental injuries: dislocation of a tooth from its socket, fracture of the neck of a tooth.
Increased sensitivity of teeth to mechanical irritants, high and low temperatures.
Spontaneous toothaches can occur briefly in some people for no apparent reason.

All jaw pain of odontogenic origin has one common feature– they are accompanied by pain in the teeth. Moreover, if you examine the oral cavity, the affected tooth is easily detected. Pain in the jaw occurs and intensifies at night, and is usually pulsating in nature. They are provoked by mechanical stress on the teeth (chewing hard food, tightly closed teeth), temperature changes (hot and cold food).

The diagnosis and treatment of pathologies that are the causes of odontogenic toothaches is carried out by a dentist (in the case of surgical pathology, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon). In some cases it is shown surgical intervention on the jaw (for example, with osteomyelitis).

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums (gingivitis) is manifested by pain, which intensifies when chewing rough food, swelling and redness of the gums.

There is also a known condition called alveolitis - inflammation of the alveoli after tooth extraction. In this case, pain also spreads to the jaw.

Pain in the jaw of neurogenic origin

When certain nerves are damaged, pain radiates to the jaw:
1. Trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal nerve responsible for sensitive innervation of the entire face. When its lower branch is affected, the pain radiates to the jaw. It is very strong, sharp, and occurs in attacks, usually at night. The nature of the pain is boring, burning. It worries only on one side, since nerve damage is in most cases unilateral. It is characteristic that pain with such neuralgia never spreads behind the jaw.

2. Neuralgia of the superior laryngeal nerve. In this case, quite intense pain occurs under the lower jaw, on the right or left. It can spread to the face and chest. Pain occurs during yawning, chewing, and blowing the nose. Often the patient is simultaneously bothered by coughing, drooling, and hiccups.
3. Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve. This is a fairly rare pathology. It is characterized by pain that occurs in the tongue, and then radiates to the lower jaw, pharynx and larynx, face, and chest. Provoking factors for the occurrence of pain are: tongue movements, talking, eating. Usually the pain lasts no more than three minutes, and is accompanied by severe dry mouth. After an attack, on the contrary, increased salivation is a concern.

Treatment of pain in the jaws due to nerve damage depends on the nature of the pathology. Usually first appointed medications, and if they turn out to be ineffective, they resort to surgical intersection of the nerves.

Vascular diseases

Getting enough blood is prerequisite for the normal functioning of any tissue or organ human body, including the jaws. As soon as the blood flow is disrupted, pain and various other symptoms immediately appear.

Pain in the jaws is observed with the following vascular pathologies:
1. Arteritis of the facial artery accompanied by burning pain in the jaws. In this case, pain can occur in the lower jaw (along the lower edge, from the chin to the corner) or the upper jaw (in the area of the wings of the nose and upper lip). The most typical location of pain is the middle of the lower edge of the lower jaw - where the facial artery bends through it. Pain sensations radiate to the inside of the eye.
2. Defeat carotid artery , the origin of which is not entirely clear, is today considered a type of migraine. Pain occurs in the lower jaw and under it, in the neck, teeth, ear, and sometimes in the corresponding half of the face. Painful sensations can be provoked by palpating the area of the carotid artery.

For jaw pain caused by vascular pathologies, special medications are used.

Causes of pain under the lower jaw

Under the lower jaw there is a large number anatomical formations. When they are damaged, pain may develop that radiates to the jaw.

First of all, it is worth considering pathologies associated with the submandibular lymph nodes. An inflammatory process (lymphadenitis) can develop in them. In this case, the infection enters the lymph nodes with the flow of blood or lymph from diseased teeth, during injuries. In acute lymphadenitis, there is a sharp pain under the lower jaw, increased body temperature, general weakness and malaise. Without appropriate treatment, this disease can become chronic. In this case, an enlarged lymph node can be clearly felt under the lower jaw. Periodically, the process worsens, which is accompanied by the recurrence of acute pain. Submandibular lymphadenitis can lead to purulent-inflammatory processes such as submandibular phlegmon and abscess.

