Much has been written about the value of health, about the need to take care of yourself and enjoy life as much as possible. But, unfortunately, unforeseen moments happen. It is especially difficult to cope with unexpected changes in the face. In this case, it is necessary to use cosmetics, sometimes in large quantities, which does not look very good externally. And it happens when even cosmetics can’t hide a flaw. This is exactly the case with swelling of the cheeks.
Reasons for swelling of the cheeks
Swelling of the cheeks (the reasons will be discussed in detail below) is a serious sign that something is functioning in an unusual mode in the body, and you need to pay attention to it as soon as possible. Swelling of the cheeks can be different in their appearance, the place of greatest severity and many other factors. Depending on all these signs, it is possible to determine what caused the onset of the inflammatory process in the body. Many reasons are known. It can be some local (local) lesions or general infections.
Local infection may be associated with problems of the gums, teeth, temporomandibular joint and ducts of the salivary glands. A problem with any of these organs causes swelling of one or two cheeks. Since the cheek is formed from fat and muscle tissue, is rich in blood and lymph vessels, it easily responds to infection in adjacent tissues and organs.
With a local infection, a person's body temperature rises, swelling occurs, sometimes with reddening of the skin, and there is constant pain of a pulsating or bursting nature and a sharp pain when touching a sore spot.
Local infections include tooth problems, inflammation of the salivary glands and their ducts, sinusitis, inflammation of the lymph nodes, lymphadenitis in children, neuritis, phlegmon and many more unpleasant diseases.
Swollen cheek after tooth or nerve removal
Dental problems are very dangerous, because they negatively affect the general condition of the whole organism. Caries often causes swelling of the gums, subsequently from which purulent inflammation - flux can develop. In the framework of the norm, swelling of the cheek after tooth extraction is considered. A swelling occurs the day after surgery and gradually descends to the lower jaw. That is, after tooth extraction has occurred, swelling of the cheek is a completely normal phenomenon. Usually within 3 days the painful sensation disappears. In case of suppuration, if there is an increase in pain, the swelling of the cheek does not go away, you need to consult a dentist. In this case, you can not hesitate to go to the hospital. If the cheek swells after tooth extraction, painkillers, antibiotics and various ointments that relieve inflammation are used for treatment.
Dental nerve surgery is also often performed to treat the inflammatory process in the tissues of the oral cavity. Such a disease is called pulpitis. After removing the nerve in the tooth, there is no pain. After a similar manipulation swollen cheek? Teeth, then, need to be dealt with further, because inflammation progresses in them. If you do not treat pulpitis, the disease can go into a more complex degree with the formation of ulcers and subsequent infection of the blood.
Swelling of the cheek with inflammation of the salivary glands
Inflammation can be caused by bacteria or infections entering the oral cavity. Most often, one of the 3 paired glands becomes inflamed:
- The parotid glands are the largest, located below and in front of the auricle. Such a disease in medicine is called mumps.
- The submandibular salivary glands are located under the jaw in the region of the posterior teeth.
- The sublingual salivary glands are located on both sides of the root of the tongue, under the mucous membrane. The ducts through which saliva is released are located everywhere in our oral cavity, so their inflammation can occur anywhere.
Inflammation of the salivary glands, or sialadenitis, has characteristic symptoms: pain at the site of the affected gland, which gives off to other nearby organs, dry mouth, pain when opening the mouth, chewing movements and swallowing food, swelling of the gland and surrounding organs, purulent congestion with the release of pus outward, high body temperature, accompanied by signs of poisoning of the body. This is a very serious disease that requires immediate treatment and medical supervision. In such cases, the swelling of the cheek is very significant, more painful than with problems with the teeth and may be with a fistula on the skin into which the pus collects.
As prevention, the most important thing is to comply with the rules of oral hygiene, high-quality and timely treatment of colds. Depending on the severity of the inflammatory process, different methods of therapy can be undertaken (anti-inflammatory drugs, antibacterials, opening a purulent formation, salivary diet).
Swelling of the cheeks and eyes with sinusitis
Swollen cheeks and eyes? The cause may be sinusitis. This is the edema of the maxillary sinus, which is located in the bone of the upper jaw near the nose. Most often, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed as a protection against infections that have entered the body, but the anatomical location of the sinus is such that nearby tissues are easily affected. Edema of the eyes with sinusitis is very common, since the wall separating the maxillary sinus from the orbit is a film of only 1 mm thick. Together with ocular edema, a swelling of the upper part of the cheek may be pronounced. Characteristic for this phenomenon with sinusitis is a long-lasting inflammation, which gradually increases and also slowly disappears.
If the cheek and eyes are swollen, it is necessary to deal with the treatment of the cause - sinusitis. The primary purpose is antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-allergic and vasoconstrictors. It is important not to abandon treatment so that the disease does not become chronic, which is almost impossible to cure. It is also absolutely pointless to try to get rid of sinusitis yourself, at home. Such actions can harm and worsen the condition.
Swelling of the cheeks with inflammation of the lymph nodes
This infectious disease and, like edema, is the result of some pathological process in the body, in particular, infections getting into it. The human lymphatic system supports the body's immunity. The disease develops slowly. It starts with a painful sensation in the region of the lymph nodes, then the body temperature rises and other signs of intoxication appear, the node becomes denser and swells. With inflammation of the submandibular node, swelling of the cheek in its lower part is significant. Such a disease is quite difficult to distinguish from other of the above reasons. The inflammation can be simple or purulent. In the initial stages, antibiotics and local compresses can cope with the treatment, first cold, and after the release of pus - warm. In complex cases of purulent inflammation of several nodes, surgery is performed and drainage is performed. This is the most effective treatment.
