Pain/cramp in jaw bone esp. after drinking alcohol

Been having this problem on and off for years. Went online while drinking a beer and having the pain. I noticed my mouth was dry and I couldn't salivate. The lemon idea sounded good, so I took a bite, and it made the pain more intense for 1 second, and then a big rush of saliva and no more pain. Now, back to my beer! Thanks everybody!

I have had this symptom sporadically for as long as I can remember. It seems to come on rare occasions whenever I consume something with extreme flavor - the cheapo mixed drinks I've seen some people talk about remind me of exactly the kind of beverage/food I'm talking about... very sweet and very tart can do it. It happens rarely though.

I was consuming splenda every day for numerous years - and in the past couple months I removed it from my diet, in attempt to shake things up a bit and see if I can feel better in general with a different diet... anyhow, this morning I made coffee and didn't have sugar around, so used splenda, and wow did I over-do it (it's been a while, forgot how strong that stuff is)... my first sip of the coffee sent my jaw into a tight and painful frenzy... usually it's not a big deal so I just went about my business, trying to sip the coffee more slowly so as not to exacerbate the issue (I sure wasn't about to dump the drink!)... I drank it over the course of a few hours and long story short, that was a mistake. My jaw has been very tight and painful for an additional few hours after my last sip of the beverage. OUCH... just a moment ago I thought I'd eat a pistachio and I think the salt on it triggered the same response and now I'm afraid to eat anything at all (and getting hungry!)

Hopefully it goes away soon.

No - you guys aren't alone with this issue of jaw pain from specific foods.

i too have this pain when drinking alcohol - the pain seems to be intensifying the older i get - but tonight i found a cure - i was out for dinner in so much pain & my dessert arrived which was icecream - i managed to open my mouth wide enough to shove some in & like magic the pain disappeared INSTANTLY - just had to share!!!!

I have this problem, but it doesn't happen with citrus, lactose (milk, cheese, etc), or even spirits, but only with beer, wine, or malt liquor (such as Smirnoff Ice). Sharp pain like needles being stabbed into the back of my jaw. Goes away after about an hour. This is after one drink, and sometimes I haven't even finished the one drink...

I have read some of the replies and, many seem very interesting. I also has this issue, like others, not everytime and i believe that it has something to do with my ears. I have sensitive ears, or better, i think i have sensitive ears.

I did leave a post a few months back on this subject. I have had this pain for 14 years, whilst drinking wine and beer. Also cheese and caffeine caused the pain too. However, I have just given up smoking after 36 years and the pain is far less frequent. It did help to take ibuprofen before drinking alcohol. I have seen my doctor many times about this and the last time I saw him, I told him about this forum and the possibilty of stones in the saliva glands, but he refused to send me for tests and just said my nerve endings were frazzled!!

I hav had this problem most of my life (45 now). Shortly after I start to drink beer I getting the cramping needle like pains in my jaw. Seems to last for about 30mins. to 1hr. afterwards and can be pretty intense.

I also have this problem. Much more simple rules that I don't think I've see reflected here. Basically, if I drink wine or beer before or while eating, I get this pain,
I'd say 95% of the time (the percentage has increased as ive gotten older, but now it's Pretty much a rule of thumb.

It tends to last thirty forty minutes and is never triggered without eating. It doesn't matter what I eat, pretty much anything.

Why in the world are there 100+ posts here and not a single logical explanation? Why do doctors "doubt it"? So bizarre.

I didn't bother to read this whole thread, as there's been others on this problem, such as this one:

https://www.steadyhealth.com/Shooting_pains_in_jaw_when_eating_and_drinking_alcohol___part_2_t183645.html?page=4

The solution is chewable Vitamin C pills, or anything sour, like lemons.  It's just easier to carry chewable Vitamin C.

I've done this literally dozens of times now, and every time after an extremely painful "pop" it fixes the problem.

If you're at a bar, just ask for some lemon wedges and bite down on them.  It's amazingly painful, but then the jaw thing goes away.

I know.  Crazy.  But no joke, as the posters in the other threads will attest, it completely works.

Hey Matt, I've had this happen to me my whole life and up until today I thought it happened to everyone. It is especially painful/intense when I drink red wines and coke, although I've also had it happen with tea and various other drinks as well as blowing up balloons. I'm especially sensitive to alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. I just tried chewing gum to see if it helped but I didn't notice any positive effects. I did notice that "cleaning out" the corners of my mouth alleviate the feeling though.

I've noticed this problem for a long time as well.  I'm very glad I found this thread.

 

One thing I've observed is that, it does not always happen when drinking alcohol, but often.  And, it usually occurs most intensly after recently consuming caffeine.  If I have caffeine in the middle of the day and have a beer after work, the stinging almost always happens.

 

My concern is that it is an indication that something else is wrong, or that I have an alcohol allergy.  Can anyone confirm possible causes?  I'm looking for the answer by felixtobius, but can't find it in this thread.  Any help greatly appreciated!!

 

-Jon / Colorado

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I too suffer tingling/pain at the back of my jaws in my TMJ area almost every time I drink alcohol, but especially any dry wines. And it's been so frustrating because my husband is a dentist and he never has any idea of what I'm talking about! I also suffer in general from TMJ disorder too, though.

But it is comforting to know I am not crazy and not alone!

As for when it began? I'm 40 now, so I guess it's been about the last 5 or 6 years. Have no idea why my jaws started to do this upon drinking alcohol, but I too have noticed that having a fair amount of water afterwards does help a bit.

Well, I suppose there are worse things to have. But I thank everyone for sharing their pain!

JH, Chicago

I am a Belgian and have this jaw pain also, every time with a meal, a bear or red wine, or white wine. Mostly due to red wine, and I believe it is a substance SULFUR DIOXIDE that causes the allergy. It is used in Beer and wine, see wikepedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide

Be aware: Probably everyone here how has the same symptoms has a SULFUR ALLERGY. look at: http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/product-allergy/sulfite-allergy

 

Same problem here. I most often get it after drinking a beer, especially an Amstel and less often with other brands... I've also had it after a margarita and after a vodka. I've noticed that I will seldom also get it after I eat something that has high concentration in yeast like a doughnut... It feels as if someone is electrocuting my jaw. Washing my mouth well with water helps make it go away much faster.

I am not sure that the explanation that alcohol irritates the parotid gland is the answer to the funny pain i feel in the jaw... I have been drinking for years before I discovered the odd pain this year .. and dammit I discovered it on my birthday as well, after having  a few beers!

So I have been drinking for years, since I was 12 and never had a problem. I also still drink drinks that are limey or lemony and no problem as well... its just alcohol that makes the pain happen... any alcohol.. yes swishing cold water helps after the pain starts.. I tired cold water BEFORE the pain... same stupid pain still occurs.

I am thinking that it might have something to do with the nervous system. Although WHAT is a mystery....