Just as the name suggests, a swollen jaw indicates that a portion of your lower mouth, called the jawbone, is harmed or sickened in some way. It can cause significant pain. They can occur for various reasons, yet some causes are more serious than others. If you are suffering from a swollen jaw, you are not alone. In fact, a recent study showed that TMD jaw pain is self-reported by about 30% of the population based on a recent study in Quebec.
Regardless of the reason that you are experiencing a swollen jaw, there are treatment options for you. Instead of spending days full of discomfort, talking to a dentist about how to cure your pain is a much more effective way to spend your time. For more information about swollen jaw treatment and what causes swollen jaws, keep reading to learn more.
Symptoms of a Swollen Jaw
There are only a few symptoms associated with having a swollen jaw. When these are experienced either separately or together, a swollen jaw is quite simple to diagnose. First of all, you may have swelling located on one side of your mouth, under the ear, a swollen cheek, or associated with a toothache. Additionally, you may experience pain when you open your mouth, chew, or talk. This comes from repetitive motions on an already sensitive area. The symptoms of a swollen jaw have various causes, as we’ll examine below.
Causes of a Swollen Jaw
Many things in life can cause jaw swelling. Some of the most common causes include trauma and infection. First, if you fall or get hit in the face, your jaw will likely experience swelling. This may also be associated with bruising of the face. If you fell or took a hard blow and are now experiencing symptoms of a swollen jaw, visiting the dentist is a must since you may have a broken or dislocated jaw.
The second cause of jaw pain and swelling is seen through either viral or bacterial infections.
These invade the lymph nodes in your neck and lead to swelling and discomfort. With infections, you may also experience a fever, headache, sore throat, or a combination of the three. Some fewer common causes of a swollen jaw include but are not limited to having a tooth abscess if you just received a tooth extraction or an issue within your salivary glands. Regardless of what the cause of your swelling is, there is a treatment option for you!
Treatment Options
Depending on what the cause of your jaw swelling is, there are different treatment options that your dentist may recommend. For example, if your condition is not too severe, such as waking up from pain after sleeping in an odd position, there are home remedies to treatment. These include applying a cold compress to the swollen area, eating soft foods to avoid jaw movement, and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. In other circumstances, a dentist visit may be necessary.
You’d require professional bandaging or wiring if you have fallen or got hit and broke your jaw. Alternatively, if your pain were caused by an infection, you’d need antibiotics to fight them. This is also provided by a licensed dentist. No matter what the cause of your jaw swelling is, a great dentist can help you relieve your inconvenient symptoms.
When to See a Dentist
Contact your dentist for further information and treatment if you’re concerned with a swollen jaw. If you’re currently in between dentists and are looking for a great one in the Calgary area, Inglewood Family Dental can help! Led by Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh and our caring team, we offer a complimentary consultation for new patients and offer extended evening and weekend hours if you are experiencing jaw pain that can’t wait.
This means that you can come in, and we can discuss the concerns you have without proceeding with a treatment plan. You will be charged only after we decide on a treatment plan together and begin the process. Swollen jaws can be frustrating and difficult to ease, so be sure to contact us today to set up your dental consultation!
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