Immediate Evaluation and Management of Left Jaw Swelling
You need to see a dentist within 24 hours for evaluation and possible treatment, as dental infection is the most common and time-sensitive cause of jaw swelling. 1
Initial Assessment
Examine your jaw carefully for these specific findings:
- Dental pathology signs: tooth mobility, gingival (gum) swelling, visible pus-filled bumps (parulis), or tooth discoloration 1
- Recent trauma history: falls, facial injuries, or dental procedures that may cause delayed complications 1
- Mass characteristics: if you can feel a distinct lump, note whether it's hard or soft, movable or fixed, and whether it's tender 2
- Pain pattern: constant pain suggests infection or inflammation, while pain that worsens before eating suggests a salivary stone 2
When to Seek Emergency Care
Go to the emergency department immediately if you develop:
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing 2
- Fever with spreading swelling 1
- Exposed bone or draining fistula 2
- Rapid progression of swelling 3
Dental Infection Management
If you have gingival swelling, tooth mobility, or visible parulis, you require dental referral within 24 hours for evaluation and possible extraction. 1 The swelling from dental infections is often caused by inflammatory mediator release rather than bacterial infection alone, which is why antibiotics without dental treatment are ineffective. 1
- Do not take antibiotics without dental evaluation - they are not routinely indicated unless your medical condition specifically requires coverage 1
- Symptomatic relief: apply cold compresses to reduce pain and swelling 4
- Soft diet: avoid chewing on the affected side 2
Alternative Diagnoses to Consider
If Swelling is at the Corner of Your Mouth
Angular cheilitis presents with cracking and inflammation at the mouth corners and requires combination antifungal-corticosteroid therapy. 1, 5 Apply white soft paraffin ointment every 2-4 hours for protection. 1, 5
If You're Over 50 with Pain When Chewing
Giant cell arteritis causes jaw claudication (pain with chewing) and requires urgent blood work (ESR and C-reactive protein). 1 If inflammatory markers are elevated, temporal artery biopsy is needed, and high-dose corticosteroids (minimum 40 mg prednisone daily) must be started within 2 weeks to prevent vision loss. 1
If You Have a Palpable Mass
Urgent referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or ENT specialist within 1-2 weeks maximum is required for comprehensive evaluation due to concerns for malignancy, salivary gland pathology, or other serious conditions. 2 In patients over 40 years, especially with tobacco or alcohol use, malignancy must be ruled out. 2 Submandibular stones characteristically cause pain before eating. 2
Follow-Up Timing
- With dental pathology: follow up within 24-48 hours to ensure dental referral is completed 1
- With inflammatory causes: reassess at 2 weeks; if no improvement, reevaluate diagnosis and treatment compliance 1
Important Caveats
Do not delay dental evaluation - the most common cause of unilateral jaw swelling in adults over 40 is metastatic disease, making prompt evaluation critical to rule out serious pathology. 6 Even if the swelling seems minor, progressive enlargement warrants urgent assessment. 1, 2