Swelling of the cheek with inflammation of the facial nerve
With neuritis - inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, which provides sensitivity to the face - there is distortion, illegibility of facial expressions, incomplete opening of the eyes. This is a serious neurological problem. It differs in a very strong sharp piercing pain from a pinched nerve, which extends, as a rule, to one half of the face. The development of neuritis is possible on the basis of a viral infection, low immunity, hypothermia in a draft. The prognosis for such a disease is unfavorable. Often neuralgia cannot be completely cured, and its external manifestations remain for life.
Swelling of the cheek with periandibular phlegmon
This is a rare life-threatening disease.
The term "phlegmon" means severe purulent inflammation under the skin in adipose tissue.
Phlegmon is distinguished by the possibility of spreading suppuration in neighboring spaces. Such a disease is a consequence of trauma to the trachea or esophagus, decay of the cervical cyst and other causes similar to the development of sinusitis.
Before reaching the maximum danger to human life, the inflammatory process of the jaw bones caused by infection manifests itself, swelling of the gums and, at the final stage, the periandibular phlegmon.
With phlegmon, a very pronounced tumor of the face with a high temperature. Depending on where exactly the suppuration occurs, the swelling can be localized in the cheekbones, under the eye, closer to the upper lip, in the central part of the cheek and at the chin. Inflammation is very painful, requires observation in a hospital and surgical intervention. It is worth remembering that externally a tumor in any part of the face with phlegmon appears only in already severe stages of the disease.
Swelling can be seen when examining the oral cavity from the inside or by palpating the entire mucous membrane of the mouth.
Treatment consists in opening a purulent inflammation and installing drainage.
Swelling of the cheek with a cyst
If the cheeks are swollen, this may be a signal for the formation of a cyst.
It is formed on the inside of the cheek and can increase up to 2-3 cm. The cause of the occurrence can be an injury to the mucous membrane with a table object during eating, a toothbrush and any other object that gets into your mouth. In this case, you can not hesitate to go to the doctor.
Swelling of the cheeks due to injury
Any injury can cause swelling without the formation of a cyst. When the injury is minor, most often, the swelling goes away the next day. The constant friction of a chipped tooth on the surface of the cheek can also cause injury. Bacteria accumulate in the resulting wound, which causes inflammation.
In any case, if the cheeks are swollen, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can determine the cause, severity of the disease and, on the basis of this, prescribe treatment. This is the guarantee that it will be effective.
Waiting for a doctor’s appointment, immediately after injury, put ice on the affected area and hold it for some time.
Swelling of the cheek from an insect bite
Swelling of the eyes, swollen cheeks, lips, nose and other nearby tissues also changed in size - this occurs after bites of bees, wasps, bumblebees and other types of insects.
The first aid in such cases will be the removal of stings from the skin and compresses from aloe or soda solution. Inside, you should take a drug against allergies.
Swelling of the cheek with common infections
General infection is characterized by an omnipotent nature, affects all body systems.
Mumps is an infectious disease. It provokes swelling of the salivary glands, both on one or both sides at once, which makes the cheek swell. Swelling with mumps does not affect the eyes, but falls from the cheek to the neck.
For people with mumps, this disease is called a “mumps”, it is necessary to ensure quarantine conditions, since the disease is easily transmitted through conversation, coughing and through objects of common use with healthy people.
If the cheeks are swollen, it can be caused by infectious mononucleosis. The disease is similar to a sore throat and requires professional diagnosis by a doctor.
Leffler’s bacteria infect the tonsils, causing inflammation with fever, changes in their appearance and plaque. This process is characterized by toxic diphtheria of the tonsils. Edema is located under the lower jaw, but can spread wider to the cheek and neck. To prevent the disease, vaccinations are carried out against diphtheria serum. Antibiotic treatment will not bring any results.
The salivary glands of a person are susceptible to infection by various infections, among them tuberculosis bacillus is possible. Tuberculosis of the salivary glands develops slowly, edema does not appear immediately, but after some time.
One of the causes of swelling of the cheek with common infections is allergy. An allergic reaction can occur in case of intolerance to any eaten product, on a medicine or hygiene product, on a material used in dentistry.
If the swelling is small, it will be enough to take an anti-allergic medicine, after which the swelling quickly disappears. If rapid, rapid tumor growth is observed, it is most likely that this is Quincke's edema. You should immediately seek help. Help should be provided in the first 15-20 minutes in the form of an injection with special hormonal drugs.
In the rarest case, swelling of the cheek occurs with tumors. This may be lymphogranulomatosis, lymphosarcoma, malignant neoplasm in the salivary glands. In this case, the disease does not appear immediately in the form of edema. Multiple symptoms of cancer in the human body will be more indicative.
Cheek swelling: treatment
Swelling of the cheeks is not a specific disease. This is always a manifestation or consequence of some kind of inflammatory process in the body. But how to relieve swelling of the cheeks? Therapy will be different depending on each specific case.
Do not try to find the answer to the question of how to remove the swelling of the cheeks. Do not self-medicate. You need to see a doctor. But, if a doctor is not possible immediately after the appearance of discomfort and swelling, you can take some action. After dental procedures, rinse the oral cavity with solutions of salt or soda. You can buy in the pharmacy remedies that eliminate inflammation with a decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort or sage. Such procedures relieve pain.
In case of injuries, it is necessary to alternate the use of cold and warm compresses and the application of slices of raw potatoes. Among pharmacy products, you can use ointments "Troxevasin" and "Butadion".
Remember:
- you can not use a hot compress if the swelling is caused by purulent inflammation;
- prescribe antibiotics should only be a doctor after examination;
- you can not press, touch, knead swollen cheek;
- Do not take hot foods and drinks.
Swelling of the cheeks can be triggered by many diseases. They are based on infection. Keep track of your general condition, body temperature. Minor edema can cause serious illness with irreversible effects.