What causes pain in the cheek area?
Disease description:
My jaw has been hurting for several days, and it's uncomfortable when eating or opening my mouth. I don't know if it's due to excessive internal heat (a traditional Chinese medicine concept) or some other condition. What could be causing the pain in my jaw?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Chao
Common causes of cheek pain include:
1. Mumps: Whether caused by a virus (epidemic mumps) or bacteria, mumps leads to inflammation of the salivary gland tissue, blocking the salivary ducts and impairing the secretion and drainage of saliva, resulting in swelling and pain in the cheek area, which often becomes more noticeable during chewing.
2. Temporomandibular joint disorders: When the temporomandibular joint experiences dysfunction, such as dislocation or arthritis, pain may occur during activities like opening the mouth, chewing, or speaking, and there may even be accompanying joint clicking.
3. Dental issues: Inflammation during the eruption of wisdom teeth, or conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental abscesses, may spread to the nerves of the salivary glands, causing pain in the cheek area.
4. Prolonged chewing of hard objects: This can overwork the facial muscles and cause excessive strain, leading to muscle injury and pain.
5. Oral diseases: These may also irritate the salivary gland nerves, resulting in cheek pain.
6. Cysts in the jaw and face: If these cysts grow and invade surrounding tissues, they can also cause pain in the cheek area.
If cheek pain persists or worsens over time, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
