A swollen cheek caused by a tooth: how to remove the swelling, what to do if it hurts

Causes of the pathological condition

There are many reasons that lead to a swelling of the cheek from a tooth. Among them are:

Toothache. A tooth hurts due to caries or pulpitis. Swelling may also occur after the element is removed. With proper treatment, the symptom goes away on its own within 2-3 days.
Inflammation of the salivary glands and ducts. The cheek swells due to improper oral care or infection with viral and infectious pathogens.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. Swelling spreads to other areas of the face - eyes and cheeks.
Damage to the lymphatic system. This factor is the most common cause of cheek swelling without tooth pain.
Neuritis of the facial nerves. Pathology develops due to hypothermia of the body. Additionally, the problem is accompanied by impaired facial expressions and pain when talking and eating.
Mumps is a viral disease that leads to damage to the salivary glands. One of the symptoms of mumps is swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes and cheeks. Swelling can manifest itself both unilaterally and bilaterally.
Infectious mononucleosis. In terms of symptoms, the disease is similar to a sore throat and occurs in an acute form.
Diphtheria. Occurs due to damage to the body by the Loeffler bacterium. Diphtheria is accompanied by the appearance of white plaque on the tonsils and fever. Antibiotic therapy does not give a positive result in treatment.
Traumatic injuries to the soft tissues of the cheek. The healing period after injuries takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Allergic reactions. There are situations when the cheek is swollen due to individual intolerance to food or oral hygiene products. You can get rid of the problem only by eliminating the provoking factor.

Associated symptoms

The symptoms that accompany cheek swelling are directly related to the main cause of the swelling. Some of the most well-known symptoms associated with swollen cheeks include:

hives;
a sore throat;
toothache;
addition of infection;
rash;
redness;
seals;
oily, itchy or dry skin;
painful sensations;
temperature increase;
itching in the eyes;
sneezing;
labored breathing;
paresthesia of the jaw and cheek;
swelling of the face, tongue or lips.

To make a full diagnosis, proper treatment, and reduce swelling of the cheeks, it is necessary to find out the causes of the symptoms. The most likely causes of swelling:

Dental problems

A swollen cheek due to problems with teeth and gums is a fairly common situation. Diseases of the teeth and oral cavity often lead to swelling. Among them:

toothache;
tooth abscess;
affected 3rd molar (wisdom tooth);
tooth decay or;
tooth infection;
removal of a tooth.

Poor oral hygiene and consumption of sugary foods can lead to the destruction of tooth enamel.

Bacteria that settle on tooth enamel feed on sugar and produce acid, which destroys this enamel, leading to tooth damage.

Wisdom tooth

Wisdom teeth are also often the cause of cheek swelling due to their location. Infection, abscess, trauma (filling or broken tooth) can often lead to a swollen cheek due to wisdom tooth disease.

A swollen cheek due to an abscess is a fairly common occurrence. According to [webmd.com], “an abscess is a painful infection at the root of a tooth,” which usually results in complete destruction of the tooth. Causes of an abscess include trauma (such as a chipped or broken tooth), gum disease, and gingivitis. If a tooth abscess is ignored, the enamel can break down, allowing bacteria to move into the dental pulp and spread to the tooth root and jaw.

Some of the common symptoms of a tooth abscess include fever, bitter taste in the mouth, swollen tonsils, swelling, redness and swelling in the lower and upper jaw area, gum pain, sensitivity to cold or hot foods, pain when eating and chewing.

In case you have a tooth abscess, seek medical help from your dentist and try various home remedies, which we will discuss later, to reduce the pain.

After tooth extraction

Temporary swelling after tooth extraction, especially if the procedure was quite traumatic, is normal. Most often, this situation occurs when a wisdom tooth or other molars are pulled out, since after this a temporary deep wound usually forms. Fortunately, it will drag on in any case, although sometimes it can take a month. The swelling usually goes away after a few hours, or less often, days. For severe pain and swelling, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used during the first days.

But you should be careful and distinguish between normal swelling of the cheek after tooth extraction and after infection in the wound. Although the second, if you follow the basic recommendations, happens extremely rarely.

Read also: What is curettage in dentistry

Toothache

Toothache caused by any of the problems mentioned, including dental abscesses, infection or tooth decay, can also cause the cheek to become enlarged, especially on the side of the diseased tooth. Typically, swelling of the cheeks is accompanied by some pain.

