After having their wisdom teeth extracted, many people may experience soreness in their chins. This soreness can be a mild discomfort or severe enough to affect daily chewing, speaking, and even sleep. Faced with this situation, people are often full of confusion. They don’t know why their chins feel sore after having their wisdom teeth extracted, nor do they know if this soreness is normal or if it will have adverse effects on the body. Next, let’s take a detailed look at the reasons for jaw pain after wisdom tooth extraction.
Basic Principles and Process of Wisdom Tooth Extraction Surgery
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge in the human mouth and usually start to grow around the age of 18 to 25. Due to the gradual reduction of modern people’s jawbones, while the size and shape of wisdom teeth have not changed much, wisdom teeth often do not have enough space to erupt normally, resulting in impacted growth. Impacted wisdom teeth not only easily cause problems such as pain, swelling and inflammation, but also may affect the health of adjacent teeth. Therefore, they often need to be extracted.
During the operation of extracting wisdom teeth, the doctor needs to cut the gum, remove part of the alveolar bone, divide the wisdom teeth into small pieces and take them out one by one, and finally suture the wound. This process can cause varying degrees of damage to the surrounding tissues, including the gums, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, etc. The chin area is closely connected to the tissue structure in the oral cavity. The trauma reaction brought by surgery may spread to the chin, causing soreness symptoms.
The main causes of chin pain
(1) Traumatic response
Tissue injury
When extracting wisdom teeth, whether it is cutting the gums, removing the alveolar bone, or separating the teeth from the surrounding tissues, it will directly damage the soft and hard tissues in the oral cavity. These injuries can trigger an inflammatory response in the body. Inflammatory cells will gather at the injured site and release inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and histamine. These inflammatory mediators can stimulate nerve endings, leading to the sensation of pain. Since the nerves around the chin are connected to those in the mouth, this kind of pain can spread to the chin, causing soreness.
Bleeding and hematoma formation
During the operation, bleeding is inevitable. If the amount of bleeding is large and the blood accumulates in the interstitial Spaces of the tissues, a hematoma will form. Hematoma can compress the surrounding nerves and tissues, increase local pressure, and thereby cause pain. At the same time, hematoma can also trigger an inflammatory response, further intensifying the soreness in the chin. For instance, when a hematoma compresses the nerve branches that control the sensation of the chin, the chin will experience obvious soreness and may even be accompanied by numbness.
Injury of the masticatory muscles
During the process of extracting wisdom teeth, especially those that are difficult to remove, doctors may need to pull the oral tissues for a long time, which can cause certain damage to the masticatory muscles. The masticatory muscles include the masseter muscle, temporal muscle, inner wing muscle and outer wing muscle, etc. They are closely related to the movement of the chin. When the masticatory muscles are damaged, they will experience spasms and pain, which can radiate to the chin, causing soreness. When patients open or close their mouths or chew food, they will clearly feel the soreness in their chins intensifying, as these actions all involve the damaged masticatory muscles.
(2) Nerve injury
Damage to the inferior alveolar nerve
The inferior alveolar nerve is an important sensory nerve in the mandible. It is responsible for controlling the sensation of the lower teeth, gums and the chin area. When extracting the lower wisdom teeth, the position of the wisdom teeth may be very close to the lower alveolar nerve, and even some wisdom teeth may adhere to the nerve. During the operation, if the inferior alveolar nerve is accidentally damaged, it will cause symptoms such as soreness and numbness in the jaw. The pain sensation after nerve injury is rather special, which may be a stabbing pain, a burning pain or a persistent dull pain. Moreover, this kind of pain often lasts for a long time and the recovery is relatively slow.
Nerve compression
In addition to direct injury, swelling of the local tissue after surgery may also compress the nerves. For instance, if the tissue around the tooth extraction wound swells significantly, it will exert pressure on the inferior alveolar nerve, affecting its normal conduction and thus causing jaw pain. As the swelling gradually subsides, the condition of nerve compression is relieved, and the symptom of sore jaw will also be alleviated.
(3) Infection factors
Wound infection
The tooth extraction wound is an open wound and is prone to infection by bacteria in the oral cavity. If patients do not take good care of their oral hygiene after the operation, food residues will enter the wound, providing a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria. Bacteria multiply within the wound, triggering an inflammatory response. The inflammation spreads to the surrounding tissues, causing a sore jaw. Wound infection may also be accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling, fever and bad breath. In severe cases, it may even cause swelling of the maxillofacial region and fever throughout the body.
Gap infection
When the infection of the tooth extraction wound is not controlled in time, bacteria may spread to the Spaces of the oral and maxillofacial region, causing space infection. Common space infections include masseter muscle space infections, wing-mandibular space infections, etc. These Spaces are adjacent to the chin area. Once an infection occurs, it will cause chin pain and also be accompanied by obvious restrictions in opening the mouth. Patients will experience severe pain in the chin and surrounding areas, which affects their normal life and eating.
