Definition – What is a swelling of the neck under the jaw?
A swelling on the neck under the jaw can occur in principle both in the middle of the neck and somewhat laterally under the jaw arch. Depending on the location of the swelling, different structures run below the swelling. For example, lymph nodes are located underneath the jaw.
However, in the case of swelling under the jaw, the jaw itself can also be involved. Swelling due to superficial skin problems is also typical. These occur particularly frequently with beard growth (especially during puberty). Swelling of the neck under the jaw can also be caused by deeper lying structures.
Causes of swelling of the neck
Swelling of the lymph nodes Submandibular (under the jaw) Submental (under the chin) Inflammation of one or both sides of the mouth Salivary gland Abscess Jaw/tooth root Cervical cyst Tumor Malignant/ benign Mouth floor, tongue base, etc.
- Swelling of the lymph nodes Submandibular (under the jaw) Submental (under the chin) One/both sides
- Submandibular (under the jaw)
- Submental (under the chin)
- One-/both sides
- Inflammation of the oral salivary gland Abscess Jaw/tooth root
- Oral salivary gland
- Abscess
- Jaws/Tooth Root
- Neck cyst
- Tumor Malignant/good tumor Base of mouth, base of tongue, etc.
- Malignant/Bona fide
- Base of the mouth, tongue base, etc.
- Submandibular (under the jaw)
- Submental (under the chin)
- One-/both sides
- Oral salivary gland
- Abscess
- Jaws/Tooth Root
- Malignant/Bona fide
- Base of the mouth, tongue base, etc.
Under the jaw are both submandibular (“under the jaw”) and submental (“under the chin”) lymph nodes. These can lead to swelling of the neck under the jaw due to various diseases.
The most common cause is infectious diseases such as a cold or the flu. In the context of such a systemic infection (i.e. an infection of the entire body), the lymph nodes are particularly in demand as “immunosuppressants”, which is why they can swell in response to the disease. However, local infections, for example in the area of the teeth, can also cause lymph node swelling under the jaw.
More rarely, tumors are the cause of such lymph node swelling. In most cases, only some lymph nodes are swollen, and often only one side is affected. Are you more interested in this topic?when an abscess is formed, an inflammation leads to the formation of a new body cavity.
Usually the pus produced by the inflammation melts into the surrounding tissue. Thus a pus-filled cavity is formed: the abscess. The origin of the abscess lies precisely in the area of the neck below the jaw, often on the surface of the skin.
Due to impurities, especially in beard growth and in adolescence, superficial pimples can quickly become infected and cause severe local inflammation. Conversely, inflammation in the mouth area such as the jaw or teeth can eat through the tissue and thus form an abscess under the jaw from the inside. Due to the accumulation of pus, the abscess usually appears as a swelling, and the area can also be reddened and overheated.
Root inflammation is an inflammation of the root of the tooth. This inflammation process usually begins with a disease of the affected tooth with caries. If this focus of infection is not treated in time, the inflammation can spread to the root of the tooth.
From there, inflammatory cells easily reach the surrounding tissue. As a result, inflammation of the jaw can occur. If the inflammation has spread so far, it usually no longer manifests itself only as toothache and possibly a thick cheek.
Often there is also a painful swelling on the neck under the jaw. Necrosis is the technical term for the death of tissue. In the case of necrosis of the jaw, various processes can damage the jawbone, causing the individual bone cells to die off.
The causes of jaw necrosis are manifold, for example, a lack of nutrients can damage the cells and thus lead to necrosis. An inflammation of the jaw, for example due to chronic inflammation in the oral cavity, is also conceivable as a cause of jaw necrosis.Likewise, necrosis of the jawbone can occur due to tumors or as a complication after radiation therapy or treatment with strong drugs. As the body tries to break down the necrotic cells, many immune cells are flooded into the area of jaw necrosis.
This can lead to swelling under the jaw. Cervical cyst is a structure that develops due to a faulty development of the pharyngeal arches in the embryonic period. It is an encapsulated space that is typically filled with fluid.
This neck cyst can occur on the side or in the middle of the neck under the jaw. Since the cyst takes up more space than the surrounding tissue, swelling occurs at the affected area. Usually the neck cyst occurs between adolescence and the age of 30 to 40 years.
In principle, a therapy of the neck cyst is not absolutely necessary. However, one fears the formation of a neck fistula, in which the cyst opens up to an internal organ or to the skin. This complication carries a high risk of infection, which is why the neck cyst is usually removed surgically as a precautionary measure.
The human body is equipped with several salivary glands, of which two large glands are located in the oral cavity: the lingual salivary gland and the mandibular salivary gland. The secretion of the salivary glands contains digestive enzymes, so the saliva not only helps to moisten the food in the mouth, but the enzymes already begin to break down the food into its individual components. In addition to the large salivary glands, there are also small glands on the tongue, lips and oral mucosa.
If an oral salivary gland becomes inflamed, however, it is usually the large salivary glands that are affected. For example, a salivary stone can block the excretory duct and cause the gland to become inflamed due to a build-up of saliva. This leads to a painful swelling in the area of the neck below the jaw.
Are you more interested in this topic?mouth floor cancer is a malignant disease in which a tumor forms in the area of the floor of the mouth. In a broader sense, all cancers in the area of the floor of the mouth and the base of the tongue are considered to be floor cancer. In most cases, these are cancer cells that are formed from the mucosal cells in the mouth.
More rarely, the cause lies in the glandular cells. The most important risk factors for the development of oral base cancer are excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. Mouth floor cancer typically develops only in later decades of life with a peak between the age of 60 and 70. Depending on the extent of the tumor, treatment can be surgical or radiotherapy. The prognosis depends on the type of cancer cells and the time of diagnosis.
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