Root canal filling, extraction and cleaning procedures

Dental procedures such as tooth extractions, root canal cleanings, and cosmetic dental surgery cause short-term swelling from the procedures performed. Swelling, pain and discomfort should disappear after a few days.

Trauma, piercing or surgery to the cheek

Facial surgery may be accompanied by short-term swelling. Also, swelling on the face may appear after piercing or injury. When soft tissue is damaged due to a bruise, nose job, puncture, or other injuries, it is normal to experience slight swelling of the cheek. In such cases, the swelling is accompanied by pain, slight bleeding, as well as redness and bruising. The severity of these symptoms is directly related to the size of the affected area. The swelling will subside over time. To help reduce swelling and pain, try a variety of home remedies, such as cold compresses or pain relief medications.

Mumps and swollen parotid glands

Mumps or mumps is another possible cause of swelling on the cheek. Its main symptoms are increased body temperature, fatigue, muscle and headache, lack of appetite, swelling of the cheeks, neck, and then swelling of the salivary glands. Symptoms of mumps begin 16-18 days after infection and can last up to 7-10 days.

Allergic reaction

Individual intolerance to certain foods, pet hair, medications, some components of cosmetics and other substances can provoke an allergic reaction, which can sometimes cause swelling of the cheeks and eyes, nose, face, tongue or lips. Allergic reactions are often accompanied by hives, itching, rash, watery eyes, nasal congestion and other symptoms.

Lymphadenopathy or swollen lymph nodes

Sometimes swelling can appear due to inflammation of the lymph nodes that are located behind the ear. Swollen lymph nodes can be due to dental infection, cancer, and others.

Inflammation of the salivary glands

When the salivary glands, which are located in the cheek, are inflamed, the swelling is located closer to the ear or eye. Swelling of the submandibular and sublingual glands is manifested by swelling of the lower part of the cheek and near the chin.

The cause of swollen salivary glands is most often bacterial or viral infections, which lead to swelling and inflammation. Common causes of swollen salivary glands include HIV, mumps, salivary stones, tumors, Sjögren's syndrome, malnutrition, influenza A, poor hygiene and dehydration.

With sialolithiasis (clogging of the salivary duct with stones), swelling of the cheek may occur.

Before starting treatment for inflamed glands, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis. Only after this the doctor will be able to select the necessary medications.

Swollen cheekbone

Sometimes swelling of the cheeks may occur as a result of swelling of the cheekbone. This can happen due to factors such as:

trauma (for example, from a blow);
sinusitis;
salivary gland infections;
infection or tooth extraction.

In this case, swelling can be in the area of the upper or lower jaw on either side or simultaneously on both. It may be painful when you lie on the affected side.

Bulimia is a psychological disorder associated with sudden changes in food intake, in which a person suffers from bouts of food bingeing (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time), followed by an attempt to get rid of the food consumed (purging), [Wikipedia.org] , by inducing vomiting, exhausting physical activity and taking laxatives.

Uncontrolled fast eating, gastric reflux after eating, usually destroys teeth, causes swelling of the salivary glands and cheeks, [helpguide.org]. Treatment for this condition includes working with a psychologist to develop behavioral changes, taking antidepressants, physiological therapy and stress management courses.

Other reasons:

Cystic acne – Cystic acne on the cheek can lead to swelling, especially on the acne-affected side.
A skin boil or abscess is “a localized infection in the skin that begins with redness.” [Medicinenet.com], lead to the formation of pus under the skin, and resulting swelling.
Neoplasms and Keloids – Keloids are caused by excess scar tissue formation and are usually painless.
Cellulite is a purulent inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, due to which the skin swells and turns red, and a local increase in temperature is also possible.
Sinus swelling in the cheek. Sometimes severe sinusitis, especially maxillary sinusitis, can lead to swelling in the cheeks. This will be accompanied by symptoms such as cheekbone pain, swollen and red cheekbone, nasal discharge and fever.
Side effects of certain medications. Some people have experienced swelling of the cheeks and gums after taking novocaine (Novacaine).
Ingrown hairs
Rosacea (rosacea)
Sebaceous cysts
Seborrhea
Cancer of the salivary glands, skin or mouth
Malnutrition
Hereditary angioedema
Burns
Ulcers on the inside of the cheek

Tumor due to improper treatment

Why else can pathology be observed? Separately, it should be noted the swelling of the cheek, which arose as a result of illiterate therapy. If the cheek is swollen after a complex tooth extraction, then this is a variant of the norm. The symptom disappears on its own after a few days. Typically, such swelling is small in size and does not cause pain to the patient. The situation does not require repeated surgery.

