Puffed cheeks can make your face look rounder and even change your appearance. This swelling can appear with specific symptoms, such as pain and itching when the cheek is pressed. So, to find out what kind of condition is the cause of these swollen cheeks, come on, see the following explanation.
Conditions that cause swollen cheeks
Swollen cheeks can occur for many reasons, such as allergies, infectious diseases, or even more serious health problems. This can be experienced by children to adults.
Swelling may occur on either cheek, the inside of the cheek, or near the swollen gum, depending on the underlying condition.
Here are some conditions that can make your cheeks swollen.
1. Allergies
Allergies are one of the most common causes of swollen cheeks. Allergic reactions will occur when the body’s immune system produces certain reactions against harmful foreign substances.
The most common allergens that can cause swelling include bee stings, certain chemicals, or medications. In some cases, skin conditions that are too sensitive can also trigger allergies.
The allergies you experience can be mild or even serious because this depends on the immunity you have. For this reason, anyone can become more sensitive when exposed to allergens.
2. Injuries to the face
Injuries to the face can occur after you fall or get hit. If it’s too hard, the injury can damage the soft tissues and bones of your face.
In fact, injuries can sometimes result in broken bones or fractures. This condition is characterized by bruising, pain when the cheek is pressed, and swelling in the cheek area.
Mild injuries may heal on their own. However, if the injury is suspected to be serious, you must seek medical attention immediately.
3. Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and underlying tissue. Although not a contagious disease, this condition can be life-threatening if the infection spreads to the bloodstream.
You may notice cellulitis on your lower legs. However, it turns out that this condition can form on the face which eventually causes swollen cheeks.
According to a study on the diagnosis and treatment of cellulitis in the journal of the Royal College of Physicians, apart from swelling of the cheeks, other symptoms can include fever and pain and warmth in the problem area of the skin.
4. Pericoronitis
Pericoronitis is inflammation that attacks the gums around partially erupting wisdom teeth. This condition can cause severe pain and swelling of the cheeks.
Actually, pericoronitis is a very common infection of the soft tissue around the teeth. Even so, until now there is no standard for emergency treatment of patients with pericoronitis.
5. Tooth abscess
A tooth abscess is also often one of the causes of swollen cheeks. This gum problem is characterized by pockets of pus that form in the mouth due to a bacterial infection.
The formation of a tooth abscess is characterized by pain and swelling around the cheek. If you don’t treat this condition immediately, the abscess can make you lose your teeth or the infection will spread to other parts of the body.
6. Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. People with this condition will experience fat accumulation in several parts of the body, including the cheeks. That’s the cause of your swollen cheeks.
Other symptoms that are often found are acne, wounds that take a long time to heal, and the appearance of purplish stretch marks on the hips, armpits, stomach or breasts.
7. Hypothyroidism
A person is diagnosed with hypothyroidism when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Initially, this condition may not cause any health problems.
However, over time, people with hypothyroidism can show symptoms such as swelling of the cheeks, dry skin, fatigue, hoarseness of voice, muscle aches, and constipation.
Among all, the most common symptom is swelling of the inner cheek walls of the mouth. If you experience this, immediately go to the doctor to do a thyroid test.
8. Mumps
The cause of swollen cheeks can also occur when you have mumps. Mumps is a viral infection that affects the salivary glands, which are located near your ears.
Swelling may occur in one or both of these glands. Other symptoms include pain in the swollen salivary glands, pain when chewing, fever, muscle aches, and headaches.
Mumps can be contagious for several days after symptoms appear. Immediately tell your doctor if you experience the above symptoms so that the spread of the virus to other people can be avoided immediately.
9. Tooth growth
Teeth growth can also make the inside of the mouth swollen cheek walls. This usually occurs in infants and children.
Signs of teething in babies include a baby biting hard to fight the pressure from the teeth that appear, the baby often salivating, a rash appears around the chin, and the baby’s cheeks turn red.
After the growth of the teeth is complete, clean the teeth regularly to avoid damage to your baby’s milk teeth. Thus, oral hygiene must also be maintained properly.
10. The effect of tooth extraction
Have you ever had a tooth extraction procedure? The process of extracting teeth, aka removing teeth from their sockets in the jawbone, can actually cause swollen cheeks.
Usually, the swelling only lasts for three days. If your cheek is still swollen for days, it’s time to call the dentist.