Pain in the lower jaw: severe, aching, sharp, acute, when chewing

Pain in the lower jaw occurs with diseases of the oral cavity, teeth, throat diseases, mechanical damage, and infection with pathogenic microorganisms.

The lower jaw is a horseshoe-shaped bone of the skull that is mobile and involved in the chewing function.

The lower jaw consists of:

• horizontal area (body) with teeth;
• vertical with two processes on which the temporomandibular joint is formed and the chewing muscles are attached.

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Causes of pain in the lower jaw

In cases of injury to the lower jaw, the bite and palpation reaction are initially checked. A visual inspection is performed for the presence of bruising, swelling, and closed deformities.

Infectious diseases include: dental abscess, osteomyelitis, actinomycosis. With a dental abscess, hyperemia of the mucous membrane is observed, the appearance of a painful neoplasm of a loose structure. In some situations, the disease manifests itself externally on the skin of the lower jaw. The lymph nodes in the neck increase in size, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and caries appear. Acute osteomyelitis is determined by problems with swallowing, it is difficult to close the mouth due to muscle swelling. As a result, pain in the lower jaw, tissue hyperemia, pain when swallowing appear. Actinomycosis is characterized by the presence of multiple passages with greenish-yellow contents, located in the lower corner of the jaw.

Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint is accompanied by spasm of the masticatory muscles and trismus, in which the jaws are tightly closed. Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain during examination, swelling in the joint, and osteoarthritis limits the joint's mobility with the formation of edema. In patients with dislocation of the temporomandibular joint, the mouth does not close, and during palpation, condyles are detected that are displaced forward from the articular tubercle.

A developing cyst of the lower jaw causes only swelling. Some cases of the disease lead to severe bone thinning, when the slightest touch can break it.

Neoplasms that cause pain in the lower jaw: giant cell granuloma, osteosarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma. With giant cell granuloma, erosive surfaces appear, bones are destroyed, and purple-blue formations appear on the gums. The initial appearance of osteosarcoma remains unnoticed due to the absence of pain. Its growth causes loose teeth. Burkitt's lymphoma is a disease with a progressive increase in tumor size, displacing the auricle and limiting the mouth opening. The tumor develops painful metastases in the bones.

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Why does pain appear under the lower jaw?

There are a huge number of anatomical structures under the lower jaw. Their diseases often manifest themselves as painful echoes in the lower part of the jaw. Pain under the lower jaw occurs:

• due to pathologies of the lymph nodes. For example, with lymphadenitis - an infectious inflammatory process. The acute process occurs with cutting pain, fever, severe weakness;
• in the formation of metastases - tumors of the submandibular lymph nodes. The pain becomes chronic, the body temperature increases slightly and lasts for a long period. Patients experience general weakness, weight loss, and malaise;
• during attacks of glossalgia (intense sensitivity of the tongue), provoked by prolonged conversation, eating spicy, sour, hot or cold foods, chewing coarse food, etc.;
• glossitis is an inflammatory disease of the tongue. During the examination, a bright red, thickened tongue is observed;
• sialadenitis is an inflammatory process of the salivary glands. It causes pain under the lower jaw, increased temperature, and malaise;
• sialolith - salivary stone disease. Characteristic symptoms are: swelling of the lower jaw area (only on the right or only on the left), the gland in the oral cavity secretes pus (the appearance of an unpleasant odor), temperature, mild pain in the lower jaw area, weakness;
• for pharyngitis, sore throat, tonsillitis;
• laryngeal tumors - pain increases gradually, moves to the chest, ear area, lower jaw. There is a feeling of a "lump", a sore throat, a feeling of a foreign body, cough, voice changes. Large tumors make breathing difficult;
• neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve - a rare problem that starts from the root of the tongue or tonsils, moves to the ear, under the jaw, sometimes with pain in the eye, neck area. Attacks of pain are manifested by dry mouth, cough;
• with jaw fractures there is severe pain under the jaw, hemorrhages, swelling, difficulty chewing;
• Facial artery damage begins with a burning pain in the lower jaw;
• diseases of teeth and gums.

Aching pain in the lower jaw

Aching pain in the lower jaw can occur with trigeminal neuritis, temporomandibular joint syndrome.

The trigeminal nerve is divided into three branches that supply the face with nerve endings, thereby ensuring communication with the central nervous system. Inflammation of the mandibular branch provokes pain in the lower parts: jaw, teeth and lip. Pain attacks exhaust patients with their strength and frequency of occurrence. The slightest movement renews or intensifies the pain. Neuritis is a consequence of injuries, surgical intervention, a complication after dental manipulations.

Factors influencing the development of neuritis:

• basal skull fracture;
• surgical treatment of jaw bones;
• jaw fracture;
• complex tooth extraction;
• incorrect prosthetics;
• incorrect anesthesia;
• infectious diseases;
• intoxication;
• injury to nerve endings by foreign bodies.

Aching pain in the lower jaw with neuritis manifests itself with varying intensity, accompanied by impaired mobility and sensitivity. When diagnosed, swelling of the affected area is detected, the skin changes color (becomes bluish or marbled) and becomes thinner.

The temporomandibular joint performs many functions - chewing, opening the mouth, etc. It is subject to enormous loads, which can lead to disease. Symptoms of temporomandibular joint syndrome include:

• aching pain in the lower jaw, ear area;
• tension in the lower jaw;
• uncomfortable, difficult chewing;
• aching pain in the facial area;
• grinding, clicking sounds while chewing, communicating;
• impaired joint mobility;
• malocclusion;
• headache.

Pain in the lower jaw, varying in strength and nature, can appear for various reasons. The body uses pain to signal the presence of a problem in one of the organs, often leading to dysfunction of another. For example, a jaw injury is accompanied by severe pain and disrupts the functioning of the muscular and nervous systems of the adjacent area.

Identifying the cause of pain is a task for a specialist. The source of pain is determined by manual muscle testing and a number of additional studies. Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor prescribes treatment. Most often, a comprehensive approach is used, individual for each case. After therapy, the result is maintained by rehabilitation and preventive methods.

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