# Why do my cheeks hurt intensely on the first (and only first) bite of certain foods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130 "2007-07-17T14:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carolbranch7\_hotmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@carolbranch7\_hotmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carolbranch7_hotmail.com)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/21 "2015-08-21T17:18:47Z")
It’s so nice to find this board and find out there are others with the same problem…is there a name for it? I did ask my dentist and he had no idea what I was talking about. He thought it had something to do with my mouth being dry from sleeping…till I told him I can drink all morning…coffee.juice etc without pain…it’s the first food I eat. It doesn’t matter if it’s citrus or other.it’s the first food in the morning. Just happy to find this and know my sister and I aren’t alone…we both have it and our Mom did too. ---
**Author:** ![m455ster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@m455ster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/m455ster)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/22 "2017-04-30T08:08:48Z")
its 2017 and still, i feel the pain 🙂 every 1st goddamn bite ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/23 "2017-05-01T19:56:29Z")
How funny! I was just telling my husband about that happening to me. He looked at me like I was nuts. It happens to me with dry roasted peanuts or honey roasted peanuts. All I have to do is pick up the jar and start opening it and I get the pain. I can’t think of any other food it happens with. Crazy ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/24 "2017-05-02T13:25:19Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > My guess was that something happening in the salivary glands, and there was some sort of Pavlovian trigger. What else would explain why it happened before eating? But there are many foods that I like more than chocolate, so that part really stumps me. Could it be a subconscious reaction to the scent? It may be that pavlovic conditioning is stronger when your deep subconscious part of the brain is addicted to chocolate. You might consciously choose something else, but theres part of your brain salivating for chocolate only. ---
**Author:** ![Gravafish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gravafish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravafish)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/25 "2017-12-15T06:46:56Z")
I get this pain. At first bite, sometimes even just at the thought of certain foods. Chocolate and dill pickles are a sure thing it will hurt. Anything can do it tho. Here’s the thing. I had mumps when I was a kid, on both sides. Back then the test to see if a kid had mumps was to show them a pickle and if their jaw hurt they had it. Seems connected. So how many of you have had mumps? ---
**Author:** ![Sopwithcamel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Sopwithcamel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sopwithcamel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/26 "2018-08-22T19:59:31Z")
Iss called First Bite Syndrome ---
**Author:** ![kaiya2979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9a28c/32.png) [@kaiya2979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiya2979)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/27 "2021-01-22T00:08:54Z")
Me tooo!!! I’ve been wondering about this as well I think it is the salivary glands I think the pain is caused by an abrupt introduction to the nerve signals that are sent to brain after tasting stuff. I tried an experiment to see when and why it happens and it happens when I put food directly in the back of my mouth near the glands. It doesn’t happen if you taste the food with the tip or middle of your tongue first to introduce the the food to your brain and then the glands will slowly release saliva and amylase and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![blabbermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130/28 "2021-01-22T00:16:35Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > sharp and intense pain that lasts from 3-5 seconds, and then goes away. This happens on the first bite, but no subsequent bites …Because your body assumes you’re smart enough not to eat any more bites! Why devote more resources to the pain receptors than necessary? I’m just kidding - I don’t know why we all do this, I eat something and it’s so salty I can’t stand it, and then I taste some more just to be sure. Or it’s too hot but I don’t believe it and I try it again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cheeks-hurt-intensely-on-the-first-and-only-first-bite-of-certain-foods/412130.md?page=1)