Jaw or gum swelling is usually an indication of an infection. It is important to have any infection addressed by a dentist as soon as possible. Lingering infections in the mouth can have long-term health effects if left untreated over time.
Follow these tips when caring for yourself at home:
- Don’t chew on the side of the infected tooth & avoid hot or cold foods and beverages as your tooth may be sensitive to the temperature.
- Put oil of cloves directly on the tooth to relieve pain. You can buy oil of cloves at drugstores.
- Place a cold pack on your jaw over the sore area. This will help to reduce inflammation and temporarily create a numbing effect. If you’d like, you can gently massage the numbed cheek externally to help ease some of the pain.
You may use over-the-counter medication to ease the pain unless another medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your health care provider before using acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also, talk with your provider if you’ve had a stomach ulcer or GI bleeding.