Doctors? Painful bump on inside of cheek/jaw?

Question

Its on the right side of my mouth in the back where the jaw bones come together and it feels like a cyst or a swollen lymph node. It sort moves around when I touch it and it makes my cheek and jaw hurt when I eat or clench my teeth. Do you know what it is?

Answer 1

It sounds like it's just a canker sore - an ulcer inside your mouth - which will just go away on its own.

Answer 2

It is hard to tell from your description without having a health professional examine it and possibly take some x-rays.  It could be pain from TMJ, or possibly an abscess or, as you mentioned a cyst or swollen node.  Have you had mononucleosis?  Sometimes there is an illness associated with mono called Burkitts Lymphoma, but it is not commonly seen in the US and is mostly seen in African countries.  Mono is caused by the Epstein Barr virus.  There is also another viral condition which sometimes affects the jaw called Cytomegalovirus.

Because it is more painful when you eat or clench your teeth, I am more likely to think that it could be related to TMJ.  TMJ is frequently sore to touch.  Also , the fact that it feels that it moves around may indicate that it is a joint problem rather than a lymph node or cyst.

Do you notice yourself grinding your teeth or clenching your teeth or do your teeth show significant wear marks?  A lot of people grind thier teeth during sleep and don't know that they do this.  Do you chew much gum?  If so, stop chewing gum.

You really need to see a doctor and a dentist to have them thoroughly examine your mouth, neck, jaw area and teeth and take some x-rays.  Without examining you, it is not really possible to give a clear idea of what it could be.  Call your doctor tomorrow.

Pain in the ear, when opening jaw is also associated with TMJ.