Swollen Face? When It Becomes an Emergency

Swollen Face? When It Becomes an Emergency

Waking up to a swollen face can be really scary. You look in the mirror and one side of your face is all puffy. Maybe you had a discomfort the day before but now it is really noticeable.

You might want to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. When your gums or face are swollen it usually means something is wrong inside your mouth.

Most of the time your body is fighting an infection. This infection needs to be taken care of soon as possible.

What causes swelling in the gums or face?

Well it is usually because of bacteria in your mouth.

When you have problems the infection starts in a tooth or in the gums around it. This can happen if you have cavities that have not been filled or if you have cracks in your teeth or if you have gum problems that have been going on for a time. When bacteria get into these areas they start to multiply. Your body gets inflamed.

That is when you start to notice that your face is puffy and it might be sore and sometimes it even hurts.

At first the swelling might just be in your gums. If the infection gets worse, it can spread to your cheek or your jaw or even down to your neck.

There are reasons why your face or gums might be swollen. Some of these reasons are more serious than others:

1. Infection inside a tooth that has formed a pocket of pus
2. Tooth decay that has not been treated for long
3. Gum infections that have gotten worse over time
4. Food particles that are stuck between your teeth and are causing irritation
5. An injury to your mouth or jaw
6. Wisdom teeth that are coming in and are hard to clean

While some of these reasons might not be so bad infections are the ones that need to be taken care of away.

How do you know if it is serious?

Not all swelling is an emergency. There are some signs that you should never ignore.

If you are in a lot of pain or if you are having trouble opening your mouth or if the swelling is getting worse you need to get help away.

Other signs that it is serious include feeling like you have a fever or having trouble swallowing or noticing a taste in your mouth. These symptoms usually mean that the infection is not just in your mouth anymore.

At that point you should not wait to get help.

Why is it bad to ignore it?

Dental infections can spread beyond your mouth.

If you do not take care of them they can get into the tissues around your mouth or even into your jawbone or, into your bloodstream.

That is when a dental problem becomes a health problem.

Even if it starts out small it can get much worse if you ignore it.

What can you do now?

If your face is swollen there are some things you can do to feel a little better.

You can rinse your mouth with salt water to help soothe the area. You can also put a compress on your cheek to help reduce the swelling. It is an idea to avoid chewing on the side that is swollen and to stick to soft foods.

Drinking plenty of water can also help your body while it is fighting the infection.

You need to remember that these are just temporary solutions. They do not fix the problem.

Why do you need to see a dentist?

The only way to really fix the problem is to figure out what is causing it.

A dentist can look at your mouth. Decide what to do. They might need to clean out the area or drain out any pus that has built up or treat the tooth that is infected. In some cases, they might need to do a root canal or even remove the tooth.

The goal is always to get rid of the infection and prevent it from spreading.

When should you get help away?

If the swelling is getting worse or if it is very painful or if it is making it hard for you to eat or speak or breathe you should not wait.

If you have a fever or if you are having trouble swallowing you need to get help away. If you wait it can get much worse.

Conclusion

Swelling in your face or gums is not something to ignore. Even if it starts out small it can become a problem if you do not take care of it.

If you notice something is wrong, you should get it checked out. Most dental problems can be fixed if you take care of them early. If you ignore them they can become much bigger problems.

If something does not feel right you should get it checked out. Taking care of your teeth is important. So is taking care of your overall health.

Your smile is important. So is your well-being. Getting help when you need it can make all the difference.

Clinic Name: Dentique Dental Clinic Wakad

Contact Number: +91 79039 45606

Email: dentique.smiles@gmail.com

Address 1: Shop no.8, Palash Plus, Pink city Road opposite Gold’s Gym, Wakad Pune, Maharashtra – 411057

Address 2: Ground Floor, Besides Sujata Mastani, Shop no.7, Sonigara Laurel, Mankar Chowk Rd, Kaspate Wasti, Wakad, Pune, Maharashtra – 411057