The opposite situation arises if we are talking about an infectious process that has begun after medical care has been provided. Complications are more often observed after the removal of wisdom teeth or a retained element. Such operations cannot be performed without significant damage to soft tissue. Complications arise due to doctor errors or when the patient fails to comply with the dentist’s recommendations during the recovery period.

The impacted tooth is located in the deep tissues of the gums due to incomplete eruption or incorrect location

The gums also swell due to improper sanitation of the diseased tooth. In this case, repeated assistance from a specialist is required, followed by taking medications and local treatment of the affected area. After complex removal of an element, swelling can be observed for up to 2 weeks.

Swelling also often develops due to allergic reactions to painkillers used by the dentist during treatment. In this case, additional symptoms are observed (heavy breathing with whistling, shortness of breath), but the tooth does not hurt. A person requires urgent hospitalization to cleanse the body of the allergen.

Swollen cheek - what to do?

Noticeable swelling of the cheek can occur in just a couple of hours.
The reasons for this manifestation are different. Let's try to figure out what to do if your cheek is swollen. Dental problems

The most common cause of tumors is dental problems. Moreover, most often, unpleasant changes in appearance, accompanied by pain and a feeling of discomfort, arise due to a diseased tooth. The inflammatory process occurring in the gums and periosteum poses a threat not only to human health, but also to human life. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to heat the sore spot! A tooth abscess requires immediate contact with a dentist, who will remove the pus, install drainage and necessarily recommend antibacterial therapy.

In some cases, a dental patient, a few hours after tooth extraction, notices that his cheek is swollen. It should be noted that a slight swelling is a normal physiological phenomenon, because the tissues surrounding the diseased tooth are damaged. It is recommended to rinse the mouth with an antiseptic (Mevalex, Stomatodin, Givalex, etc.) and periodically apply a cold heating pad. If the tumor is pronounced and the pain does not go away, you should seek help from a doctor.

A situation where the cheek is swollen after tooth treatment can also occur. The reason is a violation of filling technology or sanitary and hygienic rules by the dentist. You should definitely consult a doctor, even if the tooth does not hurt. After all, during treatment, the nerve is most often removed, so there may be no pain. Unfortunately, most likely the doctor will have to remove the filling and continue treatment, choosing the appropriate method.

Sometimes, when the integrity of a tooth is damaged and a piece breaks off, the inside of the cheek is injured. What to do when your cheek is swollen from the inside? In this situation, you need to put a cotton swab between it and the tooth and contact a dentist, who will polish the damaged area and, if necessary, put a filling.

A more rare case is that gumboil has developed and the cheek is swollen due to the growth of a wisdom tooth. What should you do about this? You can take analgesics to relieve pain and rinse your mouth with a warm salt solution or antiseptic. While the “wise” tooth is growing, it is advisable to replace the toothbrush, opting for soft bristles.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes

A swelling of the cheek may indicate the spread of infection in the upper respiratory tract and inflammation of the lymph nodes. What to do if your cheek is swollen due to a wind? Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen, can help combat pain and relieve swelling. If inflammation is accompanied by high fever,

You must stay in bed and call a doctor at home. It is impossible to heat inflamed lymph nodes, as tissue melting may occur and sepsis may begin.

Blunt trauma to the cheek or an insect bite can also cause cheek swelling. To get rid of swelling, you can use hot and cold compresses and ointments sold in pharmacies. When bitten, antihistamines are used, for example, Suprastin.

Edema, swelling, and hard growths result from “accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the cheek” [healthgrades.com]. Swelling in the cheek area can vary in severity, painful or not.

Also, the reason for the appearance of swelling determines its location - on one cheek, on both cheeks at once, below or above, outside or inside. Sometimes swelling can affect areas such as the neck, gums, jaws, eyes, lips, salivary glands, face and area around the ear. The problem affects both adults and children.

Symptoms that require urgent help

You should not postpone a visit to the doctor if your cheek is swollen from a tooth. The condition can be fatal.

