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What Can Cause a Swollen Cheek?

What Can Cause a Swollen Cheek?

In case someone has a swollen cheek, the best course of action would be to talk to the doctor. Since there are numerous different reasons that can cause the swelling, you will have a hard time pinpointing the problem by yourself.

Of course, in the majority of cases, swelling is caused by a tooth problem, which might require a visit to the dentist. In case you are looking for a treatment for a root canal in Wheeling to eliminate the swelling, you will feel better in no time. But tooth problems are not the only ones that can cause swelling, and there are many others on the list.

Types of Swelling

Before we go into all the details and possible reasons why someone might experience cheek swelling, we should talk about swelling types. This is important since it will narrow the reason behind a swollen cheek, and it will help you find a suitable treatment.

Is only one side of the face swelling? Does it appear on the inside of the cheek, or is the swelling along the gums? Saying that someone has puffy cheeks would not be enough, and you will need to know more details to determine the cause of the problem.

If the swelling appears out of the blue, it can be quite scary. And it is essential to know what to expect and what to do. Of course, any previous medical condition, procedure, or treatment can be a reason behind it, along with numerous disorders.

The Most Common Swollen Face Causes

To continue the previous explanation, let’s start with one cheek. If a person experiences facial swelling on one side, there are a few possible scenarios. The swelling can be caused by an injury, problems with salivary stones, infection, a tumor, etc. But the most common reason is a tooth abscess.

A tooth abscess is a condition where a pocket of pus appears on the region around the tooth. It is a bacterial infection, and there are several reasons why it might appear. Usually, it is caused by poor hygiene and not taking care of gums and teeth. Dental cavities can easily turn into abscesses, which is why you should work on improving your oral hygiene.

One side of the face can also swell after a dental procedure, especially if we are talking about tooth extraction. The trauma is still quite big during the medical treatment. While the patient might not experience anything thanks to anesthesia, the swelling might appear a day after the extraction.

The inside of the cheek can also swell thanks to a tooth abscess or any other dental problem we mentioned before. Other disorders include Cushing’s syndrome, Sjorgen’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, and others. If the swelling appears along the gums, the problem is usually teeth-related.

Other scenarios include medical emergencies like severe allergic reactions, but seasonal allergies can also be the cause of the swelling. Finally, we should mention mumps — the swelling, in this case, can affect both the cheek and the neck of the person, and the symptoms are quite recognizable.

How to Treat It?

The next question is whether there is a treatment for it. The treatment will depend on the type of swelling and condition of the patient. And it will affect the way the medical professional will approach the problem. Diagnosis is the most important part of the patient since it will determine the procedure that will follow.

The simplest form of swelling is one caused by a minor injury. The patient can use something cold like a bag of ice to apply pressure on the cheek, and it can work as both stress relief and a way to reduce swelling. Massaging the area will improve blood flow, and it will allow the wound to heal faster.

As you are probably aware, swelling caused by teeth problems will need to be solved at the dentist. The idea here is to address the underlying problem. And if the swelling is caused by something like wisdom teeth removal, the only thing left to do is wait for it to pass. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe medication that will ease the pain and reduce swelling.

For lymphadenitis, the patient will often get antibiotics in case the condition is caused by a bacterial infection. In scenarios where someone experiences swelling due to pericoronitis or cellulitis, surgery might be the only solution. Then, a tooth abscess, for example, will be easy to spot by your dentist, and they will tell you all you need to know about the procedure. The list goes on and on. 

What to Do?

If you notice that your cheekbone is swollen, and you don’t know the reason why it happened, the best option is to contact your doctor. As you could have seen earlier, there are so many different things that can cause swelling. Assuming we can eliminate injuries or allergic reactions, you are still left with plenty of options that could only be confirmed by your doctor.

As for those that experience pain, discomfort, or any other symptom that requires medical assistance, the first thing on your mind should be to call 911. The same thing applies to viral infections like mumps, and you should seek medical advice if you don’t know what caused the swelling.

If you do know what caused it, you should follow the procedure your doctor told you. In case of tooth abscess, for example, the dentist will need to treat the underlying condition that caused it in the first place. While cleaning the abscess is one part of the solution, the doctor will still need to check whether the tooth is damaged, and the procedure can include anything from root canal therapy to extraction.

After cleaning the abscess, root canal filling, and the entire procedure, you will be able to heal naturally. Of course, the swelling shouldn’t last as long, but it is usually a clear sign to visit a doctor or a dentist.