Why Do My Jaws Hurt When I Drink Alcohol?

Jaws Hurt When I Drink Alcohol

Do you often experience a sharp painful sensation in your jaws when drinking alcohol? However, Drinking alcohol can cause pain or worsen any medical problem in your jaws. But there may be several other motives for this pain, and you can suffer more if you ignore it for a long time. Let’s dig deep to figure out why your jaws hurt when you drink alcohol. 

Can Alcohol Cause Or Ace Up A Jaw Pain?

Imagine you are having an enjoyable time with your favorite drink, and suddenly, an intense pain destroys your moment. You can believe that this scenario can be more serious sometimes. But is it all because of your drink?

Chemically, alcohol is made up of various elements, and it has a corrosive PH.

Because of the fermentation process, it often contains trace impurities that may have a mild toxic impact. An alcoholic’s mandible pain can be pretty annoying, even if it only lasts for a few minutes. 

The body’s natural response to digesting food and beverages is to produce excessive saliva. A study found that people’s salivation significantly increased after consuming a liquid containing tartaric acid, tannin, ethanol, and added sucrose. 

Researchers concluded that measuring saliva flow could be an analytical technique in the sensory evaluation of foods and beverages. So, the Tannin-rich reds, like sour flavors, can stimulate the parotid gland to the point of causing jaw hurt.

Most Expected Motives Of Jaw Pain While Drinking 

Jaws Hurt When I Drink Alcohol

Jaw pain is considered severe pain in the human body. Read on to understand the most expected motives of your jaw pain when drinking to get a permanent solution to this problem. 

Dental Issues 

The excessive use of alcohol can provoke a problem with jaws at first. The reason is that alcohol destroys the beneficial bacteria in the mouth while encouraging the growth of harmful bacteria. This situation can lead to oral health problems like cavities and infections. The jaw can hurt if the damage is severe enough. So, the excessive use of alcohol is always prohibited by health professionals.

Hypersensitivity Reaction 

Some signs of an allergic response are hives,  itchy nostrils, eyes, or mouth,  breathlessness or coughing, facial or throat swelling, dizziness, and vomiting. 

Jaw pain can be a sign of an allergic reaction, but it’s usually just one of many different causes. A quick visit to the doctor is crucial when an allergic response occurs.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Well, it can be a major cause of jaw pain while drinking because the jaw joints, muscles, and ligaments around them can be affected by conditions known as temporomandibular joint disorders. 

Research has shown the association of excessive alcohol consumption with TMJ troubles. 

The most typical signs are pain in the jaw, migraines, and facial and ear discomfort. Studies have also revealed that regular alcohol consumption worsens TMJ symptoms. Even if you drink alcohol at least once per week, you can experience jaw pain in TMJ disorders. 

Mouth Sores & Ulcers 

Drinking alcohol exacerbates the pain and discomfort of oral sores and ulcers in many cases. If you continue alcohol consumption on a daily basis harmful microbes can increase the risk of infection. And all these things lead to some severe conditions.

Salivary Stone Function 

Seems a new term? Let’s clarify it first.

If a mineral deposit becomes hardened in the salivary ducts, you have a salivary stone. Typically, salivary stones begin in the salivary glands (submandibular glands) under the mandible. Salivary stones are not caused by alcohol, but dehydration is a frequent problem among alcoholics. Dehydration can lead to the formation of stones in the saliva. Pain from salivary stones is often worse after eating or while awaiting a meal. Infected glands result from artery obstruction by a stone.

Acidity Reactions 

The acidity of alcohol can be irritative to some people’s stomachs. In fact, it leads to heartburn. In this condition, gastric acids flow back into the esophagus. If this happens, you might experience chest pain that spreads to your jaw and throat as well. 

Alcoholic Neuropathy 

Excessive alcohol consumption destroys nerve tissue, resulting in alcoholic neuropathy. Drinking alcohol can disturb normal neural functions because it reduces the essential vitamin supply to the body. 

Pain and tingling in the jaws may be the first sign of alcoholic neuropathy. However, it can spread to other parts of the body if you continue to drink.

Heart Problem (CAD)

Problems with the heart can cause jaw pain, and one cause is coronary artery disease (CAD). After consuming alcohol, people with CAD, particularly those living in colder climates, may experience radiating pain in the jaw. So, you should consult a doctor if needed in this case. 

What Should You Do First When Pain Starts in Drinking? 

Jaws Hurt When I Drink Alcohol

Jaw pain is a prevalent condition for some people as one of alcohol’s many adverse effects. You might feel a cramp in your jaw after the first sip. 

The first stage in treating jaw pain from alcohol consumption is to abstain from alcoholic beverages. You should add a check on yourself to assess any other symptoms.

Pain relievers, heat, reducing alcohol intake, and modifying diet can be effective first-line remedies for many common conditions.

When Do You Need A Consultation? 

Jaw pain is a warning sign of an allergic response to alcohol and requires prompt medical attention. If you are experiencing jaw pain regularly when you drink alcohol, make an appointment with a dentist directly. It’s crucial to get it checked out and treated to avoid further complications.

Final Verdict

So, there can be various reasons that your jaw hurts when you drink alcohol. Jaw pain can be more severe for some individuals. However, it occurs exceptionally infrequently. When this happens, the type of discomfort could indicate a more severe problem. Avoiding alcoholic beverages or setting a healthy limit can relieve jaw pain caused by excessive alcohol consumption. However, as an ultimate option, oral issues are among those medical problems that a medical professional best handles.

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