A swollen cheek around a painful tooth usually means a dental abscess, a pus-filled infection that won't clear up on its own and should be treated by a dentist within 24 hours. Put a cold compress on the outside and call an emergency dentist. If the swelling spreads towards the eye or neck, or it's hard to swallow or breathe, call 112 immediately.
How to recognise a dental abscess
- Swelling of the cheek, gum or under the jaw, often on one side
- Throbbing pain that gets worse when you touch or bite on the tooth
- A red, tender swelling or pimple on the gum, sometimes with pus
- A bad taste or smell in the mouth
- Fever, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
What to do until your visit
- 1Hold a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for 10-15 minutes, with breaks.
- 2Take a painkiller you tolerate, according to the leaflet.
- 3Rinse gently with lukewarm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water).
- 4Call the emergency number. An abscess shouldn't be left to clear up on its own.
Why you shouldn't apply heat or wait
Heat widens the blood vessels and can help an infection spread. Antibiotics without treating the tooth only suppress the infection for a while: the cause stays in the tooth and the abscess comes back. Treatment means draining the pus and removing the source, with a root canal or, if the tooth can't be saved, an extraction.
What we do at an emergency visit
We take an on-site dental X-ray to see where the infection starts, numb the area and drain the abscess. When needed, the dentist decides whether to prescribe antibiotics. Most patients feel relief within hours of drainage.
Frequently asked questions
Does an abscess go away on its own?
No. Even if the pus drains by itself and the pain eases, the source of the infection stays in the tooth and the abscess returns. It needs treatment by a dentist.
Do I need antibiotics?
Sometimes, but only if the dentist decides so and together with treating the tooth. Antibiotics alone don't remove the cause.
Do you see abscess patients at night?
Yes. T&Co Dental is a 24/7 emergency dental clinic in Plovdiv. Call the emergency number at any time and the dentist on duty will tell you when to come in.
Related services
- Dental Abscess & Infection TreatmentSwelling, pus and severe pain signal an infection that shouldn't wait. We drain it, clean it and treat the cause.
- Emergency Dental CareRound-the-clock help for severe pain, swelling, injuries or a broken tooth, including nights, weekends and public holidays.
- Emergency Oral SurgeryBleeding after an extraction, acute wisdom tooth inflammation, a mouth injury, urgent surgical care at any hour.
This advice is general information and doesn't replace an examination. For severe pain, swelling or an injury, call our emergency number.