Emergencies
Swollen face from a tooth: when it's urgent and what to do
How to tell a dental abscess from a mild flare-up, safe first steps, and the signs that mean hospital, not dental clinic.
By Dr. Kang Jun-guMedically reviewed by Dr. Kang Jun-guPublished Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
Facial swelling from a tooth usually means an infection (abscess) and needs a dentist the same day. Use a cold compress outside the cheek and don't apply heat. Go to a hospital emergency room or call 119 if swelling spreads to the eye or neck, or you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a high fever.
Signs of a dental abscess
- Throbbing pain in one tooth
- Swelling of the gum, cheek or jaw
- A pimple on the gum or a bad taste
- Tooth feels tall or tender to bite
Safe first steps
- Cold compress on the outside, 15 minutes on and off
- Your usual painkiller
- Keep your head raised when lying down
- Don't squeeze the swelling or apply heat
Hospital, not dental clinic
- Swelling spreading to the eye, under the jaw or down the neck
- Trouble breathing, swallowing or opening the mouth
- High fever or feeling very unwell
Questions people also ask
Will the swelling go away on its own?
It may shrink if the abscess drains, but the infection stays. It needs treatment to stop it coming back or spreading.
Can a dentist treat an abscess in one visit?
Often the first visit drains the infection and relieves pain; the tooth is then treated with a root canal or extraction, sometimes later.
Need this looked at in Seoul?
Check-ups, scaling and whitening, with fees shown before we start.
Dr. Kang is a board-certified Integrated Dentistry specialist trained at Yonsei, Harvard and Columbia. He treats every patient at the Gongdeok clinic himself.
About Dr. KangHow we write these guides: each guide is written from questions our patients ask, reviewed by Dr. Kang, and updated when guidance changes. It is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, please book a check-up.
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