Face pain Health Article

Definition

Face pain may be dull and throbbing or an intense, stabbing discomfort in one or both sides of the face or forehead.

Considerations

Pain that starts in the face may be caused by a nerve disorder, an injury, or an infection in a structure of the face. Face pain may also begin elsewhere in the body.

Sometimes face pain occurs for no known reason.

Common Causes

• Abscessed tooth (continuous throbbing pain on one side of the lower face aggravated by eating or touching)
• Cluster headache
• Herpes zoster (shingles) or herpes simplex (cold sores) infection
• Injury to the face
• Migraine
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Sinusitis or sinus infection (dull pain and tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones that worsens when bending forward)
• Tic douloureux
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome

Home Care

Follow the treatment prescribed for the cause of the pain.

Painkillers may provide temporary relief. If the pain is severe or persistent, call your primary health care provider or dentist.

Call your health care provider if

• Face pain is accompanied by chest, shoulder, neck, or arm pain. This could mean a heart attack. Call your local emergency number (such as 911).
• Pain is throbbing, worse on one side of the face, and aggravated by eating. Call a dentist.
• Pain is persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by other unexplained symptoms. Call your primary health care provider.