One of the symptoms that often accompanies toothache is swollen cheeks. Apart from causing pain and discomfort, changes in facial shape can also reduce self-confidence.
The good news is, there are a number of ways to deflate swollen cheeks caused by toothache that you can do. For more details, see the complete information below.
Why do cheeks swell when you have a toothache?
Swollen cheeks during toothache can occur when a tooth has a serious cavity and is not treated immediately, resulting in an abscess forming at the tip of the tooth root. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket full of bacteria.
When the infection is very severe, the tooth abscess can get bigger and the bacteria present cause the tissue around the cavity to become inflamed until it swells.
When a cavity in the tooth causes swelling in the cheek, other symptoms such as severe pain that spreads to the jaw, ears and even the head can also be felt. Teeth usually become more sensitive to hot, cold or sweet foods.
How to get rid of swollen cheeks due to toothache
To reduce the discomfort you feel, there are five ways to deflate swollen cheeks caused by toothache that you can do:
1. Gargle with salt water
Gargling with salt water is a natural way to relieve toothache that is safe to do. Salt water can act as a natural antiseptic which helps reduce the number of bacteria, so that inflammation can gradually decrease.
To make it, mix 1/2 teaspoon of regular table salt with 1/2 cup of warm water. Use the salt water solution to gargle for two minutes slowly. Repeat this method up to three times a day.
2. Cold compress
Cold compresses can be an effective way to relieve swollen cheeks caused by toothache. The cold temperature will help relieve pain and inflammation in the tissue, so that the swelling gradually recovers.
To do this, don’t forget to wrap the ice cubes in a clean towel before applying them to your cheek. Compress for 15 minutes and do it several times a day to help reduce pain and swelling in the cheeks.
3. Take medicine
Swollen cheeks are a sign of infection in a cavity in the tooth. To relieve existing infections and inflammation, doctors will usually prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics that need to be taken before further treatment is carried out. However, taking medication is not the final solution to toothache. The area of the tooth with a cavity still needs to be treated so that the source of infection can be completely removed.
4. Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment is a procedure to remove tooth nerves that have been damaged or dead due to bacterial infection and replace them with special materials. This procedure can help eliminate the infection that causes swollen cheeks while saving the tooth from having to be removed completely. Teeth that have been restored and cared for properly and correctly can last a lifetime.
5. Extract teeth
The final option for treating swollen cheeks due to toothache is to remove the problematic tooth. Tooth extraction is chosen when the tooth can no longer be treated or repaired with other treatments.
When you have a tooth abscess, you still have to see a dentist even if the pain has reduced or disappeared.
The reason is, a tooth abscess will not go away by itself. If the infection causes the tooth nerve to die, the pain may stop because the nerve no longer functions. However, bacteria are still alive and can spread over a period of weeks or months and then damage the tissue around the teeth.
Immediately consult a dentist to get further treatment.
