Pain when moving the cheeks side to side

Pain when moving the jaw side to side may be caused by mumps, acute suppurative parotitis, chronic parotitis, or other conditions. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Mumps

This condition commonly occurs in children and is primarily characterized by swelling and pain in the parotid gland. After onset, the parotid gland rapidly swells and becomes painful. However, infection usually confers lifelong immunity after a single episode. During the illness, treatment under medical guidance may include medications such as ribavirin granules or isatis root (banlangen) granules.

2. Acute Suppurative Parotitis

In individuals with severe systemic diseases or those who have undergone abdominal surgery, acute suppurative parotitis may occur. It presents with obvious swelling of the parotid gland and purulent discharge visible from the duct opening. Pain may be felt when moving the jaw side to side. This condition typically requires hospitalization and surgical intervention to adequately drain the pus for effective treatment.

3. Chronic Parotitis

In this condition, symptoms are generally mild after onset, but swelling and pain may worsen during eating, and patients may feel fullness or distension in the parotid region upon waking. When the parotid gland is swollen, moving the jaw side to side may cause pain. In such cases, patients can take medications such as amoxicillin capsules or cefixime capsules as directed by a physician to alleviate symptoms.

Besides the above, temporomandibular joint disorders, parotid gland tumors, and other conditions may also cause similar symptoms. Patients experiencing these symptoms should seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital and receive appropriate treatment based on the underlying cause.