Sore jaw, swollen face, can't open mouth - what is this?

[theeyeofthestormchaser]

A couple of days ago I noticed my gum at the back of one side was tender. My gland on that side was up. It's been getting worse since then - sore to open my mouth, tender along my jaw and down my neck.

Today one side of my face is visibly swollen. Feels like fluid (nice!) What could it be??

I've had no dental work, no cuts, nothing. My gum doesn't look red or inflamed/infected. Help!

Get an appointment with OOH or ring for advice.

Could be an abscess. But you need to see a medical person asap.

Poinsy? You'd feel pretty overall awful with that, though.

Thanks.

My actual throat is fine. No temperature. I don't feel unwell. It's just sore when I open my mouth.

Have you got an unerupted or partially erupted wisdom tooth on that side? You might have an infection around that.

Yes to unerupted wisdom tooth on that side. But I'm in my 40s! Why would it cause bother now?

Mumps?

Sounds like wisdom tooth woes to me. They just periodically, spontaneously seem to move causing all sorts of problems.

I'm 38 and fairly recently one of mine decided to ram forwards and actually split the molar in front of it.

Blocked saliva gland?
Can you gently massage the area?

I had mumps when I was 5...

The pain is more in my jaw hinge where you open and close your mouth than in my mouth/gum. It's odd.

So, doctor or dentist?!

I would say emergency dentist tomorrow.
If you ring 111 they should be able to tell you what is available near you and possibly get you booked in though.
There will likely be a charge.

yy re wisdom tooth

see the dentist

I was going to say mumps too and do not know if you can get it twice.
I had it once at 16 and I had a lump at lower back of one ear, pain opening the mouth to fill it with food but no other symptoms.
Saw GP who diagnosed it immediately, said I was infectious and to stay at home and away from boys as could could make them sterile if they get it. No other member of my family got it.

I think you can maybe get mumps twice. My adult brother definitely had it recently and my mum reckons he had it as a child, I know I did. But it’s normally both sides.

So I would say abcess or tetanus.

I think blocked saliva gland too. I used to get this a lot. If you squeeeze the lump does any fluid (salva) appear in your mouth? If you suck on a lemon your saliva gland will react and if it’s blocked you should get a twinge which might be an indicator that it is blocked. www.healthline.com/health/salivary-duct-stones#modal-close

• saliva not salva

Sounds exactly like how my wisdom tooth trouble presented.

I’d get on to the dentist ASAP and see what they can do — I needed strong abs followed by extraction.

Tetanus ? Get it looked at ASAP

It could be your temperomandibular joint (the hinge joint) - this is quite a complicated little joint and can become dysfunctional for different reasons, teeth grinding, opening mouth too wide for example. Does it click, lock or make a crunchy noise? It’s easy enough to treat.

Tetanus wounds OP would know if she had a wound, they are obviously badly infected wounds.

I'm 34 with similar symptoms from an newly erupting wisdom tooth. Ouch.

@theeyeofthestormchaser it sounds like it could be pericoronitis. I've had this before, OP, and my symptoms were similar. If it is pericoronitis, when it gets to the stage you describe, you need antibiotics. Is there an OOH dentist you can ring? Failing that, ring 111. In the meantime, swirl with hot salt water.

Another vote for wisdom tooth. How are you today. OP?

If it's in your jaw at the joint it sounds more like a problem with your temperomandibular joint. Have a look at tmj disorders. I get this occasionally and it tends to sort itself out after a while.

Could be something entirely different so don't take my word for it however.

My DH had a huge abscess that caused these exact symptoms. He ended up having two teeth removed in hospital.