Trouble Eating Difficulty Chewing
When eating is problematic or chewing is difficult, there is not just one cause you can address. You may be suffering from a sore jaw joint from overuse or there may be serious changes in your jaw bone. In other cases, there may not be a medical problem; instead, you may need to address it with behavioral changes. If you have started to struggle to chew your meals properly, be sure to talk to the dentist and include any other new symptoms that have started as well. Swift medical or dental intervention can prevent you from suffering malnutrition or other complications later.
Possible Causes
The first cause to entertain is any recent accidents or trauma to your face or jaw. When there is damage to the muscles, bones or joints, then you may not be able to eat without trouble. Other joint diseases like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can result in deterioration of the jaw joint or swelling that will prevent it from functioning normally. You may even be experiencing side effects from temporomandibular disease or bruxism, the grinding of your teeth in your sleep. The pressure and tension related to these issues can cause problems for the muscles and prevent you from being able to chew without difficulty. Other causes to consider include gum disease, dry mouth, and tooth decay. When teeth are loose, experiencing sensitivity or cavities, or you have sores in your mouth, you may not be able to enjoy your meals as you once did. More serious causes include infections, hidden chips or cracks in teeth, and even oral cancer. When the chewing problems start, it is important to talk to the dentist about your symptoms in order to address the cause before it worsens.
Related Symptoms
If you notice any other issues starting at the same time as you started to have trouble eating, the dentist or doctor may be able to use these to better diagnose the root cause. Take the time to consider if you noticed a strange taste in your mouth, an earache, headache, unexplained weight loss, or even problems swallowing.
Pain When You Chew
Be sure to take the time to seek medical attention promptly if you have pain when you chew, especially if you are also struggling with swallowing normally. Not every case of painful chewing will result in a life altering diagnosis, but addressing it quickly will help you avoid more complicated and problematic issues that develop as a result. More importantly, dentists and doctors can use X-rays to identify any serious underlying conditions in your gastrointestinal system or your neuromuscular functionality. Eating soft foods, drinking plenty of fluids, and trying to maintain a well-balanced diet will help you while the professionals help you resolve the reason for your trouble eating. You may need to start a treatment plan with a speech pathologist to help you develop better chewing or speaking habits to prevent pain when chewing. The dentist may even have you take supplements to ensure you stay nourished when your eating is labored.