The list of dangerous signs includes:

Headache after tooth extraction

Unbearable toothaches that appear constantly. The condition indicates that an infection has attached to the surgical field. Severe pain is acceptable only after operations involving cutting out part of the bone tissue. Pain sensations decrease after 1-2 days, otherwise urgently contact the dentist.
Temperature rises to 38 degrees and weakness.
Pain when opening the mouth, swallowing and eating food.
A compaction revealed by palpation of the problem area.
Absence of a blood clot in the socket. A clot does not form due to intensive mouth rinsing on the first day after surgery or other illiterate actions of the patient that provoked a violation of soft tissue regeneration. The condition threatens the occurrence of acute symptoms and infection of the maxillofacial tissue.

Also, immediate consultation with a doctor is required in cases where the tumor is rapidly growing in size.

Due to the lack of blood clot formation, infectious complications develop after a tooth has been removed (pulled out).

Swelling of the jaw

Swelling of the cheek, jaw, and neck area can be caused by any of the causes of cheek swelling discussed above. It may be accompanied by pain or numbness depending on the underlying cause of the swelling.

Common causes include blunt force trauma, dental surgery, oral surgery, corrective jaw surgery, chin surgery, dental problems, salivary gland infections, and others. They can affect both the cheeks and jaw.

First aid measures

What can you do at home to reduce the intensity of the symptoms? If the gums are swollen, but the condition is not accompanied by a general deterioration in the condition: a rise in temperature and signs of intoxication, then first aid measures can be carried out.

How to remove a tumor? First aid includes the use of various herbal remedies to rinse the mouth. For this purpose, chamomile, St. John's wort, and oak root are used. Herbs will relieve inflammation and stop the proliferation of pathogenic flora in the mouth. The procedure is performed every 2 hours for 1-2 minutes.

Instead of herbal decoctions, antiseptic drugs are used - Stomatodin, Chlorophyllipt. The drugs are diluted with warm water and rinsed with them every 3-4 hours.

Chlorophyllipt is used in dentistry for exacerbation of infectious diseases

What should not be done if the gum area is swollen? If a tumor occurs, they refuse to heat the problem area. This leads to a worsening of the situation and further spread of the pathological process.

If your tooth hurts badly and your cheek is swollen, take anti-inflammatory drugs - Nise, Nurofen, etc. Analgesics – Solpadeine and Ketanol – can help relieve swelling well. The latter remedy has many side effects, but can cope with any type of pain. If a child’s cheek is swollen, then preference is given to anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of syrup.

Other causes of cheek swelling

Patients often have questions about why the cheek is swollen, but the tooth does not hurt? The gums are swollen, the inside of the cheek is swollen - this may indicate the development of gumboil or the eruption of a wisdom tooth. In such a situation, analgesic medications are prescribed to neutralize pain. You will need to rinse your mouth. You can use an antiseptic or warm saline solution for this purpose. As your wisdom tooth grows, replace your hard-bristled toothbrush with a softer one.

The cheek may also become swollen after filling a tooth. This means that during the treatment, sanitary and hygienic standards were violated or the filling technology was carried out incorrectly. You still need to see a dentist, even if your cheek is swollen, but your teeth don’t hurt. Swelling of the cheek may not even be accompanied by pain, since the dental nerve has been removed.

If the abscess continues, the filling will have to be removed and treated again.

Treatment of pathology

What to do if there is a problem? After providing emergency assistance, the patient should consult a doctor. The specialist performs the necessary manipulations and then gives the patient recommendations regarding caring for the damaged area at home. These include mouth rinsing, physiotherapeutic procedures and local treatment of the soft tissues of the mouth. Providing emergency assistance for a cheek tumor is prohibited for children; women during pregnancy; adults who suffer from immunodeficiency; persons prone to allergic reactions.

General antibacterial drugs

Ideally, a suitable medication is prescribed after taking a swab from the mouth and identifying the causative agent of the problem. But if the situation is urgent, then to quickly eliminate the flux, the patient is prescribed new generation antibiotics. The action of the tablets is aimed at destroying and slowing down the spread of bacteria. For pathology use: Biseptol, Ampiox, Amoxiclav, Lincomycin.

Ointments

In addition to antibiotic therapy, topical medications are used. The use of products is permissible only with the permission of the dentist, since self-prescription of ointments rarely leads to recovery.

To reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process, Levomekol containing metaluracil and chloramphenicol is prescribed. Levomekol is rubbed into damaged membranes of the oral cavity 3-4 times a day. After treatment, you should not eat or drink water for 1 hour.

List of ointments that are used if a child’s cheek is swollen

To quickly get rid of the symptoms of swelling, you can use antimicrobial ointments in combination, for example, Streptomycin and Ichthyol. The drugs are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the damaged gum. Another popular drug of combined action is Metrogyl Denta.

Means for rinsing procedures

How to rinse the problem area? To quickly get rid of the remaining pus after surgery, and to prevent the development of swelling of the cheeks, use folk and household rinses. Several recipes are suitable for this purpose:

Soda solution: 1 tsp. the main ingredient is dissolved in 100 warm water. Mouth baths are done at least 4 times a day.
Miramistin. The drug is sold ready-made and does not require prior dilution. To treat foci of infection, take 20 ml of liquid into the mouth and rinse the mouth for 1 minute. After this, the liquid is spat out.
Propolis solution. The drug is purchased at the pharmacy and diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. The product is used after meals.
A mixture of St. John's wort, oak bark and sage: take 1 tsp. each ingredient and pour 500 ml of boiling water. The product is infused in a tightly closed container for 6 minutes. After filtering, the solution is used 3 times a day to relieve gum inflammation.
A blend of green tea and sage. The dry collection is brewed with 500 ml of boiling water with the addition of 1 tsp. salt. The solution is recommended to be used warm. Before each procedure, it is advisable to prepare a fresh product.
A mixture of chamomile, birch buds and calendula: the components are mixed in equal proportions and diluted with 1 liter of water. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes, and then left to cool completely.

It is important to refuse the procedure in the first 24 hours after the intervention so as not to wash out the clot.

Home treatments

While the patient is waiting to visit the doctor, he can alleviate his condition by using some home remedies. Among them are:

an aqueous solution of salt and baking soda to rinse your mouth several times a day;
decoctions of medicinal herbs such as sage and chamomile, which are used to rinse the mouth;
a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide half and half with water also helps in reducing swelling;
a cold compress of ice on the outside of the cheek, it is important not to chill the tooth.

If after 24 hours the above methods have not had any effect, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible.

The inflammatory process left untreated can ultimately cause blood poisoning and painful death.

How to remove swelling from the cheek due to tooth disease?

Most people are familiar with toothache. Most often, the patient seeks help immediately after the appearance of unpleasant pain or when swelling appears. In the latter case, you should know what to do, what actions will help relieve swelling. Experts emphasize that in this case you should not self-medicate. The best option is to visit a dentist.

Prevention

The main procedure for preventing cheek swelling is timely treatment of caries and other dental problems.

Simple recommendations will also help maintain oral health:

Regular dental care. Dentists advise using more than just a brush and paste. To effectively clean your mouth from plaque, you can use dental floss, floss and irrigators. You should also not forget about cleaning your tongue, since most of the bacterial flora is concentrated there.
Pay attention to the condition of your gums. If these structures are loose and bleeding, they turn to a specialist - a periodontist.
Visit your dentist at least once every 6 months for a diagnostic examination and professional teeth cleaning.
Change your eating habits. Carbonated drinks, sweets and alcohol have a detrimental effect on the condition of teeth and enamel. To maintain dental health, it is better to consume fermented milk products, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Swelling of the cheek should not be ignored; in addition to aesthetic problems, the condition can threaten human health. More often, the problem develops against the background of developing caries and improperly performed dental work. If the inflammation is not accompanied by bleeding, fever and other dangerous signs, then emergency measures are taken at home, and then see a dentist. Preventive methods regarding cheek swelling are simple and accessible to every person. Their implementation will minimize the frequency of visits to the dentist.

Swelling of the cheeks and gums

Swelling of the cheeks and gums can be caused by any of the reasons mentioned.

In addition, gum problems may be associated with gingivitis, teething syndrome, herpetic stomatitis, parulis, periodontal disease, malnutrition, ill-fitting dentures, and viral or fungal infections. It is also known that pericorinitis (inflammation of the soft tissue of the gums) leads to swelling of the gums and cheeks.

With this type of swelling, the affected area may be numb and painful when chewing. To reduce swelling, you can try applying a cold compress, rinsing with a saline solution, and using antifungal medications.