Toothache and Swollen Cheek?

Answer: Swelling and pain

By Sarah h
Dental Professional

A healthy mouth does not hurt, nor does swelling occur.  Swelling in the mouth , just like anywhere else in the body, is a sign of infection.  While the tooth may no longer hurt, it should not be ignored.  If you have a dental abscess, or infection, it will come and go until eventually your body can no longer fight it on its own.  At this point, the infection is already in your blood stream and can be very dangerous as your teeth are in close proximity to the brain.  A dental abscess is a serious health concern that should not be ignored.  If your hand was swollen, but didn't hurt, would your ignore it? If it is a periodontal abscess, that is an infection of the gums and surrounding soft tissues in the mouth.  Usually it can be cleaned up and treated with antibiotics.   However, if there is an abscess in a tooth, the nerve must be removed and the tooth restored in order to save it.  The sooner you can be seen the better and the less chance of the tooth needing to be extracted.