Facial pain can cause intense, dull, or stabbing discomfort in the forehead or general regions of the face. Further, this can take place on one or both sides of the face.
Nevertheless, pinpointing what’s causing your facial pain to begin will is critical. The culprits of facial pain can range from minor to severe.
What Causes Facial Pain?
Pain that begins in the face can be due to an infection, a nerve problem, or injury. This may also start in the other areas of the body before spreading to your face depending on what the cause is.
Abscessed Tooth
This condition is a painful infection in between the tooth and gum or an infection at the tooth’s root. It is normally caused by severe tooth decay. Meanwhile, other causes are trauma to the tooth due to gum disease, a chipped tooth, or a broken tooth.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
This condition describes an excruciating sensation of the palate, lips or tongue which may also include a general sensation of discomfort in the entire mouth.
Damaged nerves are said to cause burning mouth syndrome. However, there are also times when the reason for this condition is unknown.
In the end, there are many reasons that could contribute to facial pain. Facial pain, whether temporary or long-term, can be looked at by a medical professional or a dentist depending on what it is.
Cluster Headache
A cluster headache is one of the most painful types of headaches. This typically wakes a person in the middle of the night due to excruciating pain in or around one of their eyes. A red, watery eye; a runny nose; or nasal congestion are also common with a cluster headache.
Cluster headaches may last for a few weeks to months, commonly followed by remission periods. This refers to a recurrent trembling headache which typically affects one side of the head and is frequently accompanied by disturbed vision and nausea.
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) or Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
Shingles is typically caused by a virus known as the varicella-zoster. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. A person who had been afflicted with chickenpox may also develop shingles.
Even long after a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus can penetrate the nervous system and then remain dormant for several years. Later, this may reactivate and sail along the nerve pathways of the skin, producing shingles.
On the other hand, cold sores are swelling or inflamed blister near or inside the mouth which are usually caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus.
Sinus Infection or Sinusitis
Sinusitis pertains to the inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses. This condition can cause pressure in the areas of the cheeks, nose, eyes, and/or the forehead.
An individual suffering from a sinus infection can also suffer from fever, cough, bad breath, sore throat, and nasal congestion that comes with thick nasal secretions. A sinus infection can be sudden onset (acute) or long-term (chronic).
Tic Douloureux
Also known as trigeminal neuralgia, this is known as a stabbing, severe pain on one side of the face. This starts from one or more nerve branches that support the feeling and motor functions of the face.
This is deemed as one of the most excruciating conditions known to man.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) Syndrome
TMJ is a problem that affects the joints and chewing muscles between the base of the skull and the lower jaw. It is also otherwise known as myofascial pain disorder.
This condition is not usually serious. However, its symptoms include difficulty eating, jaw joint popping or clicking, and pain that generally lasts for a few months before it subsides. For some people, however, TMJ is consistent whereas it may only come about in periods of emotional stress.
Or, Do You Have Stiffness and Swelling after an Operation?
Stiffness and swelling are particularly common after a dental operation. This may increase the first two days before beginning to subside. The use of heat or ice can help.
- Ice: A patient may consider using ice for the first 12 to 20 hours after the procedure. Apply to the cheeks for approximately 20 minutes at a nice. After this time period, remove it for 20 minutes before reapplying the ice.
- Heat: One can relieve stiffness and swelling by applying heat to the jaws on the second and third days after the operation.
Gentle stretching exercises starting the day after the operation and chewing gum at intervals may also relieve stiffness and swelling.
24 Hours After the Dental Operation:
- Keep in might that the gauze pad given after the operation functions as a vital safeguard. Thus, leave it in place for about two to three hours while applying mild pressure. The patient may expect some oozing. In case there’s excessive bleeding, apply clean gauze directly on the surgical spot. Hold with firm pressure for about an hour until the bleeding slows or stops. In case the bleeding continues, seek advice from a dental office or emergency room.
- A light diet is advised for 24 hours after the surgery. Shakes, soups, yogurt, jello, pudding, and oatmeal are excellent options. The next day, a more regular diet may be begun if the patient doesn’t feel significant pain while chewing.
- For the first 24 hours, activities should only be minimal. Discontinue smoking for at least three days. Rest quietly with head elevated. It is not advisable to return to normal activities or work right away.
More Tips Post-Dental Operation:
- Depending on the operation, the face may be discolored for three to five days after the operation. In case this takes place, there is typically no need to worry.
- The lower teeth’s roots are adjacent to the lower jaw’s nerves. So, when the tooth is pulled out, the nerve may be a bit upset. Thus, this may result in numbness of the lower lip, chin, and lower teeth near the operation’s location. Nobody can identify how long this will remain. However, this is rarely permanent.
- If there’s excessive bleeding, fever, difficulty breathing, or other worrisome symptoms after the operation, the patient must contact the dental clinic at once or head to the emergency room.
- Oral hygiene is still critical post-operation. However, tooth brushing, spitting, and rinsing must be avoided on the day of operation. Beginning on the day after the operation, mild but frequent rinsing with warm salt water is advisable. Consider that good oral hygiene is crucial to natural wound healing.
- If necessary, the patient will be given a prescription for pain medication. Always follow the directions; don’t take more than what is safe. Pain is normal and may even be severe a few hours after the surgical procedure. The prescription should be begun about one to two hours after the operation and continued as prescribed.
