Why Is My Jaw Swollen? - Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & More

A tooth abscess is a pouch of pus that forms when bacteria penetrate the center of a tooth. The most common sign of a dental abscess is a hammering pain near a tooth or in the gums.

Periapical, periodontal, and gingival are the three common forms of tooth abscesses. What type of abscess you have determines the treatment options:

• Extraction: If the tooth sustains too much damage and the dentist cannot save it, they will have to extract and drain the abscess.
• Clearing the abscess: The dentist will incise the abscess to drain the pus then clean the area with salt water (saline).
• Antibiotics: If an infection escalates to other areas or your immune system is weak, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent further spread.
• Root canal: This procedure involves digging into the tooth with the abscess, extracting the pulp, and clearing out the abscess, then filling and sealing the empty spaces.

Pericoronitis is a condition in which the gums around the wisdom teeth molars swell. It occurs in molars that break through the gum and treatment is subject to whether the disease is acute or chronic. Treatment options include:

• Surgery: The dentist will refer you to a tooth surgeon (oral and maxillofacial surgeon) to remove the wisdom tooth or the gum flap if the inflammation is severe. You may require additional surgery if the inflammation or swelling of your gum tissue (pericoronitis) recurs.
• Pain medication: Here, the dentist lets the gum swelling erupt on its own, they may prescribe a pain reliever and then clean the gum around the tooth to stop food particles and plaque buildup.
• Oral health: The dentist may recommend an oral rinse or cleaning your mouth with warm salty water if the infection is in a small area and hasn’t spread.

Tonsils are two lumps of tissue at the rear of the throat. Tonsillitis is a condition in which the tonsils swell. Swollen tonsils are the most common sign of tonsillitis. There are two types of tonsillitis: viral and bacterial tonsillitis. Among the treatment options:

• Tonsillectomy: This procedure removes the tonsils via surgery. If tonsillitis keeps recurring or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, your doctor may recommend the procedure.
• Antibiotics: If a bacterial infection is the cause of the tonsillitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. You must complete the full dose of the medication even when the symptoms disappear.
• Home remedies: If a virus is the cause of your tonsillitis, your body may have to fight the infection on its own, as antibiotics won’t help. Gargling warm salty water, getting enough rest, drinking warm fluids, and taking a painkiller to reduce pain and inflammation should help fight the virus.

A blow to the face or a fall may cause a swollen jaw. You can manage mild cases by compression, protecting the injured area from further injury, pressing ice to the affected area, and over-the-counter painkillers.

Severe cases may require more robust treatment, starting with a trip to urgent care or the emergency room. Often in these cases, the best immediate action is surgery.