TL;DR
- Swelling with fever, pain, or difficulty swallowing requires urgent care
- Call the ER if swelling affects breathing or swallowing
- Antibiotics alone aren’t definitive—underlying dental treatment is needed
- Act quickly to prevent serious complications
Facial or jaw swelling often indicates infection from a tooth or gum source. Some cases are mild, but others progress rapidly and can threaten your airway. Here’s how to respond safely.
1. Red Flags That Need Immediate Help
- Swelling that’s rapidly increasing
- Fever, chills, or malaise
- Difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth
- Trouble breathing (go to the ER now)
- Severe, throbbing pain
2. ER vs Emergency Dentist
- Go to the ER now if breathing or swallowing is affected, or swelling is severe with fever.
- Go to an emergency dentist if you have swelling and dental pain but no airway compromise. You may still receive antibiotics and pain control while definitive dental treatment addresses the source.
3. What to Do Right Away
- Take over‑the‑counter pain medication as directed.
- Apply a cold compress on the outside of the cheek (15–20 minutes on/off).
- Do not apply heat—this can worsen swelling.
- Do not attempt to drain the swelling yourself.
4. What Treatment Looks Like
- ER: Stabilization, pain control, IV/PO antibiotics when indicated, surgical evaluation if severe.
- Dentist: Identify the source (tooth/gum), drainage when necessary, and definitive care (root canal, periodontal therapy, or extraction). Antibiotics are supportive—not curative—without dental treatment.
5. Prevention & Aftercare
- Complete all prescribed medications.
- Follow up for definitive dental treatment.
- Maintain regular dental checkups to catch infections early.
Conclusion
Swelling is a warning sign—act quickly. If breathing or swallowing is affected, go to the ER. Otherwise, see an emergency dentist urgently for drainage and definitive treatment to stop the infection at its source.
