Often young children are not able to clearly explain what hurts them. But still they can show the place where the discomfort occurs. If the childâs cheek hurts, this may be due to various ailments. Do not ignore this symptom. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. Also, a specialist will prescribe treatment.
Causes
A childâs cheek hurts for various reasons. Often this is due to:
- allergic to products or body care products;
- teething;
- a piece of food that penetrated the gum pocket and caused suppuration;
- stomatitis;
- deep caries;
- pulpitis;
- periodontal disease;
- periodontitis;
- gingivitis;
- not completely removed nerve in the dental unit;
- inflammation of the facial nerve or lymph node;
- trauma that occurred after an impact or bite of the cheek from the inside;
- sinusitis;
- mumps;
- temporal tendonitis;
- temporomandibular joint disease;
- swelling
- insect bite.
Any of these reasons cause inconvenience and discomfort. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor on time, who will prescribe treatment. This will safely and quickly eliminate the discomfort.
Why does a child's cheek hurt? It is difficult to establish it yourself. But if there is such a symptom, adults need to take urgent measures to alleviate the condition.
Diseases of the teeth and gums
When examining the children's mouth, you need to pay attention to the teeth and gums. Often their pathologies lead to pain in this place. Black holes in tooth enamel may be noticeable. Even though they are small. Caries develops deep inside, and on the surface it will be little noticeable. This process develops from dietary fiber stuck between the teeth and causing inflammation of the gum papilla. Hard food often stays between teeth and gums, leading to putrefactive processes.
Various dental ailments lead to both a violation of the integrity of the teeth and a change in the color of the enamel. If the child has swollen and painful cheeks, then this may be due to this problem. It may also be itching, bad breath, severe redness of the soft tissues. With a flux, a bubble with pus is observed.
If a child has a tooth filled or removed, but the pain occurs for more than 2-3 days, most likely the procedure was performed with violations. This leads to pathologies in the gum. If the child has a cheek ache and a fever, as well as a headache, then there is a risk of periostitis. The presence of pain during swallowing food with edema indicates inflammation of the tonsils. So that diseases of the teeth and gums are not the cause of pain, they must be treated in a timely manner. This will avoid complications.
Injuries
When a childâs cheek hurts, it may be due to injury to the oral mucosa or teeth. If no damage was detected from the outside, it is possible that the cheek from the inside about the dentition was damaged during the impact. Bruising, abrasions, swelling are noticeable on the inside. And the mucous membrane, gums can be scratched. Then the wounds will be noticeable. Injury is considered a common cause of pain, especially if the child is very active.
It also happens that due to the impact, a chunk of enamel breaks off, and a tooth leg breaks. In the latter situation, the tooth may be whole, but a little loose. These damages are found during inspection. Itâs impossible to get rid of the problem yourself, you need the help of a dentist. If the cheek does not only hurt the child inside, but dizziness and nausea are observed, an ambulance must be urgently called. Ambulance is also necessary in the presence of severe bleeding in the mouth.
Infection
If the child has a swollen cheek, and the tooth does not hurt, then the cause may be fungi, bacteria and viruses. Because of them, stomatitis appears, in which painful sores appear in the mouth. Soft tissue is also inflamed. The infection enters the mouth with unwashed hands, toys, due to dirty dishes. Its activation occurs with seasonal weakening of the immune system or colds. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the health of the baby so that no unpleasant symptoms appear.
If there is swelling not only on the cheek, but also on the neck, as well as dry mouth, high temperature (38-39 degrees), then there is a risk of mumps or mumps. Due to pathological infections, sinusitis may occur, suggesting inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. Pain from this ailment can be given to the tissues of the cheeks, nasal congestion is observed, and general malaise may increase by night.
Teething
If the child has a cheek from the inside, then this may be a confirmation of teething. In this process, gum swelling appears, and maybe heat. Through the translucent gingival tissue, whitish dental units, bluish hematomas that appear during eruption, can be seen breaking up. Children get whims, they sleep poorly and refuse to eat.
Painful sensations appear when sharp fangs or molars with a wide chewing surface grow. Cheek pain sometimes occurs in older children, especially when replacing primary teeth with molars. This phenomenon occurs in almost all children. Parents need to monitor the condition of the child, and if unpleasant symptoms appear, seek medical help.
Severe pain
Pain can be both moderate and severe. In any case, this is inconvenient, so it is best to get rid of them as soon as possible. If the pain is severe, then this may be due to:
- trigeminal neuralgia;
- temporal tendonitis;
- Ernst's syndrome.