(4) Other factors
Changes in diet and chewing habits after the operation
After having wisdom teeth extracted, patients often unconsciously change their chewing habits to avoid wound pain and use the other side of their teeth more to chew food. Long-term unilateral chewing can lead to excessive fatigue of the masticatory muscles on the chewing side, while the masticatory muscles on the other side do not receive sufficient exercise, thereby causing an imbalance in the force on both masticatory muscles and resulting in jaw pain. In addition, if hard, hot or spicy and irritating foods are consumed after the operation, it will also irritate the wound and the surrounding tissues, aggravating the soreness of the chin.
Psychological factors
Some patients, after tooth extraction, may experience emotions such as tension and anxiety due to excessive concern and worry about the recovery of the wound. These negative emotions can affect the regulatory function of the nervous system, making patients more sensitive to pain, and thus making them feel that the symptoms of soreness in the chin are more severe than they actually are. Although psychological factors are not the direct cause of chin pain, they can to some extent aggravate the feeling of pain and affect the patient’s recovery experience.
Relief and Recovery Methods for Chin Pain
(1) Postoperative care
Ice compress and hot compress
Within 24 hours after having wisdom teeth extracted, ice packs can be used to relieve the soreness and swelling in the jaw. Ice application can cause blood vessels to concontract, reduce bleeding and exudation of tissue fluid, and lower the sensitivity of nerve endings, thereby alleviating pain. You can use ice packs or cold towels. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes each time, with an interval of 1 to 2 hours. After 24 hours, switch to hot compress. Hot compress can promote blood circulation, accelerate the absorption and dissipation of inflammation, and relieve the soreness in the chin. The temperature for hot compress should be comfortable to the touch. Each hot compress should last for 15 to 20 minutes, and it should be done 3 to 4 times a day.
Oral hygiene maintenance
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for preventing infection and promoting wound healing. Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth within 24 hours after the operation to avoid causing the blood clot to fall off and lead to bleeding. After 24 hours, you can gently rinse your mouth with a mild mouthwash 4 to 6 times a day to remove food residues and bacteria in your mouth. When brushing your teeth, be careful to avoid the wound, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush, and clean it according to the correct brushing method to prevent wound infection and relieve jaw pain.
Dietary adjustment
After the operation, one should choose light and easily digestible foods, such as rice porridge, noodles, egg custard, etc., and avoid eating hard, hot, spicy and irritating foods. These foods not only easily irritate the wound and aggravate the pain, but also may affect the healing of the wound. At the same time, it is important to maintain a balanced diet, consume sufficient protein, vitamins and minerals to promote physical recovery and alleviate the symptoms of sore jaw.
(2) Drug treatment
Pain-relieving drugs
If the jaw pain is severe, you can take pain-relieving drugs under the guidance of a doctor, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. These drugs can inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators and alleviate the sensation of pain. However, it is important to take the medicine correctly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not increase or decrease the dosage by yourself to avoid adverse reactions.
Antibiotic
When wound infection or space infection occurs, antibiotic treatment is required. Doctors will select appropriate antibiotics based on the severity of the infection and the results of bacterial culture. Common antibiotics include amoxicillin, metronidazole, etc. Antibiotics can kill or inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, control infections, and relieve symptoms of sore jaw.
(3) Physical therapy
For chin pain caused by masticatory muscle injury, physical therapy methods such as massage and physiotherapy can be adopted. Massage can promote blood circulation in the masticatory muscles, relieve muscle spasms and reduce pain. Under the guidance of a doctor, patients can massage the muscles around their chins by themselves for 5 to 10 minutes each time, 3 to 4 times a day. Physical therapy includes infrared irradiation, ultrashort wave therapy, etc. These physical treatment methods can improve local blood circulation, promote the absorption of inflammation, accelerate the repair of damaged tissues, and relieve chin pain.
(4) Psychological adjustment
Patients should maintain a good state of mind, have a correct understanding of the recovery process after tooth extraction, and avoid excessive tension and anxiety. One can relax and relieve psychological pressure by listening to music, watching movies, chatting with friends and other ways. When necessary, one can also seek the help of a psychologist for psychological counseling to alleviate the aggravation of chin pain caused by psychological factors.
When Medical treatment is Needed
Under normal circumstances, the soreness in the chin after having wisdom teeth extracted will gradually subside as the wound heals and basically disappear within 1 to 2 weeks. However, if the following situations occur, medical attention should be sought promptly:
The soreness in the chin has been continuously worsening and has not been significantly relieved after the above treatments.
Chin pain accompanied by high fever (body temperature over 38.5℃), chills and other systemic symptoms.
Obvious swelling occurred in the chin and the surrounding area, even affecting breathing and swallowing.
There are signs of aggravated infection such as massive bleeding, pus discharge and unpleasant odor at the wound site.
If there is a numbness in the chin that does not recover for a long time, it may be due to severe nerve damage.
Doctors will conduct a detailed examination based on the specific condition of the patient, identify the cause of the disease, and take corresponding treatment measures to prevent the condition from deteriorating further and ensure the patient’s oral and overall health.
Conclusion
Jaw pain after wisdom tooth extraction is caused by a variety of reasons, including traumatic reactions, nerve damage, infection factors, and some other factors. After understanding these reasons, patients can take corresponding care and preventive measures after the operation to relieve the symptoms of chin pain and promote the smooth healing of the wound. If any abnormal situation occurs, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly to receive professional diagnosis and treatment.
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