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What Causes One-sided Swelling On Cheek And Pain In Jaw And Cheek?
Question: Hello,
I have a swollen cheek on the right side. No pain in the teeth, just in the musles around the jaw and cheek. I have a nail biting habit and I grind my teeth (sometimes). What could this be? If it is from overuse due to the nail biting/teeth grinding, then why would it be only on the right side?
Thank you very much in advance.
I have a swollen cheek on the right side. No pain in the teeth, just in the musles around the jaw and cheek. I have a nail biting habit and I grind my teeth (sometimes). What could this be? If it is from overuse due to the nail biting/teeth grinding, then why would it be only on the right side?
Thank you very much in advance.
Brief Answer:
Cellulitis, tooth infection, masseter hypertrophy
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query; I have gone through your query. I have seen image, it seems one side cheek is swollen.
As far as the swelling over the cheek is considered I have two possible reasons.
It can be because of the tooth or gum infection leading to cellulitis (formation of pus). Most of the time, these kind of infection will produce dull pain.
The second possible cause can be because of the massetter muscle hypertrophy secondary to grinding of teeth. This can occur only on the side which is commonly used to chew food.
Since you are giving history of swelling since three days, I can think of tooth or gum infection.
Nothing to be panic, consult an oral physician and get a radiograph done to confirm the diagnosis. If were your treating doctor, I would have suggested you to take a course of antibiotics like amoxicillin and metronidazole (if you are not allergic).
Later once the diagnosis is confirmed, we can treat accordingly.
I hope my answer will help you, take care.
If any queries are there, reply me back.
Cellulitis, tooth infection, masseter hypertrophy
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query; I have gone through your query. I have seen image, it seems one side cheek is swollen.
As far as the swelling over the cheek is considered I have two possible reasons.
It can be because of the tooth or gum infection leading to cellulitis (formation of pus). Most of the time, these kind of infection will produce dull pain.
The second possible cause can be because of the massetter muscle hypertrophy secondary to grinding of teeth. This can occur only on the side which is commonly used to chew food.
Since you are giving history of swelling since three days, I can think of tooth or gum infection.
Nothing to be panic, consult an oral physician and get a radiograph done to confirm the diagnosis. If were your treating doctor, I would have suggested you to take a course of antibiotics like amoxicillin and metronidazole (if you are not allergic).
Later once the diagnosis is confirmed, we can treat accordingly.
I hope my answer will help you, take care.
If any queries are there, reply me back.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thank you very much, Doctor. I am planning to g to visit a doctors office soon but I am in another country and the language barrier is challenging.
I have a feeling it is a masseter hypertrophybecause i have no tooth symptoms. I also had this haopen once before, both after a long period of grinding my teeth, eating snacks and biting my nails.
If it is massecter hypertrophy, what can be a curefor that? To make the swelling go down? Ibuprofen doesnt seem to help. Will it go down by itself over time?
Thank you very much.
I have a feeling it is a masseter hypertrophybecause i have no tooth symptoms. I also had this haopen once before, both after a long period of grinding my teeth, eating snacks and biting my nails.
If it is massecter hypertrophy, what can be a curefor that? To make the swelling go down? Ibuprofen doesnt seem to help. Will it go down by itself over time?
Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
Get Ultrasound done to confirm the diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your reply.
The diagnosis has to be confirmed first. So get an ultrasound scanning done to confirm the diagnosis. If it is a masseter muscle hypertrophy, then you can get it treated surgically. But it is harmless it will not trouble you in any way other than appearance.
You can start using both the side of your jaw to chew. Do not grind or clench your teeth. Once you come back to your native place you can get it treated since it is not an emergency issue.
Ibuprofen or other medicines will not work.
The other reason for the swelling can be a tooth infection because hypertrophy of the muscle will not come suddenly or it will not reduce within a short period.
So consult an oral physician and take opinion and let me know the diagnosis.
I hope my answer will help you.
Take care
Get Ultrasound done to confirm the diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your reply.
The diagnosis has to be confirmed first. So get an ultrasound scanning done to confirm the diagnosis. If it is a masseter muscle hypertrophy, then you can get it treated surgically. But it is harmless it will not trouble you in any way other than appearance.
You can start using both the side of your jaw to chew. Do not grind or clench your teeth. Once you come back to your native place you can get it treated since it is not an emergency issue.
Ibuprofen or other medicines will not work.
The other reason for the swelling can be a tooth infection because hypertrophy of the muscle will not come suddenly or it will not reduce within a short period.
So consult an oral physician and take opinion and let me know the diagnosis.
I hope my answer will help you.
Take care
Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
Dr. Mahesh Kumar T S
Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Practicing since :2007
Answered : 3377 Questions
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