Pain or Swelling in the Mouth
There are many causes of pain and swelling in the mouth, ranging from minor irritations like canker sores to warning signs that a more serious problem is taking shape. When in doubt, it’s always best to set up an appointment with your dentist for a quick check-up. Not only can your dentist do an examination that will get right to the root of your problem, she or he will likely have a number of treatments at their disposal to get you back to normal. While you’re waiting, though, read on for a number of common causes of pain or swelling in the mouth.
Canker sores
One prevalent source of oral pain is the common canker sore. These small ulcers are usually very easily diagnosed by their visual presentation: they appear as small, shallow lesions that are yellowish white in the center and red around the edges. Canker sores are very common oral ailments and can occur anywhere inside of the mouth. They can be quite painful and interfere with one’s enjoyment of food and beverages but, fortunately, these small sores resolve on their own quite quickly, usually within just a few days.
To speed up the healing process, however, you might try saltwater or baking soda rinses twice a day. Your local drugstore likely has some over-the-counter topical pain relievers like Anbesol or Kank-A, which can be eased to sooth the pain of an especially troublesome canker sore. Because these small ulcers normally resolve quickly, it’s important to see your dentist about any sores in your mouth that persist longer than a few days; these could be signs of a more troubling condition that you should have an expert look straight away.
Cracked Teeth or Lacerated Gums
If you think that the source of the pain or swelling in your mouth might be due to a cracked tooth or lacerated gums – perhaps you tripped and fell or had some other kind of mishap during which your mouth sustained an injury – you should be seen by your dentist right away. Gum lacerations are visible to the eye and might look like a scratch or gouge. Cracked teeth are more difficult to diagnose yourself, but some of the signs and symptoms include pain while biting down or chewing and increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages.
Cavities
While some cavities do not present any symptoms, particularly in the early stages, as tooth decay develops it tends to manifest itself in various ways, one of which includes pain around the affected tooth and even swelling of the gums in that area. Signs and symptoms of progressing tooth decay in the form of a cavity include both acute (sudden) and chronic (long-lasting) pain around the area, bad breath, and drainage around the tooth in advanced cases.
Depending on the severity of the cavity, your dentist might fill the cavity with a composite resin or perform a root canal to debride the infected tissue and protect the tooth from further damage. If you suspect you have a cavity, please make an appointment right away, as these require treatment by a dentist. The earlier the diagnosis, the easier the treatment!
Gum Disease or Dry Mouth
Another common source of pain or swelling in the mouth is gum disease. While gum disease is prevalent in the United States and the early stage known as gingivitis is fairly easily remedied and reversed, the later stages – periodontitis and advanced periodontitis are serious oral diseases that can lead to all kinds of secondary problems, including loose and extracted teeth, receding gums, and even bone loss. For this reason, it’s important to keep up with your twice-yearly dental visits as well as to maintain good oral hygiene on a daily basis.
If you have noticed that your mouth often feels extremely dry or you have persistent bad breath, dehydrated lips or gums, or find that the roof of your mouth feels dry or swollen, you might want to talk to your dentist about dry mouth, which can be treated with a variety of medications.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list – these are simply the most common causes or pain and swelling in the mouth. If you are suffering any kind of oral pain or swelling, call your dentist for an appointment. She or he can diagnose the discomfort you’re feeling and get you on the road to recovery right away.