A person’s face can hurt for many reasons, and some of them are more serious than others. Sometimes, facial discomfort can be due to an underlying health problem such as an infection or a dental issue. Knowing when to seek help for the issue can make the difference between finding relief and the problem getting worse. Here’s a brief guide to facial pain, what causes it, and how to tell if you need to see your emergency dentist to have the issue addressed.
Why Do I Have Facial Pain?
Facial pain covers many forms of discomfort in a person’s face, cheeks, or forehead, and it can vary in intensity and arise from a range of factors. Some instances of facial pain may go away on their own after a short while, but other cases may become chronic issues that require medical or dental attention. A few things that can cause facial pain include:
- Underlying medical conditions
- Oral health issues
- Recovering from a recent dental procedure
- Infections
- Nerve damage
- Headaches or migraines
- Trauma
How Can I Treat Facial Pain at Home?
Depending on what causes it, you may be able to reduce your facial pain until it goes away with a few home remedies. You can try applying an ice pack or cold compress to your face to numb pain and swelling. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help you find relief. If you are recovering from a tooth extraction or another recent dental procedure, keeping your head elevated above your heart when you lay down may reduce your discomfort by lowering the blood pressure in the healing or swollen tissues in your head.
When Is My Facial Pain a Dental Emergency?
In many cases, facial pain is the result of an oral health condition that requires emergency dental treatment. A dental abscess is an infection in the pulp of your tooth that will not heal on its own, and it can show itself through symptoms like persistent throbbing pain, a small bump on gums by the afflicted tooth, pain while chewing, sensitive teeth or gums, swelling or redness in the gums, a foul taste in the mouth, or fever. If you suspect that you have a dental abscess, call your emergency dentist immediately.
Dry socket is a severely painful condition that happens when the blood clot formed over an empty socket in the gums after a tooth extraction falls off, leaving the nerves and bone tissue within exposed to the oral environment. Dry socket involves symptoms such as persistent or radiating pain after a tooth extraction, the blood clot being visibly absent from the extraction site, bad breath, or a foul taste in your mouth. If you experience these symptoms, please see your emergency dentist for treatment.
Facial pain can be an uncomfortable nuisance or a significant problem. Knowing how to get the care you need can help you find much-needed relief.
About the Author
Dr. Danny Hayes earned his dental degree at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, where he was an active member of the American Student Dental Association. He is proud to serve as a member of the Chicago Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the Indiana Dental Association. His office in Crown Point offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please dial (219) 663-6878. For more information, contact the practice online.