Facial swelling can be uncomfortable, and in many cases, associated with pain that makes it difficult to focus at work or breeze through your daily routine. While some underlying causes of swelling can be the result of medical conditions, others can be due to dental problems that require urgent attention. Read on to learn three problems that cause facial swelling, and when to know it’s time to visit your emergency dentist in Leawood.
1. Allergies
Allergies are notorious, especially during the warmer months in Leawood, Kansas. This is because, as the temperature raises, and so long as humidity is lower, pollen can easily travel throughout the air, causing you to sniffle, sneeze, and in some cases, swell up. Other types of allergies, like those caused by eating certain foods or taking specific drugs that you may be allergic to, can also cause facial swelling as a result of your body’s immune response.
2. Tooth Infection
Tooth infections develop when decay has create a path for harmful oral bacteria to enter the inner chamber of the tooth, where a collection of nerves and soft tissues are located, called the pulp. When this occurs, the bacteria can lead to an infection, which causes the pulp to become inflamed and irritated. When left unaddressed, tooth infections can also cause facial swelling, as well as a small pimple-like bump to appear on the gums.
3. Salivary Gland Infection
There are several sets of salivary glands located in your mouth area, including your submandibular gland in your lower jaw area, and your parotid gland near your jaw joints and ear. These two sets of glands are at the highest risk for becoming infected, which is a condition called sialadenitis. When a blockage occurs that affects the duct of the glands, it can lead to chronic inflammation and infection, which can cause facial swelling and lead to an infection that spread to the deeper tissues in the head and neck area.
How to Know It’s Time to Visit Your Emergency Dentist
If you’re experiencing facial swelling in addition to these symptoms, it’s time to pick up the phone and schedule a visit with your emergency dentist:
- Chronic, persistent tooth pain
- Pimple-like bump on the gums
- Inflamed, purple, or bright red gums
- Severe tooth sensitivity
- Fever and/or fatigue
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Pus discharge in the mouth
With timely attention and treatment, you can prevent any infection from spreading. In some cases, this may mean that you will need to get a root canal. Although this outcome can sound daunting, root canals preserve teeth and eliminate toothaches caused by infections by removing the damaged pulp within teeth and reinforcing the tooth with a crown.
About the Author
Dr. Dennis Ayer has been practicing dentistry in Leawood since 1984 and has a passion for providing comprehensive dentistry that helps his patients get the services they need in one convenient location. Offering same-day emergency appointments for patients in pain, Dr. Ayer is committed to helping his community maintain healthy, whole smiles for life. To schedule an urgent visit, call 913-246-3000 or visit Dennis C. Ayer, DDS, LLC’s website.