{"id":153,"date":"2022-10-10T23:37:45","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T23:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drmurrayfairfaxva.com\/blog\/?p=153"},"modified":"2022-11-15T23:38:20","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T23:38:20","slug":"should-i-see-an-emergency-dentist-about-facial-swelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drmurrayfairfaxva.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/10\/should-i-see-an-emergency-dentist-about-facial-swelling\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I See an Emergency Dentist About Facial Swelling?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When your cheek starts to swell, it can be hard to focus on anything else until the pain subsides. You might wonder what the issue could be. Your dentist will be able to diagnose you at an emergency dental<\/a> appointment, so it\u2019s important to schedule one as quickly as possible. Until then, here\u2019s a quick rundown of two problems that could be to blame for your swollen cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tooth Abscess<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Abscesses are painful, pus-filled lumps. They can sprout in the mouth due to bacterial infection in the gums or root chamber. Abscesses can pop up very quickly, so you may start to feel intense discomfort very suddenly. Of course, swelling in the surrounding area is also a symptom, which is why you might be able to notice the abscess by the inflation of your cheek. An abscess won\u2019t go away on its own, so you should make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salivary Gland Infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Salivary glands are in the cheek and, as you might have guessed, they\u2019re normally responsible for producing saliva. Bacteria can enter these glands, causing them to become infected. This usually happens when the mouth isn\u2019t producing saliva due to some pre-existing issue, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n