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Upper jaw pain

introduction

In most cases, upper jaw pain is caused by inflammatory processes within the maxillary sinus, i.e. it is caused by an inflammation of the maxillary sinus.

Of course, upper jaw pain can also result from carious teeth or a root inflammation, but maxillary sinus inflammation is the most common cause of pain in the upper jaw (Upper jaw pain).

Read on here: The causes of jaw pain

In humans, it is closely connected to the middle nasal passage, which is why pathogens from the Nasal cavity out into the Maxillary sinus trespass, multiply there and cause infections.

The narrower the drainage routes of the secretion, the higher the likelihood of an inflammation of the maxillary sinus and the faster the upper jaw pain develops. In principle, all inflammation will be in the area Sinuses as Sinus infection (Sinusitis) designated.

In the case of involvement of the maxillary sinus, the disease that develops is called Maxillary sinus infection (Maxillary sinustitis).

diagnosis

A diagnosis is usually made by the treating dentist. This examines the upper jaw for possible tooth misalignments or noticeable tooth defects. Furthermore, any fillings, crowns, bridges or other prosthetic restorations of the teeth are examined. Any incorrect adjustments or an incorrect fit can lead to discomfort or pain in the jawbone area.

An X-ray can reveal any inflammation underlying the pain.

Concomitant symptoms

The main cause of upper jaw pain is an inflammation of the maxillary sinus. For this reason, the pain in the upper jaw is accompanied by fever, headache, a strong feeling of pressure in the head area.

An inflammation of the maxillary sinus is usually caused by a cold. Because of this, the symptoms of a cold usually appear in parallel. In general, pain in the upper jaw is accompanied by a general feeling of malaise. Jaw pain often has some limitations. Talking for a long time, chewing or opening your mouth in general can become very uncomfortable.

If the cause of the pain is tension caused by, for example, severe grinding of teeth, severe head and neck pain can occur. It is difficult to find a comfortable position for the jaw.

If the pain is caused by severe inflammation, the pain can continue to manifest itself as throbbing or throbbing. In order to be able to control the pain and the accompanying symptoms, the cause must always be found out.

Illustration of the upper jaw

Figure skull from the front and from the left (upper jaw blue)

Upper jaw -
Maxilla
Zygomatic bone -
Os zygomaticum
Nasal bone -
Nasal bone
Tearbone -
Lacrimal bone
Frontal bone -
Frontal bone
Lower jaw -
Mandible
Eye socket -
Orbit
Nasal cavity -
Cavitas nasi
Upper jaw, alveolar process -
Alveolar process
Maxillary artery -
Maxillary artery
Under eye cavity hole -
Infraorbital foramen
Ploughshare - Vomer

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

Maxillary sinusitis as the cause of maxillary pain

Maxillary sinus inflammation is a change in the lining of the sinuses caused by bacteria and viruses, which can lead to pain in the upper jaw.

In medicine, a distinction is made between an acute and a chronic form of this inflammatory disease.

An acute maxillary sinus inflammation often occurs in the course of a cold.

The penetration of pathogens can lead to swelling of the mucous membranes within the paranasal sinuses, these swellings narrow the natural drainage channels and thus trigger inflammatory processes.

Acute maxillary sinusitis is usually accompanied by:

high fever
Sensation of pressure in the head area
a headache
Upper jaw pain and
Associated malaise.

In most cases, the pathogen's entry point is the nasal mucous membrane; the acute forms are transmitted by a droplet infection.
The chronic type of maxillary sinus infection is a disease that lasts longer than two to three months.
In most cases, chronic maxillary sinusitis is the direct result of an acute illness; this can happen if an acute inflammation does not heal or heals insufficiently.

Other causes of maxillary sinusitis:

Allergies
Curvature of the nasal septum
Nasal polyps or
Be root inflammation.

The symptoms of a chronic form of this infectious disease include a long-lasting loss of smell (Anosmia), strong, thin nasal discharge (Rhinorrhea), Flow of secretions in the throat, strong sensations of pressure in the head area (especially the paranasal sinuses and eye socket), upper jaw pain and headache.

Duration of upper jaw pain

The duration of jaw pain can vary widely depending on the cause.

In the case of pain caused by grinding teeth and tension-related pain, this can often be remedied after a few weeks using a grinding splint to be worn at night.

If inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is the cause of the pain in the upper jaw, this can subside after about 1-2 weeks with antibiotics.

However, if the upper jaw pain is caused by inflammation of the tooth root or bone, the pain may take several weeks to months to go away.

Pain with a cold

A cold causes local inflammation in the body. In most cases they are caused by viruses, but can also arise from bacteria. The inflammatory cells that are active in an inflammation release messenger substances that are supposed to activate the immune system. These reaction pathways can lead to pain.

With a cold, the sinuses are usually inflamed. This means that the lining of the sinuses is swollen. The secretion and the mucus cannot drain properly as a result. There is a strong increase in pressure in the paranasal sinuses and, as a result, a strong feeling of pressure and discomfort. The teeth of the upper jaw anatomically border directly on the lower edge of the paranasal sinuses. Due to the direct anatomical proximity, the increasing pressure is transferred to the teeth and thus to the upper jaw. The swelling then causes pain in the teeth and / or in the upper jaw. Once the cold has subsided and / or an antibiotic has been taken, the pain will go away in most cases.

Read more about this topic here: Toothache with a cold

Pain when chewing

Chewing is an everyday and natural activity. You should not experience any pain while chewing. If this is the case, however, there could be several underlying causes. The pain can come from the temporomandibular joint or the muscles, or it can be a bite pain of the teeth. In the most common cases, chewing increases the pain in tense muscles of the jaw and provides an indication of the cause of the pain. This tension is caused by stress-related nocturnal teeth grinding. A grinding splint can help here. Furthermore, relaxation exercises should be used to escape from the stressful everyday life.

However, the pain when chewing can also manifest itself as a kind of bite pain. The cause here can be a collection of pus below the teeth, a fistula (= a duct that forms from the area of the tooth root into the oral cavity) or inflammation in the area of the roots or root tips. If the complaints that arise when chewing do not subside after a few days, a dentist must be consulted.

Treatment of upper jaw pain

In general, treatment for maxillary sinus inflammation associated with upper jaw pain does not differ from that of a common cold.

Patients should be in bed for a few days and drink plenty of fluids, especially water and tea. Warm baths and / or hot water bottles can also help over the first few days of illness.
Salty nasal sprays or nasal drops can help reduce the swelling.

Affected patients should never cool the area of the paranasal sinuses during the illness, because it can be stated that the cooling has a rather negative influence on the healing process.
Heat, on the other hand, helps to positively influence the course of the disease and to accelerate the healing of the inflammatory processes and thus also the subsidence of the upper jaw pain.

In addition, pain relievers should be taken to relieve upper jaw pain.

If the maxillary sinus infection is caused by bacteria, the treating doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic. This should be taken in full even after the pain in the upper jaw has subsided.

In the case of inflammation caused by anatomical reasons (Curvature of the nasal septum) or are favored by polyps, surgical treatment may be necessary. Straightening the nasal septum or removing the polyps may be enough to reduce the risk of recurrence.