There are many reasons why chewing food can be painful, including untreated tooth decay that has progressed to nerve infection, previously treated tooth abscesses, and gingivitis. Pain or discomfort when chewing is a relatively common symptom that can be a sign of underlying problems with the jaw AND oral cavity and associated masticatory muscles or tissues, and can be an important indicator of dental or other health problems. Here are some possible causes of the symptoms, according to published website ‘eatthis “.
caries
Tooth decay and associated problems are among the most common causes of severe pain or discomfort when chewing food or other substances such as gum or hard candy. There may also be a feeling of pressure or throbbing and a marked sensitivity to temperature (for example, to microwaved, baked, or ice cream meals, as well as experiencing temporary discomfort), bad breath (halitosis), fever, headache (including migraine, caused by central trigeminal nerve irritation of sensitivity in the face and jaw), and swelling .
Awareness of these symptoms is important because dental caries can steadily progress in severity to include problems requiring immediate medical attention, particularly in the event of an abscess exacerbation caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus, which can lead to life-threatening conditions.
mouth cancer
While tooth decay is one of the most common sources of pain or discomfort when chewing, oral cancer is one of the most serious potential causes and should be considered particularly in people with a history of heavy chewing tobacco, smoking, or alcohol use such as these tumors Relatively uncommon but occurring more frequently especially in those who chew smokeless tobacco, and may involve the inner cheeks (such as the buccal or oral mucosa), the floor or roof of the mouth, the gums, the tongue or other oral structures, which may cause pain or discomfort when chewing.
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).
Temporomandibular joint disorders – commonly referred to as TMJ – are a diverse group of conditions that vary in extent, and generally result from a defect in the joint (the connection between two bones) that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to part of the skull called the ossicles. temporalis, on both sides of the head, or related muscle or connective tissue TMJ is relatively more common in women, especially in their 20s and 40s, and can have many causes and associations including injury (such as trauma from an injury or sports), arthritis, bruxism (chronic teeth grinding), stress, fibromyalgia and oral cavity dysfunction.
While symptoms vary widely, pain or discomfort with the movement of chewing is very common, along with pain in the head or neck, spasticity (spasms or tightness in the jaw), drooping of the face, or a clicking (or popping) ) in the jaw.
Congestion or sinusitis
The sinuses are innervated by sensory branches of the same nerve — the trigeminal nerve (the fifth cranial nerve) — which also transmits sensation from the roots of the upper teeth, and thus registers pain from toothaches. Therefore, sinus irritation caused by allergies or infections can also lead to pain or discomfort when chewing. Nasal and sinus allergies can greatly affect your quality of life, affecting your sleep and participation in daily activities.
