What causes pain in the right cheek?
Mar 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Prolonged chewing of gum or hard foods can over-fatigue the right masticatory muscles, causing pain in the right cheek, which often worsens during chewing. Reduce gum chewing, avoid eating excessively hard foods, correct the habit of chewing on one side only, and alternate chewing between both sides. Trauma to the right cheek from impacts, blows, or compression can cause local soft tissue injury.
Right cheek pain may be caused by excessive chewing, trauma, temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome, gingivitis, trigeminal neuralgia, etc., and can be managed according to different situations. If discomfort occurs, timely medical attention is recommended.
1. Excessive Chewing: Prolonged chewing of gum or hard foods can overwork the right masticatory muscles, causing right cheek pain that typically worsens during chewing. Reduce gum chewing, avoid eating overly hard foods, correct the habit of chewing on one side, and alternate chewing on both sides.
2. Trauma: Impact, blows, or compression to the right cheek can cause local soft tissue injury, resulting in pain accompanied by swelling and bruising. Apply cold compresses within 24 hours of injury to reduce swelling and pain, followed by heat compresses to promote blood circulation.
3. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Syndrome: Malocclusion, mental stress, or trauma can lead to dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles and ligaments, causing right cheek pain that is particularly noticeable during mouth opening and closing, sometimes accompanied by clicking sounds. It is recommended to use medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, chlorzoxazone tablets, and diclofenac diethylamine gel under a doctor's guidance.
4. Gingivitis: Poor oral hygiene, plaque and tartar buildup, and bacterial infection of the gums can cause inflammation, potentially leading to referred pain in the right cheek, accompanied by redness, swelling, bleeding of the gums, and bad breath. Patients may use medications such as metronidazole tablets, amoxicillin capsules, and dibucaine and borax cream according to medical advice.
5. Trigeminal Neuralgia: Various factors that irritate the trigeminal nerve can cause abnormal nerve function, resulting in sudden, brief, and severe right cheek pain resembling electric shocks or knife cuts. The pain is paroxysmal and may be triggered by daily activities such as washing the face or brushing teeth. Patients may use medications such as carbamazepine tablets, gabapentin capsules, and mecobalamin tablets under medical guidance.
In daily life, it is recommended to practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to help relieve muscle tension. A light diet is also advised to promote recovery.
References:
[1] Yang Chao. Can trigeminal neuralgia be treated without surgery [J]. Home Medicine. Choosing Medicines, 2017, (04): 58-59.
[2] Lu Fei, Hong Feiruo, Li Enhong, et al. Best Evidence Summary for Oral Health Management in Patients with Gingivitis [J]. Nursing and Rehabilitation, 2024, 23(07): 65-70+76.
