Introduction
Inflammations of the cheek can have different causes. The cheek delimits the oral cavity and is lined with mucous membrane. Within the mucous membrane there are numerous salivary glands.
On the outside, the skin closes the cheek and covers the facial and chewing muscles. Inflammations on the outside of the cheek can originate from the skin. If the hair follicles in the skin of the cheek become inflamed, a painful reddening, a so-called folliculitis, which can be caused by bacteria, develops.
If the folliculitis worsens by the formation of pus, the inflammation is called boils. These boils should never be expressed by the affected person himself, but should be treated by a doctor, because the inflammation can spread. Also the so-called erysipelas is a bacterial inflammation of the skin.
Here, redness, swelling and overheating (sometimes also fever) in the nose and cheek area occurs. The above mentioned diseases are mostly caused by bacteria. Viruses can also cause inflammatory changes in the cheek area.
For example, the herpes virus and the varicella zoster virus cause skin lesions that are extremely painful and can be the starting point for an inflammation. If inflammation occurs on the cheek as a result of a cold or flu, it is possible that an untreated and very severe inflammation of the sinuses will spread to the skin of the cheek. Inflammations of the cheek can be easily treated with antibiotic and cortisone-containing ointments, as well as with compresses containing disinfectant solution.
Within inflammation of the cheek
Inflammations that originate on the inside of the cheek are either caused by the mucous membrane, the salivary glands or by an inflammation of the dental apparatus. Almost every patient has already experienced this phenomenon, when the cheek is accidentally bitten and as a result the area becomes inflamed. Constant sucking or gnawing on the cheek can also trigger these symptoms.
The injury is usually in the chewing plane and forms a line, exactly at the height where the upper and lower teeth meet. The injury appears as a white line in the mucous membrane, which is surrounded by reddened mucous membrane. Within the oral cavity, this inflammation feels warm and can be painful, so that mere touching is unpleasant.
It is noticeable that cold drinks and food can improve the symptoms and relieve pain. Normally, saliva contains antibodies that fight bacteria and viruses. If the immune system is weakened, the mucous membrane can quickly become inflamed.
The trigger for such an inflammation can be poor dental hygiene, but also injuries and burns caused by hot food, as well as malnutrition can promote inflammation. The treatment of such an inflammation depends on the trigger. Usually it is sufficient to rinse the mouth regularly with a mouthwash in which the medication is dissolved.
Furthermore, there are disinfectants in the form of lozenges or solutions. Cheek inflammation can be accompanied by swelling or no swelling at all, depending on the severity of the inflammation and the body’s immune response. Swelling is a normal sign of any inflammation, which causes the cheek mucous membrane to rise in constant contact with the teeth.
This constant contact and the friction caused by food intake can make the swelling even bigger and more massive. It is recommended to cool the affected area from the outside and to eat cold food and drinks. However, if the swelling continues to spread, causing a strong feeling of pressure, the dentist should be consulted to prevent the development of an abscess or cyst.
This is because an abscess in the upper jaw can spread to the cheek region. In the worst case, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a systemic disease, a so-called sepsis. This condition can be life-threatening.
Inflammation of the tooth, the root or the periodontium can spread and cause inflammation and swelling of the cheek and lymph nodes. In these cases, a dentist should be consulted urgently to stop the inflammatory process in the tooth before the inflammation spreads further to the root of the tooth or the jawbone. Bacterial or viral pathogens as well as fungi can cause local or generalized inflammation of the oral mucosa.
The localized form is pimples within the oral cavity, which can trigger further inflammatory reactions. These pimples occur quite rarely, but have unpleasant effects.They are caused by an excessive sebum production and can also inflame a larger area of the oral mucosa if they remain. In this case, the tongue repeatedly snaps reflexively to the affected area, as it is also associated with a feeling of pressure.
If the salivary glands become inflamed, there is sudden unilateral pain and swelling in the mouth, where the gland is located. The overlying skin of the cheek is then very warm and reddened, the gland is hard and sensitive to pressure due to the inflammation. The pain increases when more saliva is produced and cannot flow out of the gland due to the inflammation, i.e. mainly when chewing and eating.
Salivary gland inflammation can be acute and chronic. Improvement comes from cool compresses that reduce swelling and pain. Painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol are used to relieve the pain.
These also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Antibiotics are used for bacterial salivary gland inflammation. After wisdom tooth extractions, inflammations in the area of wounds are not uncommon.
Open wounds always present a risk of infection and can become inflamed if they are not closed tightly with sutures. This delays wound closure and the wounds are very painful. Therefore, dairy products should be avoided for the first two days after pulling the teeth, as the lactic acid bacteria can inflame the wounds. Furthermore, excessive rinsing should be avoided so that the blood cells in the empty tooth socket can restructure so that the wound closes – even though rinsing with chlorhexidine, for example, could alleviate the inflammation.