Tumors of the submandibular lymph nodes most often they are metastases that penetrate into them from the jaw itself or other organs. In this case, there is an increase in lymph nodes for a long time, their adhesion to the skin and other neighboring tissues. There are chronic pains under the jaw of various types. Other symptoms: slight increase in body temperature for a long time, weakness, malaise, weight loss. The doctor who conducts the diagnosis must ultimately answer two questions:
1. What is happening in this case: lymphadenitis or metastases in the lymph nodes?
2. If these are metastases, then from which organ did they spread?

Glosalgia– increased sensitivity of the tongue. There is pain that radiates to the lower jaw. Attacks of glossalgia are provoked by prolonged conversation, chewing rough food, eating cold, hot, spicy, sour foods, etc.

Glossitis is an inflammatory lesion of the tongue, which also causes pain under the lower jaw. When examining the oral cavity, the tongue appears thickened and has a bright red color. Over a long period of time, glossitis can transform into submandibular phlegmon or abscess. In this case, there is pain radiating to the lower jaw.

Sialoliths- salivary stone disease. It is accompanied by mild pain under the lower jaw and pain when pressing on the affected area. Pain in the lower jaw is caused by salivary stone disease of the sublingual and submandibular salivary gland. Other characteristic symptoms of this disease:

swelling under the lower jaw, usually only on the right or left;
pus is released from the duct of the gland that opens in the oral cavity, as a result of which the patient is bothered by an unpleasant odor in the mouth;
if the process worsens, then classic signs of inflammation occur: increased body temperature, malaise, weakness.

Sialadenitis is inflammation of the salivary glands. With the development of the inflammatory process in the sublingual and submandibular glands, pain under the lower jaw, increased body temperature, and malaise are noted. The process can transform into an abscess or phlegmon.

Benign and malignant salivary gland tumors manifest themselves in the form of prolonged pain under the lower jaw of low intensity. With a malignant course and metastasis, there is an increase and pain in nearby lymph nodes, exhaustion, and weakness.

At pharyngitis(inflammation of the pharynx) patients in some cases are bothered by pain in the throat and lower jaw. There is a sore throat and cough.

Sore throat (tonsillitis) - inflammation of the tonsils, manifested as severe pain in the throat when swallowing. In this case, the pain can radiate to the jaw and ear. Body temperature rises and other signs of respiratory infection may occur.

Tumors of the larynx. When the laryngeal nerve is irritated by a tumor, the pain spreads to the chest, lower jaw, and ear. Typically, pain increases gradually over a long period of time. The patient is bothered by a "lump", a sensation foreign body sore throat, sore throat, cough, voice disturbance. And with large tumors, difficulty breathing occurs.

Pain in the lower jaw on the left with myocardial infarction and angina pectoris

Heart attack and angina are pathologies characterized by impaired blood flow in coronary vessels hearts Their typical manifestation is stabbing and burning pain behind the sternum, in the center chest. But sometimes attacks have an atypical course. In this case, their only manifestation is severe sharp pain in the lower jaw on the left. In this case, the patient is most often sure that he has a toothache.

This course of angina, and especially myocardial infarction, is very dangerous. A heart attack always poses a developmental threat severe complications, up to fatal outcome. The patient should be immediately admitted to the intensive care unit. But he doesn’t even think about visiting a cardiologist, but goes to the dental clinic with his complaints.

This can mislead even a dentist: the doctor begins to treat a non-existent dental disease.

Pathologies of the maxillary sinuses and parotid salivary glands

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, which are located in the body of the upper jaw. Since the process is usually unilateral, in most cases there is pain in the upper jaw - either on the right or on the left. In the morning they practically do not bother you, but in the evening they increase. Gradually, pain sensations cease to be associated only with the jaw. The patient begins to experience headaches. There are also signs typical of sinusitis:

constant nasal congestion;
consecutive acute respiratory infections that do not go away;
swelling in the area of the upper jaw on the right or left, pain in this place when pressed;
increased body temperature, malaise.

Malignant tumors maxillary sinus long time are able to masquerade as sinusitis. The patient is bothered by mild pain in the upper jaw, right or left. If the tumor is located at the bottom of the sinus, then loosening occurs upper teeth. There is nasal congestion, purulent and bloody discharge. Usually, suspicion of a malignant process first arises when examining a patient by an ENT doctor.

