Why Is My Cheek Swollen and Sore on One Side?
Swelling in the cheek on one side has many causes, including dental abscess, injury to the face, benign fatty tumor (lipoma), swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), cysts, infection, and others.
There are many possible causes of cheek swelling and soreness on one side of the face. Some are benign and some can be serious.
Common causes for your cheek to be swollen and sore on one side include:
- Dental abscess
- May be caused by:
- An impacted tooth
- Tooth decay or gum disease
- Injury to the teeth , gums, or mouth
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatment
- May be caused by:
- Sports injuries
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Wounds
- Violence
- The cause is not completely understood
- May be caused by:
- A genetic defect
- Inherited from family members
- Sedentary lifestyle
- May be caused by:
- Infections
- Cancer in the lymphatic system, such as Hodgkin disease
- The skin produces a protein called keratin which is usually shed, but in some cases, it goes deeper into the skin and forms a sac
- Caused by bacteria
- Caused by a wisdom tooth that has failed to come in or has only partially erupted, leaving a flap of gum tissue that collects food particles and other debris
- Caused by the mumps virus
- Often caused by a stone in salivary duct
- Can cause an infection (sialadenitis)
- The cause is unknown but risk factors may include:
- Older age
- Radiation therapy to the head and neck
- Exposure to certain substances at work
What Are Symptoms of Cheek Swelling and Soreness on One Side?
In addition to swelling and soreness, symptoms of cheek swelling and soreness on one side of the face depend on the cause.
- Dental abscess
- Severe toothache or gum pain
- Redness inside the mouth, or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing food
- Fever
- Changes in feeling over the face
- Swelling or bruising around the eyes that may cause vision problems
- Missing teeth
- Deformed or uneven face or facial bones
- Difficulty breathing through the nose due to swelling and bleeding
- Roundish masses that feel soft and rubbery just under the skin and can be moved with gentle pushing
- Usually do not hurt
- Enlarged lumps that may be felt in the neck, back of the head, or other locations of lymph nodes
- Lymph node tenderness
- Warmth or redness of the skin over the lymph nodes
- Fever
- A round, dome-shaped lump that can range in size from smaller than a pea to a few centimeters across
- May be yellow or white, with a small dark plug
- It may be possible to squeeze out pus if there is an infection
- Usually not painful but can become tender and red if it becomes infected
- A red, swollen, and painful area of skin that is warm and tender to the touch
- The skin may look pitted, like an orange peel, or blisters may occur on the affected skin
- Fever and chills
- Painful, swollen gum tissue near the affected tooth
- Difficulty biting down in the area without hitting the swollen tissue
- Unpleasant smell or taste in your mouth
- Discharge of pus in the area
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Jaw spasms
- A tender, swollen jaw
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Lump under one side of the jaw
- Tenderness and pain
- Redness to cheek
- Sometimes a small white stone is seen inside the mouth in the upper cheek area
- A lump (usually painless) in the area of the ear, cheek, jaw, lip, or inside the mouth
- Trouble swallowing
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Trouble opening the mouth widely
- Facial numbness or weakness
- Pain in the face that does not go away
What Is the Treatment for Cheek Swelling and Soreness on One Side?
- Dental abscess
- A dentist will drain away the pus
- Root canal
- Tooth extraction
- Pain medicines
- Antibiotics for infection
- Ice
- Pain medicines
- Bandages to control bleeding
- Surgery may be needed if the injury inhibits normal function or causes deformity
- Often no treatment is needed if there are no symptoms but the lipoma should be monitored
- Surgical removal of the lipoma (excision)
- Monitoring to check the size and location of the enlarged nodes
- Antibiotics to treat bacterial infection
- Medications or procedures to treat other conditions that may have caused the lymph node enlargement
- Antibiotics if the cyst is infected
- Cyst removal with local anesthetic
- Oral antibiotics, or for severe infections, intravenous (IV) antibiotics
- Accumulated food particles and other debris from the area are flushed away
- Antibiotics to treat the infection
- Pain medicines
- Removal of the flap of gum tissue
- Wisdom tooth extraction
- Is usually self-limiting and goes away on its own within about 2 weeks
- Home treatment to relive symptoms may include:
- Adequate oral fluid intake and hydration
- Bed rest
- Avoid acidic foods
- Pain relievers
- Topical application of warm or cold packs to the swollen parotid area
- Sour lozenges
- Topical application of warm or cold packs to the swollen cheek area
- Antibiotics
- Removal of the stone or obstruction
- Surgery
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiosensitizers (being tested in clinical trials)
From
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Facial swelling
Facial swelling is the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the face. Swelling may also affect the neck and upper arms.
This person has noticeable swelling (edema) of the face.
Considerations
- Pain and where it hurts
- How long the swelling has lasted
- What makes it better or worse
- If you have other symptoms
Causes
Causes of facial swelling may include:
- Allergic reaction (allergic rhinitis, hay fever, or a bee sting)
- Angioedema
- Blood transfusion reaction
- Cellulitis
- Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye)
- Drug reactions, including those due to aspirin, penicillin, sulfa, glucocorticoids, and others
- Head, nose, or jaw surgery
- Injury or trauma to the face (such as a burn)
- Malnutrition (when severe)
- Obesity
- Salivary gland disorders
- Sinusitis
- Stye with swelling around the infected eye
- Tooth abscess
Home Care
Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling from an injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you have:
- Sudden, painful, or severe facial swelling
- Facial swelling that lasts a while, particularly if it is getting worse over time
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever, tenderness, or redness, which suggests infection
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Emergency treatment is needed if facial swelling is caused by burns or if you have breathing problems.
The provider will ask about your medical and personal history. This helps determine treatment or if any medical tests are needed. Questions may include:
- How long has the facial swelling lasted?
- When did it begin?
- What makes it worse?
- What makes it better?
- Have you come into contact with something you might be allergic to?
- What medicines are you taking?
- Did you recently injure your face?
- Did you have a medical test or surgery recently?
- What other symptoms do you have? For example: facial pain, sneezing, difficulty breathing, hives or rash, eye redness, fever.
References
Dinulos JGH. Urticaria, angioedema and pruritus. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif’s Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.
Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.
Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.
Pedigo RA. Oral medicine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 56.
Version Info
Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
- May be caused by:
