My face is swollen from a tooth. When is that urgent?

Facial swelling from a tooth is usually a dental abscess, an infection that needs urgent dental treatment and will not go away on its own. If the swelling spreads towards your eye or neck, or you struggle to breathe, swallow or speak, go straight to a hospital emergency unit instead of waiting for a dentist.

In short

• Facial swelling from a tooth is usually a dental abscess, a build-up of infection that needs urgent treatment and will not clear on its own.
• See a dentist the same day rather than waiting to see if it settles.
• Swelling spreading towards the eye or neck, or making it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, means a hospital emergency unit, not a dentist.
• Finding it hard to open your mouth, or a swollen and painful eye, are also signs to seek urgent care straight away.
• This page gives general information. Only an examination can find and treat the source of the infection.

This article is part of the dental emergency guidance on this site for patients in Cape Town.

What causes facial swelling from a tooth?

Facial swelling linked to a tooth is usually caused by a dental abscess, a build-up of infection that has spread from inside the tooth or gum into the surrounding soft tissue. It often comes with an intense, throbbing pain that can spread to the ear, jaw or neck on the same side, redness in or around the mouth, and sometimes a bad taste if the abscess has burst. If the infection is spreading, you may also develop a high temperature and feel generally unwell alongside the swelling. A dental abscess needs treatment by a dentist and will not clear up by itself.

How urgent is it?

Facial swelling from a tooth should be treated as urgent. Contact a dentist and ask for an appointment the same day, rather than waiting to see whether it settles on its own. A general medical doctor is not able to treat the cause of a dental abscess, so a dentist is the right first call unless you have one of the signs below that point to a hospital emergency unit instead.

What can I do while I wait to be seen?

Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Always follow the instructions on the packet, never take more than the packet states, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure what is right for you. A cold compress held gently against the outside of your face can also help control the swelling while you wait to be seen. Soft foods such as soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potato or yoghurt are easier to manage than foods that need a lot of chewing near the swelling.

When should I go to a hospital emergency unit instead of a dentist?

Go to a hospital emergency unit, not a dentist, if you have any of the following: swelling that is spreading towards your eye or your neck, difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking, a swollen or painful eye or sudden problems with your eyesight, a lot of swelling inside your mouth, or finding it hard to open your mouth. Bleeding that will not stop, or an injury to the head, also need a hospital emergency unit. These are medical emergencies as well as dental ones, so call an ambulance or have someone drive you there without delay rather than waiting for a dental appointment.

How do I reach Dr Davies?

To ask to be seen the same day, call the practice on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:00 and ask for Dr Davies, or call her own mobile at any other time, including Saturdays. This page always shows the right number for the time of day. This page cannot tell you how serious your swelling is. Only an examination can do that, so call and describe what you feel rather than waiting to see.