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Sex differences in masticatory muscle pain after chewing.
H Karibe1, G Goddard, R W Gear
1Center for Orofacial Pain, NIH Pain Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery-Box 0440, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0440, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|February 4, 2003
Summary
Chewing exercise increased muscle pain in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients and some controls. Female subjects experienced greater chewing-induced pain, suggesting women may have higher susceptibility to TMD.
Area of Science:
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
- Muscle Pain
- Sex Differences in Pain Perception
Background:
- The causes of muscle-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the higher prevalence in women are not fully understood.
- Investigating physiological responses to masticatory stress can provide insights into TMD etiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if chewing exercise increases masticatory muscle pain in TMD patients compared to controls.
- To examine sex-based differences in pain response to chewing exercise in both patient and control groups.
Main Methods:
- Participants (TMD patients and asymptomatic controls) performed 6 minutes of chewing exercise (bubble gum).
- Masticatory muscle pain levels were assessed before and after chewing.
- Pain was reassessed 1 hour post-exercise to evaluate persistence.
Main Results:
- Chewing exercise increased masticatory muscle pain in both male and female TMD patients.
- Unexpectedly, chewing also increased pain in female control subjects.
- Female TMD patients showed persistent pain 1 hour after chewing, unlike other groups.
Conclusions:
- Chewing-induced muscle pain responses differ between sexes, even in healthy individuals.
- While not hypothesized, results indicate greater pain sensitivity and persistence in women, suggesting a potential underlying susceptibility.
- These findings contribute to understanding sex differences in temporomandibular disorders.
