There are many reasons why chewing food can be painful, including untreated cavities that have progressed to nerve infection, previously treated tooth abscesses, and gingivitis. Pain or discomfort while chewing is a relatively common symptom that can be a sign of underlying problems in the jaw. And the oral cavity and chewing muscles or associated tissues, and it can be a prominent indicator of dental or other health concerns. Here are some possible causes for the symptoms, according to what was published by the “eatthis” website.
tooth decay
Tooth decay and associated problems are among the most common causes of severe pain or discomfort while chewing food or other substances such as gum or hard candy. There can also be a sensation of pressure or throbbing, and marked sensitivity to temperature (for example, to meals in microwave, oven-cooked, or ice cream, in addition to feeling temporary discomfort), halitosis (halitosis), fever, headache (including migraine, caused by irritation of the central trigeminal nerve of sensation in the face and jaw), and swelling.
Awareness of these symptoms is important because dental caries can steadily progress in severity to include issues that need 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 in chewing, oral cancer is one of the most serious potential causes, and should be especially considered in people with a history of heavy chewing tobacco, smoking, or alcohol consumption such as these cancers. Relatively uncommon but presenting with greater frequency especially in those who chew smokeless tobacco, and can involve the inner cheeks (such as the buccal mucosa or oral mucosa), the floor or roof of the mouth, the gums, the tongue or other oral structures, which may It leads to pain or discomfort while chewing.
Temporomandibular joint- (TMJ) disorders
Temporomandibular joint disorders – commonly referred to as TMJ – are a heterogeneous group of conditions of variable width, and generally result from a defect in the joint (the connection between two bones) that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to a part of the skull called the ossicles. temporal, on both sides of the head, or related muscle or connective tissue TMJ is relatively more common in women especially between the ages of 20 and 40, and can have many causes and associations including injury (such as trauma from an accident or sports), arthritis , bruxism (chronic teeth grinding), stress, fibromyalgia, and dysfunction of the oral cavity.
While the symptoms are very variable, pain or discomfort with the chewing motion is very common, along with head or neck pain, spasticity (spasms or tightness in the jaw), drooping of the face, or a clicking (or snapping) sound in the jaw.
Congestion or sinusitis
The sinuses are innervated by the 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 toothache. Therefore, sinus irritation due to allergies or infections can also lead to pain or discomfort in chewing. Nasal and sinus allergies can greatly affect quality of life – impairing sleep and participation in daily tasks.
