Facial pain can sneak up on you in strange ways. Your cheek might throb, your jaw may ache, or your whole face could feel swollen and sore. While it’s easy to assume it’s a sinus problem or “just stress,” the real culprit might be lurking in your mouth. Continue reading to take a closer look at five dental emergencies that could be behind the pain in your face.
1. Cracked or Broken Tooth
You might not always see a crack, but many times you’ll feel it. A cracked tooth can cause sharp pain that spreads into your face, especially when you chew or bite down on it.
Sometimes, the pain comes and goes, making it easy to ignore, but you shouldn’t. A cracked tooth can lead to more serious problems if left untreated, so it’s always best to see your dentist as soon as possible.
2. Impacted Wisdom Tooth
If you still have your wisdom teeth, they could also be the source of your discomfort. Impacted wisdom teeth don’t fully break through your gumline and can press against nearby teeth and nerves, causing facial swelling and persistent, annoying pain.
This issue is more common among teens and young adults in their early twenties, but older people can experience it too.
3. Jaw Injury or TMJ Issue
If you’ve recently had a fall, car accident, or even bitten into something too hard, there could be an underlying jaw injury causing your facial pain. It could also stem from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, which affects the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull.
TMJ pain can feel like a dull ache near your ears or a locking jaw. But while it’s somewhat easy to spot, it’s often mistaken for an earache or migraine. The best way to tell for sure is with an examination from your dentist.
4. Severe Gum Infection
Gum disease doesn’t always stay in your gums! When it worsens from gingivitis to periodontitis, it can cause swelling, bleeding, and pain that extends into your cheeks or jaw. This is often a sign that the infection is spreading, warranting an emergency appointment to address the issue.
5. Dental Abscess
An abscess is a pocket of infection that lurks beneath or beside a tooth. It can cause intense, throbbing pain that radiates across your jaw or cheek. Other symptoms might include swelling, fever, and a bad taste in your mouth.
If untreated, an abscess can spread to other parts of your body, causing sickness, or in severe cases, death. So, if you’re feeling facial pain, fever, and see a lump on your gums, call your dentist immediately.
No matter what the cause is, facial pain isn’t something to ignore. If it comes on suddenly, lasts more than a day, or feels severe, it could be a dental emergency. The sooner you get it checked, the sooner you’ll get relief, so don’t hesitate to call your dentist for an emergency appointment.
About the Practice
At Grant E. Smith DDS Mark A. Smith DDS, our team of dental specialists offers exceptional emergency dentistry services. Whether you’ve got a throbbing toothache or a full-blown dental infection, we have the tools and the training to help you find relief. Ready to get back to living your life stress-free? Call (903) 893-8030 to schedule an emergency appointment or visit our website to learn more.