Many individuals experience temple pain when chewing, ranging from a dull ache to sharp pain. This common discomfort can interfere with daily activities like eating. Understanding its potential causes, associated signs, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies is crucial for relief.
Understanding the Causes
Temple pain when chewing often stems from issues with the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and surrounding muscles. Located near the ears, TMJs connect the jawbone to the skull, enabling speaking, chewing, and yawning. Dysfunction, known as TMJ disorders, can cause pain in the jaw, face, and temples. Problems like disc displacement, arthritis, or muscle fatigue within the TMJ disrupt its movement, causing pain that radiates to the temple during chewing.
Muscle strain or overuse in masticatory muscles, such as the temporalis muscle in the temple, is another common contributor. Habits like teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism) stress these muscles, leading to tenderness and referred pain. Prolonged chewing can also fatigue these muscles, intensifying discomfort with jaw movement. Stress or anxiety often contribute by increasing jaw tension.
Dental issues can also cause referred pain in the temple. Problems like cavities, dental abscesses, or impacted wisdom teeth can spread pain beyond the tooth area to the temple. An uneven bite or improperly positioned jaws may also contribute to TMJ dysfunction and temple pain. Addressing these dental problems can alleviate the discomfort.
Sinus problems, such as inflammation or infection, can also cause temple pain. Due to the proximity of the maxillary sinuses to the upper jaw, sinus pressure can be felt in the face and temples. Chewing movements may worsen this referred pain by changing pressure within facial structures.
Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is a less common but serious cause. This condition involves inflammation of arteries in the head, including the temporal arteries that supply blood to the scalp, jaw muscles, and optic nerve. Jaw pain that worsens with chewing (jaw claudication) is a characteristic symptom. Prompt medical attention is necessary due to potential vision loss if untreated.
Recognizing Associated Symptoms and Red Flags
Temple pain when chewing often presents with other symptoms that indicate its underlying cause. Common signs include clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint during movement, suggesting TMJ issues. Individuals may also experience limited jaw movement, difficulty opening the mouth fully, generalized facial pain, earaches, or headaches. Neck stiffness and jaw muscle soreness are also frequently reported.
While many causes of temple pain are manageable, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical evaluation. Sudden, severe temple pain, especially if new or different, is a concerning sign. Vision changes, such as blurriness, double vision, temporary vision loss, or flashing lights, are important red flags for temporal arteritis. This condition can lead to permanent vision loss if not addressed quickly.
Other red flags include fever, chills, or a general feeling of being unwell, suggesting an inflammatory condition or infection. Tenderness or throbbing along the temple artery, with unexplained weight loss, can also indicate temporal arteritis. If the jaw locks open or closed, or if there is significant facial or jaw swelling, seek prompt medical advice.
How Doctors Diagnose the Pain
Diagnosing temple pain when chewing begins with a thorough medical history and physical examination. A healthcare provider will inquire about the pain’s nature, duration, worsening or alleviating factors, and accompanying symptoms. The physical examination focuses on the jaw, head, and neck, palpating temporalis muscles and TMJs for tenderness, swelling, or abnormal sounds during jaw movement. Jaw range of motion is also assessed to identify any limitations.
Imaging techniques may further investigate the underlying cause. X-rays visualize jaw and TMJ bones, while CT scans or MRI provide detailed images of joint structures, soft tissues, and sinuses. These studies help rule out structural issues, bone changes, or sinus problems that might be contributing to the pain.
If temporal arteritis is suspected, specific blood tests, such as elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP), are performed to indicate systemic inflammation. A temporal artery biopsy, where a small sample is removed and examined under a microscope, often confirms the diagnosis. This biopsy is a definitive diagnostic tool for the condition.
Effective Treatment and Self-Care Approaches
Managing temple pain when chewing involves self-care strategies and professional medical treatments. For self-care, a soft food diet reduces jaw strain. Applying warm, moist heat or cold packs provides relief; cold packs reduce sharp pain and inflammation, while moist heat helps chronic muscle soreness. Gentle jaw exercises and stretches, often guided by a physical therapist, can improve jaw mobility and reduce muscle tension.
Stress management techniques are important, as stress can contribute to teeth clenching and grinding, worsening jaw and temple pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, can help manage pain and inflammation.
Professional treatments address persistent or severe cases. Prescribed medications may include stronger pain relievers, muscle relaxants for jaw spasms, or low-dose tricyclic antidepressants for chronic pain and sleep issues. Oral appliances, such as custom nightguards or splints, are often recommended to protect teeth from grinding and clenching, supporting proper jaw alignment and reducing TMJ pressure.
Physical therapy offers rehabilitation through techniques like massage, stretching, and strengthening exercises for jaw muscles, along with modalities such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation. For localized severe muscle pain, injections of corticosteroids or botulinum toxin (Botox) may relax affected muscles and reduce pain. Dental interventions, such as correcting bite issues or treating existing dental problems, also contribute to pain relief. If temporal arteritis is diagnosed, immediate high-dose corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are initiated to prevent irreversible complications like vision loss.