Mumps(pig, viral infection salivary glands) is a disease that is most common in childhood. There is general soreness of the gland (it is located anterior to the auricle), spreading pain in the upper and lower jaws. Appearance The patient's symptoms are very characteristic: there is pronounced swelling in the cheek area. The body temperature is elevated, the patient experiences general malaise. Mumps goes away without a trace, and a strong immunity is subsequently formed that prevents the disease from re-developing.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

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 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 specialization, 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 nervous system special peripheral direction 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 area, and also in 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. Because 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 of the 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, prolonged pain near the ear, worsening general condition sick - 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 the identification of the following diseases and the effect of certain factors:

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

When a cyst, periodontitis or pulpitis is diagnosed, the necessary surgical intervention is performed. 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.

Jaw pain when opening the mouth is a common complaint among people of any age. It is in vain to think that unpleasant sensations will go away on their own. The disease that caused them will progress if left untreated. This will lead to other serious complications, pathology of the temporomandibular joint, and other health problems.

Structure and functions of the TMJ

The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is a paired organ in which movement occurs synchronously. This ensures chewing functions and correct articulation. The joint is complex and subject to constant loads. Its structure and proximity to the nasal sinuses, ear and dentofacial apparatus makes the organ vulnerable to infectious lesions.

The lateral pterygoid muscles additionally participate in the movements of the jaw joints, which pull the ligaments, providing motor activity. There are several functions of joints, each of which is unique. These are frontal movements when opening, closing the mouth, and articulation. There are also lateral and vertical movements when chewing food and sagittal movements for protruding the lower jaw.

A healthy temporomandibular joint has the following structure:

ellipsoidal articular head of the lower jaw;
the articular fossa, divided in half by the petrotympanic fissure;
joint capsule - a durable shell of connective tissue (it protects the joint from bacteria);
tubercle - a cylindrical protrusion in front of the glenoid fossa;
a plate of cartilage tissue (disc) between the articular surfaces, thanks to which the joint moves in different projections;
ligaments that regulate movements: lateral, sphenomandibular, temporomandibular.

The structure of the human TMJ changes after tooth loss. Articular head gradually resolves, reaching the state of a fossa. In addition, the posterior tubercle becomes flattened, which leads to limited mobility and impaired functioning.

Joint dysfunction occurs due to various situations that can disrupt the bite, lead to facial asymmetry, and jaw jamming.

The nature of pain and the mechanism of its occurrence

When it is painful to open your mouth wide, or it is completely jammed, this almost always indicates an inflammatory process, a violation of the anatomy and functions of tissues. The pain can spread to all areas of the face, shoot into the ear, cause migraines, and discomfort with visual strain. It can be different - long-term and short-term, aching and acute, which is taken into account when making a diagnosis.

Aching pain in the lower jaw accompanies the inflammatory process, and burning pain occurs with neuralgia. Cutting pain is usually diagnosed as a bone injury. People who find it painful to chew or open their jaws wide often blame pathology of the skeletal system as the cause. However, the disease can also affect surrounding tissues. If the patient ignores the pain, soon unpleasant symptoms They will also bother you when your jaw is closed.

Under the influence of certain diseases, the jaw can jam and hurt on the left or right side. Pain on the left side may indicate poor circulation or problems with the blood vessels of the heart. Its right-sided nature is observed in neoplasms, inflammatory processes. If your jaw hurts everywhere and constantly, you can suspect an oncological factor.

It happens that the jaw cramps after sleep, and in the morning, at rest, cramps appear. You should not delay your visit to the doctor. Especially if the disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

spasms with fever;
throbbing pain with spasms;
severe pain radiates to any ear, eye (we recommend reading: what to do if toothache radiates to the ear?);
swelling;
mouth does not open;
it hurts to chew for a long time;
cramps in the lower part of the face.

When you open your mouth

Pain when opening the mouth is a consequence of a dislocation or fracture. If Lately There was no injury, these options are excluded. In this case, the cause of discomfort is osteomyelitis. Other pathologies that lead to sharp, aching or acute pain when working the jaws are dental diseases, among which caries ranks first. This also happens when dentures are installed incorrectly.

