Facial pain refers to a prolonged painful feeling in any part of the face, including the mouth, eyes and ears. Generally, facial pain is associated with headaches, particularly migraines, but it can also be caused by a trauma and other conditions such as: oral infections, ulcers, sinusitis, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve and sudden chills.
What kind of diseases can be associated with facial pain?
Diseases associated with the problem are the following:
- Arthritis
- Arthrosis
- Abscesses
- Heart attack
- Bruxism
- Sialolithiasis
- Caries
- Headache
- Disorder or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD)
- Migraine
- Fractures
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
- Otitis
- Mumps
- Periodontitis
- Nasal polyps
- Sinusitis
- Trauma
- Cancer of the salivary glands
Remember that this is not an exhaustive list and it is highly recommended to consult your doctor in case of symptom’s persistence.
What is the therapy for facial pain?
To reduce the pain it might be useful to use anti-inflammatory drugs and application of warm compresses. In case of pain associated with sinusitis it is helpful to use antibiotics under medical supervision as a therapy. In case of viral infection, the patient should use antiviral medications, but only as doctor’s prescription. People with bruxism may find relief by using a mouth guard. It could also be useful not to consume hard and solid foods or chewing gums and in general all foods that require a prolonged chewing.
When is most likely to contact your doctor in case of facial pain?
To relieve the facial pain a consultation is required by a doctor or specialist such as: an otolaryngologist, a dentist, a gnathologist or a maxillofacial surgeon. Only after a detailed diagnosis treatment will be possible.
If the pain is a result of a trauma it is again necessary to seek medical treatment at an emergency room in order to determine whether there is a fracture. The same applies if the pain suddenly appears and radiates to the left arm or chest. If the pain is from an unknown cause, and in all other cases, the symptoms must be reported to a doctor.
