Chances that a Lump on the Jaw Is Swollen Muscle
Many people worry that a newly discovered lump in the jaw is cancer, and hope to dear God that it’s only a swollen muscle, perhaps caused by TMJ disorder or something else benign.
Discovering a new lump anywhere in the body is frightening, since people have become accustomed to associating this symptom with cancer.
TMJ Disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is also known as TMD.
“Yes, sometimes TMD can cause certain jaw muscles to swell up if it is inflamed or overworked due to grinding or clenching,” says Dr. Haissam Dahan, DMD, MSc, PhD, lecturer at Harvard and McGill University and owner of Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic.
“Grinding occurs at night, whereas clenching usually happens during the daytime,” says Dr. Dahan.
“Oral cancer rarely starts with a swollen muscle, so no need to worry about that. Oral cancer usually begins with numbness or tingling in the tongue, cheeks or lips.”
Keep in mind that smoking is a strong risk factor for oral cancer.
Can Another Kind of Cancer Cause a Lump in the Jaw?
First off, make sure that every time your dentist gives you an exam, it includes an oral cancer screening. If this costs extra money, it’s well worth it.
The tumor may be found on the tongue, gum or roof of the mouth, and dentists are trained at spotting suspicious lesions.
They don’t diagnose cancer, but they can recommend that you see your primary care physician for further evaluation.
Now, a type of cancer called soft-tissue can arise anywhere in the body where there is soft tissue including muscle.
There are also benign soft-tissue tumors. Soft-tissue tumors, whether benign or malignant, are very rare.
“The vast majority of swollen lumps on the jaw or around the neck is going to be related to trauma or inflammation around lymph nodes,” says Mark Levandovsky, MD, Founder and Medical Director of Preventive Medicine and Cancer Care.
Dr. Levandovsky is a board certified internist and oncologist/hematologist in practice for 20 years.
He adds, “Soft tissue cancers are exceedingly uncommon, constituting less than 5% of all cancers — and they are less commonly confined to the face.”
In addition, a metastasized cancer can make its way to the jaw bone, forming a lump. This is very uncommon, though.
Doctors urge their patients to conduct monthly self-exams of the skin and breast to screen for any signs of cancer.
But doctors don’t tell patients to feel their jaw every month. That’s because a lump in the jaw that’s cancer is exceedingly rare!
Plus, the anxiety that would be caused by monthly self-jaw exams would far outweigh the practicality.
Dr. Dahan is a general dentist with a focus on TMJ disorder, facial pain, snoring and sleep apnea management.
Dr. Levandovsky provides personalized care to health conscious individuals as well as cancer patients and survivors, focusing on an integration of genetic/molecular risk assessments, prevention, education, nutrition and psycho-oncology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ Dmitry Tkachev
Can Wisdom Teeth Removal Cause Headache & for How Long After?
If you have a headache after wisdom teeth extraction, does this mean that the removal of the wisdom teeth caused the headache?
Headaches have many potential causes. So it’s natural to wonder if recent surgery on your mouth might be a possible culprit. (more…)
Can TMJ Disorder Cause Hearing Loss?
If you have TMJ disorder, you are at risk for hearing loss.
You may even already have some hearing loss and not even know it, all the while being cultivated by your temporomandibular joint disorder.
“Hearing loss and other ear symptoms are extremely common in TMJ disorders,” says Jeffrey Haddad, DDS, of Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester, MI.
“The main facial muscles surround and connect to the area right in front of the ears where the TM joints meet the skull,” continues Dr. Haddad.
“There are numerous blood vessels, nerves and ligaments that exit and enter this area offering blood supply, innervation and support to the structures of the ears.
“When a person’s bite has been adversely affected by bruxism, parafuction [abnormal oral movement], excessive dental work or even improper orthodontics, it can cause muscular tension in these areas.
“If this tension compresses these very sensitive nerves and blood vessels around the ears, symptoms like ear ringing, ear congestion (blockage), hearing loss and vertigo (dizziness) can occur.”
Solution to Hearing Loss Caused by TMJ Disorder
Dr. Haddad explains, “By stabilizing and properly supporting a person’s jaw in a muscularly relaxed and comfortable position, we decompress the area around the joints and ears, allowing healthy physiology to occur and symptoms to be relieved.”
Another Possible Cause of Hearing Loss Linked to TMJ Disorder
“Meniere’s disease is a common disorder of the inner ear that affects over 615,000 people in the U.S.,” says Dr. Haddad.
“It causes episodes in which you feel as if you’re spinning (vertigo), and you have fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and sometimes a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear.
“It is a very frustrating condition because as of now, there is known root cause or cure available.
“However, several studies have shown a direct connection between Meniere’s disease and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which share many of the same debilitating symptoms.”
Signs and symptoms of Meniere’s disease include:
• Hearing loss. “Hearing loss in Meniere’s disease may come and go, particularly early on,” says Dr. Haddad. “Eventually most people have some permanent hearing loss.”
• Recurring episodes of vertigo which can start and stop spontaneously. “Episodes of vertigo occur without warning and usually last 20 minutes to several hours, but not more than 24 hours,” says Dr. Haddad. “Severe vertigo can cause nausea and vomiting.”
• Tinnitus: subjective perception of sounds in the ear such as a high pitched tone, hissing, buzzing or crackling.
• Feeling of fullness in the ear. “People with Meniere’s disease often feel pressure in the affected ears (aural fullness) or on the side of their heads.”