When chewing and closing teeth

If the jaw system aches, ache, bothers you when chewing or connecting teeth, you can suspect its dislocation or osteomyelitis. Other ailments that lead to discomfort when closing teeth include periodontitis, pulpitis, and complicated caries. When they exacerbate, the pain is pulsating in nature, radiates to the temple, and intensifies during moments of rest and night rest.

At chronic form pathologies, periodic aching pain is possible, which worsens with chewing load on the affected tooth or gum area. Certain foods and alcohol can also provoke discomfort when chewing. Leading to spasm of the esophagus, they also cause muscle spasm and jaw jamming.

Pressure

Pain in the cheek area when pressing is different reasons. It can appear near the right or left side of the ears, or occur when palpating the upper or lower part. The cause of burning is often arteritis of the facial artery. With phlegmon, fistulas and abscess, the jaw will hurt even with a light touch at rest, and this symptom will be accompanied by others that cannot be ignored.

Pain when pressing on the teeth and gums indicates their pathology and dental problems. It often worries when there is abnormal eruption of a wisdom tooth, as well as accidental injury to the jaw.

Causes of pain in the jaw near the ear

Doctors often encounter patient complaints of pain in the jaw near the ear, pain in the ear when chewing. This symptom is not always associated with dental problems, and pain can be caused by the following reasons:

Pain in the jaw near the ear and temple is often observed due to carotidynia. This disease is similar to migraine, which is characterized by aching pain in the ear area, radiating to the lower jaw and eye socket. The pain is monotonous, but acute attacks occur that last from a couple of minutes to an hour. Carotidynia occurs due to dissection temporal artery, tumors in the area of the carotid artery.

Associated symptoms

Any discomfort when the mouth does not open completely, or the jaw hurts on the right/left, cannot be ignored. Especially if it hurts a child. The accompanying symptoms will tell you that the pain is not random:

Diagnostic methods

If you complain of pain near the cheekbones when yawning, eating, or talking, a visual examination is performed. Afterwards, radiography, MRI, ultrasound, and ECG are prescribed (if heart failure is suspected). The disease is differentiated depending on the type of origin:

dental problems;
neurology;
pathology of the cardiovascular system;
ENT diseases;
injuries;
neoplasms.

Diagnosis of cardiovascular, bone and ENT pathologies is carried out on the basis of analyzes and examination data. X-rays and MRIs will help identify why the skin on the face or a tooth hurts, why the mouth cannot open, and identify tumors.

Oncology is much more difficult to diagnose. Tests for tumor markers, tomography and other help with this. modern methods. Based on the diagnostic results, a treatment tactic is selected, the duration of which depends on the degree of neglect of the disease.

Which doctor should I contact?

Which doctor will help if your lower jaw hurts? If it hurts to chew and the problem is in your teeth and gums, you should make an appointment with the dentist. After an injury, if the jaw joints are jammed or the mouth is not fully opened, you should see a maxillofacial surgeon.

Often the patient does not find the cause, and the discomfort progresses: the ear on the right, cheekbones, and the area near the neck hurt. In this case, you should consult a therapist. After the examination, he will tell you which doctor to contact, give a referral to an orthopedist, rheumatologist, neurologist, gnathologist, cardiologist, ENT specialist, gastroenterologist and other specialized specialists.

How to treat the jaw joint?

Eliminate sharp pain Analgesics will help in the jaw joints. However, taking them will not solve the problem once and for all. It is necessary to identify and eliminate the cause of the pathology, which becomes:

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for combating painful sensations when opening the jaw and pathologies of its joints are used as an addition to the main treatment. They will not help if your jaw is jammed, but they will relieve pain symptoms. After consultation with your doctor, you can use the following recipes:

Additionally, according to your doctor’s indications, you can do therapeutic exercises. The set of exercises is something like this (repeat 5 times every day):

frown, then raise your eyebrows in surprise;
squint your eyes;
smile with closed lips, and then with an open mouth;
stick out your lips with a tube;
inflate and deflate cheeks;
relax your face, stroke your temples and cheekbones.

Pain when opening the jaw has many causes, which are not easy to prevent. Experts recommend avoiding traumatic sports, monitoring your diet, and promptly treating gingivitis, caries and other dental pathologies. You should be wary of hypothermia, infectious diseases, stress, which adversely affects the state of the cardiovascular and nervous system.