What does this mean?
A tooth extraction is a surgical procedure, and the surrounding tissue responds with swelling. It usually becomes noticeable on the first day, peaks on the second or third, and eases towards the fifth to seventh day. Mild bruising on the cheek can also appear.
In the normal course, the swelling gets smaller. If it grows after the third day, hardens on one side, or comes with a fever, a bad taste or pus, infection may have developed. Swelling that spreads towards the eye or the neck, or difficulty opening the mouth, also points that way.
Swelling and pain are not the same thing. Severe pain that begins two or three days after the extraction and radiates to the ear is more often a sign that the blood clot has been lost (dry socket) than of swelling itself. An examination decides which.
Four causes are common behind cheek swelling after an extraction, and when it began, whether it is growing and what comes with it separate them.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- For the first day or two, hold a cold pack to the face in spells of fifteen to twenty minutes
- Keep your head raised when lying down
- On the first day do not rinse hard, drink through a straw or smoke; the clot needs to stay in place
- Take the medicines your dentist prescribed as directed
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Swelling that spreads towards the eye or the neck
- A fever or shivering
- Difficulty opening the mouth that keeps growing
Frequently asked questions
- How many days does swelling last after an extraction?
- Swelling usually peaks on the second or third day and eases clearly within a week. If it grows after the third day or comes with a fever, it should be seen by a dentist.
- Is a hard cheek on one side normal after an extraction?
- A little firmness can occur in the first days. But if the swelling keeps growing, is very hard, or comes with fever alongside pain, infection is possible and a dentist should be seen without waiting.
- What reduces the swelling?
- A cold pack on the face for the first day or two, keeping the head raised and taking the medicines your dentist gave you as directed all help limit it. If it grows despite this, it needs to be checked.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.