A tooth can hurt for a few different reasons, but when that toothache is followed by a swollen cheek or face, it is understandable to become concerned. You may wake up and notice that one side of your face looks puffier than usual, your cheek feels tender, or the swelling seems to be getting worse as the day goes on. You may also be wondering whether you should wait and see if it settles or call a dentist straight away.
In most cases, facial swelling alongside tooth pain is not something to simply ignore. It can happen when a tooth has become badly decayed or infected, when an abscess has developed, or when there is a problem with the gums or a wisdom tooth. The swelling may start around the tooth and gradually become noticeable in the cheek, jaw or side of the face.
The difficult part is that tooth pain does not always tell you how serious the underlying problem is. A tooth that was only mildly uncomfortable yesterday can become extremely painful overnight. Sometimes the pain can even ease while the swelling remains, which can give you a false sense that the problem is improving.
That is why toothache with facial swelling deserves a proper dental assessment, particularly if the swelling is increasing or you also have fever, pain when biting, a bad taste in your mouth or difficulty opening your mouth.
If you are in Port Macquarie, NSW, Hastings Dental Centre can assess the cause of your tooth pain and swelling and discuss the appropriate treatment for your situation.
What does a swollen face from toothache actually mean?
When a tooth hurts, it is tempting to think that the problem is simply a cavity or sensitive tooth. But once swelling appears, there may be more happening beneath the surface.
For example, an infection inside a tooth can spread into the tissues around the tooth. This can cause the gum to become swollen and tender before the swelling becomes visible in the cheek or face.
Other problems can cause a similar combination of pain and swelling, including:
- A dental abscess
- Deep tooth decay
- An infected or damaged tooth
- A cracked tooth
- Gum infection
- An infected wisdom tooth
- Inflammation around a partially erupted wisdom tooth
This is why it is difficult to know from the swelling alone what treatment you need. The same symptom can come from different dental problems.
My cheek is swollen and my tooth hurts. Should I wait?
This is probably one of the first questions people ask when they notice facial swelling.
If the swelling is small and you are otherwise comfortable, you may be tempted to give it another day. But if you already have a toothache, swelling is a reason to arrange a dental assessment rather than simply waiting for it to disappear.
A dental infection can sometimes change quickly. In some cases, the pain may become less noticeable because an abscess has drained, but that does not necessarily mean the original problem has been fixed.
If your face or cheek is becoming more swollen, your toothache is getting worse, or you are developing other symptoms, contact a dentist promptly.
Why does my face swell when I have a toothache?
Think of your tooth as having more going on underneath it than you can see.
A deep cavity can eventually reach the inner part of the tooth, where the nerves and blood supply are located. Once bacteria reach this area, infection can develop. If the infection moves into the surrounding tissues, swelling can appear.
This is one reason a swollen face because of toothache should not be treated as just another type of tooth sensitivity.
You may notice the swelling:
- Around one tooth
- Along the gum
- In one cheek
- Around the jaw
- Under the jaw
- On one side of your face
The location and severity of the swelling can provide clues, but a dentist needs to examine the area to determine what is actually causing it.
What if my swollen cheek doesn’t hurt much anymore?
This can be confusing.
You might have had a painful tooth all night, only to wake up and notice that the pain has eased slightly but your cheek is now swollen.
It can feel like good news because the tooth isn’t hurting as much.
It isn’t necessarily.
A reduction in pain does not automatically mean the infection or dental problem has gone away. An abscess can sometimes drain, changing the pressure and therefore the amount of pain you feel, while the underlying problem remains.
If you have gone from toothache to toothache plus facial swelling, it is worth having the tooth checked even if the pain has temporarily settled.
When does toothache swelling become an emergency?
Not every toothache requires an emergency appointment. But toothache accompanied by noticeable facial or cheek swelling deserves prompt attention.
You should contact a dentist urgently if you have:
- A swollen face or cheek
- Severe or increasing toothache
- Swollen gums around a painful tooth
- Pus or a bad taste in your mouth
- Fever
- Pain when biting
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- A broken or badly damaged tooth
- Swelling that is spreading
And there is an important distinction here.
If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, significant swelling of the tongue or neck, or swelling that is affecting the area around your eye, seek emergency medical attention rather than waiting for a routine dental appointment.
Don’t just search for “how to stop toothache swelling”
When your face is swollen, it is natural to search for something you can do at home to make it go down.
A cold compress may provide temporary relief. Pain relief may also help you manage discomfort when it is suitable for you. But these steps do not identify or remove the cause of the swelling.
If the problem is an infected tooth, for example, the tooth may still need dental treatment.
So rather than focusing only on “how to reduce toothache swelling”, the more important question is:
What is causing the swelling in the first place?
That is where a dental examination becomes important.
What treatment might I need?
There is no single treatment for toothache swelling because the cause matters.
After examining your tooth and gums, your dentist may recommend treatment such as:
A filling
If decay has damaged the tooth but it can still be restored.
Root canal treatment
If infection has reached the inner part of a tooth and the tooth can be treated and retained.
Treatment for a gum infection
If the swelling is coming from the gum rather than the tooth itself.
Wisdom tooth treatment
If an impacted or partially erupted wisdom tooth is causing inflammation or infection.
Extraction
If a tooth is severely damaged or cannot be predictably restored.
The aim is not simply to make the swelling disappear for a few days. The dentist needs to determine what is causing it and discuss the appropriate treatment.
Swollen Face Due to Toothache in Port Macquarie NSW
If you’re sitting at home with a painful tooth and one side of your face has started to swell, it can be difficult to know what to do next.
You don’t necessarily know whether you’re dealing with a simple dental problem, an infection, an abscess or something related to a wisdom tooth. You also shouldn’t have to diagnose the problem yourself from an internet search.
If you are in Port Macquarie NSW, Hastings Dental Centre can assess your toothache, swelling and other symptoms and explain the available treatment options.
Hastings Dental Centre
1/62 William Street
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Phone: (02) 6583 7211
Have toothache and a swollen face?
Call Hastings Dental Centre to discuss your dental emergency and arrange an assessment.