With inflammation of the buccal nerve, there is a loss of motion of the painful cheek. Much depends on the children themselves and their parents. It is important to devote time to hygiene and follow preventative measures.
When contacting a doctor, he first examines the oral cavity. Also, a specialist asks about complaints, symptoms. Depending on the problem, a referral to a specific specialist may be provided.
Help
When a child has a cheek ache, what should I do? If you have not yet been examined by a doctor, without a diagnosis and the appointment of therapy, help should be done carefully. Do not allow the aggravation of pathology. And for this it is forbidden:
- to arbitrarily take antibiotics and other drugs that are sold in pharmacies only according to medical prescriptions;
- perform warming up with lamps and warm compresses;
- give your child sweets and solid foods;
- to feed with cold or hot products, drink sweet, sour, effervescent drinks.
First aid can be performed using pharmacy medicines and alternative methods. It will be possible to improve the condition of the child with them, but then you still need to visit a doctor.
Who to contact?
For pain and swelling of the cheeks, you should consult a dentist. If the cause of this phenomenon is not dental, then a referral to other specialists will be provided:
- pediatrician if a bacterial and viral infection is detected.
- neurologist with neurological ailments;
- ENT, when the ear and salivary glands are inflamed;
- nephrologist if kidney pathology is detected;
- traumatologist or maxillofacial surgeon with a trauma to the lower jaw.
Medicines
If the childâs cheek is sore from the inside, then painkillers with ibuprofen (Ibuprofen, Nurofen), paracetamol (Kalpol, Panadol), which still allow you to relieve heat during teething, help.
Older children (from 12 years old) are given medications with nimesulide (Nimesil, Nimegesic). The use of "adult" painkillers ("Analgin", "Ketanov") is allowed from the age of 14. But you still need to read the instructions for the drugs. And keep in mind that giving your child painkillers without consulting a doctor for more than 3 days is considered dangerous.
During the treatment of wounds in the mouth, ulcers, inflammations, gels, ointments, oils, which have an antiseptic effect, stimulate recovery. This is âAcyclovirâ, âHolisalâ, âCarotolinâ. Sprays are used - âIngaliptâ, âMiramistinâ, as well as balms and solutions intended for rinsing - âRotokanâ, âVinylinâ, âChlorhexidineâ. But keep in mind that these are only temporary measures that are not able to replace professional assistance. Even if it seems that the disease has receded, you still need to see a doctor.
ethnoscience
If a child of 5 years old has a cheek ache, traditional medicine can relieve the condition. Effective are cold compresses, in which ice must be wrapped in tissue and applied to the affected area. This allows you to remove discomfort. Instead of ice, you can apply half of the raw potatoes with a slice to the skin.
Antiseptic rinses help with a solution of baking soda. For this, 1 tsp. The product is dissolved in a glass of warm boiled water. Herbal infusions based on chamomile, calendula, green or black tea, oak bark and other herbal preparations have anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Cooking is done by brewing 2-3 tbsp. l raw materials a liter of boiling water.
Dentists Recommendations
Dentists can advise you to follow simple rules to prevent cheek pain:
- Do not use hot compresses.
- Do not self-medicate.
- When the cheek swells, you should not disturb it. At this time, you should not eat very hot or cold food, nuts, spicy dishes, butterscotch.
- Antibiotics should not be prescribed on their own.
Do not delay with treatment, especially if a tumor has appeared. If it increases, then this is considered a sign of the development of a purulent process in the cheek. In the absence of professional assistance can only aggravate the situation.
Prevention
So that the child does not have a cheek ache, it is necessary to take care of prevention. It is necessary to adhere to simple hygiene rules. It is important to brush your teeth regularly (as soon as they appear). At first, this is done not with a brush, but with a finger with gauze wound around it. It is necessary to teach a child to rinse his mouth with boiled water after each meal. From 6 years, you can perform flossing.
At least 2 times a week, you must examine the mouth of the child. If particles of food that are stuck between the teeth are found, they must be removed with a toothpick. Children's menu should consist of apples, carrots, crackers. Calcium-rich dairy products and vitamin greens are still needed. This is necessary to strengthen the dental tissue. The child should use clean water, as it is the basis for the production of saliva washing the mouth. And sweets are better to exclude.
Do not allow hypothermia of the face and ears of the child. In very cold weather, it is better not to walk. It is impossible to prevent the cold of the facial nerve, the appearance of colds, sinusitis, mumps. Twice a year you need to visit the dentist (even if there are no complaints).