What causes unintentional mouth movement? How is this issue identified? The answers are in this article.
Unintentional and uncontrollable movements of a body part are referred to as involuntary movements. These movements could be brief tics, trembling, or protracted seizures. They may occur in the neck, limbs, or face, including the mouth. What causes unintentional mouth movement? Learn more about some of them by reading this article:
Causes of involuntary mouth movement: chorea
In order to receive the proper treatment, involuntary mouth movements can have a variety of pathological causes, including chorea, which necessitates ongoing medical evaluation.
It is a movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle movements, and it occurs as a symptom of many different diseases and conditions, including: some genetic diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, and taking some medications. The muscles in and around the mouth are typically affected.
Along with uncontrollable mouth movements, chorea can also result in uncontrollable body movements, including those of the hands, feet, and face, which can impair our ability to walk, speak, and swallow.
Causes of involuntary mouth movement: tardive dyskinesia
As antipsychotic drugs increase the brain's sensitivity to the neurotransmitter dopamine, they are often prescribed to treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other types of psychotic disorders. However, long-term use of these drugs can cause a neurological condition called tardive dyskinesia.
A series of uncontrollable, repetitive movements and spasms, most frequently in the face and particularly in the mouth, are brought on by tardive dyskinesia. These include:
- Chewing and sucking movements.
- lip lift
- Involuntary movements of the tongue.
- Tongue out.
Chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and thioridazine are some medications that can result in this kind of health issue. It can also happen as a side effect of some antiepileptic medications, antidepressants, antiemetics, and anticholinergics.
Causes of involuntary mouth movement: Migraine facial spasm
Hemifacial spasms are when the muscles on one side of the face twitch suddenly. These spasms are brought on by injury to or irritation of the facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, which causes the muscles to contract involuntarily as a result.
Small, uncontrollable movements around the mouth, cheeks, and eyelids are the first signs of this condition, and they may later spread to other body parts.
These spasms typically result from touching the facial nerve's blood vessels, and while a tumour or damage to the facial nerve may be the cause in some cases, other times there is no known cause for this issue.
Anxiety, tension, fatigue, and facial muscle movement are some of the migraine triggers that can cause facial spasms, which may be one of the reasons for involuntary mouth movement.
Methods for diagnosing involuntary mouth movement
Clarifying the diagnostic procedures that doctors use to treat this issue is necessary after we have discussed some of the causes of involuntary mouth movement.
Most doctors start by reviewing the patient's medical and family history, including any medications they are currently taking or have previously taken. They then ask a series of questions regarding the onset and frequency of the involuntary movements of the mouth as well as other topics.
The doctor chooses the tests to be carried out based on the suspected cause, which may include one or more of the following:
- blood tests.
- urine tests.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis through spinal puncture.
- MRI.
- Computed tomography of the brain.
- Electroencephalogram.