Go to the Emergency Room If You Have

• Swelling spreading to your face, neck, or under your tongue

• Trouble swallowing or breathing

• Fever with significant swelling

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Common Causes

• Gum disease: red, puffy gums that bleed when brushing

• Gum abscess: a painful, localized bump, sometimes with pus

• Tooth infection: swelling with throbbing tooth pain

• Wisdom tooth irritation: a sore flap of gum behind the last tooth

• Trapped food or a poorly fitting crown or denture

Until Your Appointment

• Rinse with warm salt water several times a day

• Keep brushing and flossing gently with a soft brush

• Use a cold compress if your cheek is swollen

• Never try to pop or lance a gum bump yourself

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause: a professional cleaning, [Scaling & Root Planing →] for gum disease, drainage of an abscess, [Root Canal Treatment →] or extraction for an infected tooth, or adjustment of an ill-fitting restoration.