TMJ Disorder and Meniere’s Connection
“What is striking is that every one of the symptoms of Meniere’s disease are commonly found with TMD,” says Dr. Haddad.
“Tinnitus, pain or pressure in the ears and dizziness, tension headaches, neck pain and migraines also seem to go hand in hand with patients suffering from Meniere’s disease.
“This could actually be a direct result of a misaligned bite or underlying TMJ disorder.”
Dr. Haddad lectures nationally on cosmetic dentistry, TMJ disorders and practice marketing, and utilizes the latest technology to ensure the utmost in patient comfort and care.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik/stockking
Ringing in Ears During Weightlifting: Causes & Solutions
If you’ve noticed that your ears go into ringing mode only when you lift weights, there’s a pretty good reason for this.
First of all, the ringing or annoying tone inside your ears is called tinnitus. (more…)
Can TMJ Disorder Cause a Stuck Feeling in the Throat?
Lots of things can cause a stuck feeling in the throat, but can TMJ disorder be one of them?
A persistent stuck feeling in the throat is one of the most annoying symptoms, and usually it has a benign cause such as acid reflux or anxiety.
For other individuals, the feeling of a stuck lump in the throat is a source of fear — fear of throat cancer.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
“Inflammation of the TMJ can cause an imbalance in the muscles that are used for swallowing and therefore pain in the throat,” says Dr. Idan Snapir, DDS, of the Dental Smile Center in Van Nuys, CA.
Dr. Snapir continues, “For example, the action (contraction) of the medial pterygoid is closure of the mandible. Like in the act of swallowing — spasm of the medial pterygoid muscle can cause elevated TMJ pressures.
“So, if this muscle is shortened due to a TMJ issue, that may cause a stuck feeling or sore throat sensation.”
Solutions to Stuck Feeling in Throat from TMJ Disorder
Dr. Snapir advises “stretching exercises for TMJ and swallowing muscles, soft diet, avoid chewing gum.”
Stretching Exercise #1
• While the jaws are relaxed (and never when they are tensed), keep your mouth closed.
• Next, slide your jaw to the left while you are looking to the right to achieve a deep stretch.
• Finally, slide your jaw to the right and look to the left.
Stretching Exercise #2
• Again, make sure that your jaws are relaxed first. This is important.
• Open your mouth gently but as wide as you can.
• Do not open beyond what feels natural.
• Keep your mouth open for a few seconds.
• Close gently.
Do both these exercises twice a day. See if they don’t reduce or even eliminate the sensation that there is something stuck in your throat.
For many years Dr. Snapir has promoted dental health, treated TMJ disorder, created beautiful smiles and improved the overall well-being of thousands of patients. He will customize the best possible treatment plan for every patient.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Can TMJ Disorder Cause Sleep Apnea or Make It Worse?
Have you been diagnosed with both TMJ disorder and sleep apnea and are wondering if the TMJ problem is causing or aggravating your sleep apnea? (more…)
Can the Removal of Wisdom Teeth Cause Sneezing?
What’s going on when, after having your wisdom teeth removed, you’re suddenly sneezing – and a lot?
Is this just a coincidence on the timeline or is there something about the extraction of wisdom teeth that causes sneezing? (more…)
Sandal Wearing Guidelines for People with Diabetes
If you have diabetes and are wondering if you should not wear sandals, there is definitely something you must first do before you take to wearing sandals.
And that is to see a doctor.
“If a diabetic has neuropathy and/or peripheral vascular disease, then sandals and open toed shoes are to be avoided,” says Peter D. Highlander, DPM, Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeon, Director, Wound Reconstruction Center, The Bellevue Hospital, Bellevue OH.
This includes sandals and open toed footwear that are flat.
“If a person is unsure if they have neuropathy or PVD, then they should make an appointment with their local podiatrist [foot doctor],” advises Dr. Highlander.
Neuropathy from Diabetes
Many diabetics have or will develop peripheral neuropathy.
This condition is characterized by the inability to feel pain from a foot sore or injury such as a cut or laceration.
Wearing sandals means an increased risk of foot or toe injury – for obvious reasons.
What might be an innocuous scratch to a nondiabetic can turn out to be a nightmare for the person with diabetes — either type 1 or type 2.
And people who don’t have diabetic neuropathy or any other issues with their sensory nerves will immediately know when there is an injury or skin tear – and treat it.
If they don’t treat it and it becomes infected, they will surely feel this and then treat it.
The diabetic may miss this opportunity that’s triggered by sensory nerves.
Left untreated (because neuropathy blunts pain), a sore or cut can become infected, then become gangrenous and require amputation of part of the foot or even the leg.
PVD
Peripheral vascular disease is hardening of the arteries in the legs/feet. PVD can cause many symptoms including painful walking, for which sandals would not be a smart idea for obvious reasons.
However, PVD can also result in sores in the feet or toes that won’t heal.
In summary, if your feet are at risk for sustaining unhealed wounds or injuries, you just should not wear sandals – even on the hottest days.
Dr. Highlander provides advanced treatment and prevention options for lower extremity wounds with a special interest in deformity correction and soft tissue coverage for non-healing wounds.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
How a Diabetic Should Treat a Sprained Ankle
Diabetes can be a game changer when it comes to the treatment of a sprained ankle.
But many diabetics do not realize just what could happen if they have a certain condition that diabetes often causes. (more…)
Can Muscle Twitching Be Caused by TMJ Disorder?
