What Causes Persistent Ear Pain And Difficulty In Chewing Food?

Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016

Question: Pain on left side of face believed to TMJ (?). Feels like ear ache, pain mostly at night, difficult to bite into food and to chew. Very painful and annoying. Had previously on right side but it went away after a couple years.. Don't even know what kind of doctor to see. Dentist?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, see a dentist.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am sorry you are having a jaw joint problem. I have experienced problems with the jaw myself, so I know how painful it can be.

The place to start your evaluation is with a dentist. If you live near a large city that might have a TMJ (temporo mandibular joint dysfunction) specialist, you can skip the regular dentist and go there, but otherwise see your dentist.

Some things you can try in the meantime are NSAIDs such as ibuprofen if you can tolerate NSAIDs, and hot moist compresses to the affected area.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever and may work better than the Tylenol for this particular pain. Don't take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs if you have a history of stomach problems, kidney deficiencies, or bleeding problems. And take it after you have some food in your stomach. You can take ibuprofen 3 times a day.

Hot wet compresses can help relax the muscles of the jaw allowing you to chew more easily. I personally stand over the sink with a small towel or large cloth napkin and soak this in hot running water, apply to the tense muscles, and then rewarm the towel again - for several minutes. Do this as often as needed.

I hope this information helps and that you are soon out of pain.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar