My right cheek hurts when I open my mouth

Many people are prone to diseases in the cheeks without knowing it, because they don’t know how much impact the cheeks have on our body. In fact, when the cheeks hurt, it can be so serious that it hurts when you open your mouth. In such cases, you should be aware of it, find the factors first, and then choose a method to regulate it.

The area below the ear at the back of the face, namely the parotid gland area, is commonly known as the "cheek".

Some people may develop lumps without noticing, which are painless and itchy, and gradually grow larger. They are often discovered when washing their face or by others accidentally.

Clinically, 80% of parotid gland masses are benign tumors, and 80% of benign tumors are parotid gland mixed tumors. This disease is more common in young and middle-aged people, growing below the earlobe, and large ones can extend to the neck. Most tumors are hard and nodular in texture and can move when pushed, but a small part may become cystic and appear soft. If a slow-growing tumor rapidly grows and cannot be pushed, it is considered that the tumor has become malignant (the malignancy rate is about 3%-5%). At this time, symptoms such as pain or facial nerve paralysis and metastasis to the affected side of the neck lymph nodes often occur.

Experience tells us that parotid mixed tumors should be removed surgically at an early stage to prevent malignant transformation. However, the basic principle of this operation is to preserve the facial nerve intact while removing the tumor to avoid damage and facial paralysis (facial deviation). Another important point to note is that surgery cannot only remove the tumor itself. For mixed tumors in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland, the treatment is tumor + superficial lobe resection; for mixed tumors in the deep lobe of the parotid gland, the treatment is tumor + complete parotidectomy. Only in this way can recurrence be avoided as much as possible.