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What to do if…
you develop facial swelling from a tooth problem that seems to be spreading

Short answer

Treat facial swelling from a tooth as urgent. If you are finding it hard to breathe, have a swollen/painful eye or eyesight problems, or have a lot of swelling in your mouth, call 999 or go to A&E now.

Do not do these things

  • Do not “wait and see” if the swelling is getting bigger, moving under your jaw/into your neck, or you feel increasingly unwell.
  • Do not try to squeeze, lance, or pop anything in your gum/face.
  • Do not apply heat to your face (for spreading infections, heat may worsen swelling).
  • Do not lie flat—keep yourself more upright, especially if swelling feels like it’s progressing.
  • Do not take someone else’s antibiotics or “leftover” antibiotics.
  • Do not exceed painkiller doses or mix products that contain the same ingredient (for example, multiple paracetamol products).

What to do now

  1. Decide emergency vs urgent dental care using these triggers (if in doubt, treat as emergency):
    • Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
      • you are finding it hard to breathe
      • you have a swollen or painful eye, eyesight problems, or swelling spreading towards the eye
      • you have a lot of swelling inside your mouth
    • Also treat as emergency if you have difficulty swallowing, drooling/can’t swallow saliva, swelling/tightness under the jaw/neck, or you cannot open your mouth properly and it’s worsening.
  2. If you’re not in immediate danger, get urgent dental help today:
    • Call your dental practice and say: “facial swelling from a tooth infection that seems to be spreading.”
    • If you cannot reach a dentist, it’s out of hours, or you do not have one: call NHS 111 and ask for urgent dental care.
  3. While arranging help, reduce risk and stay stable:
    • Sit upright and keep your head raised (including when resting).
    • Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek/jaw (10–15 minutes at a time with breaks).
    • Take over-the-counter pain relief only as directed on the label (avoid doubling ingredients; avoid anything you’ve been told not to take).
  4. Get ready to describe what’s happening (this speeds urgent triage):
    • when swelling started and how fast it’s growing
    • fever/chills, foul taste/drainage, worsening pain
    • whether you can open your mouth and swallow normally, and whether your eye is affected
    • your medications, allergies, pregnancy status, and major conditions (especially diabetes or immune suppression)
  5. If symptoms escalate at any point (even while waiting):
    • switch immediately to 999/A&E using the emergency triggers in step 1.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether you’ll need extraction, drainage, a root canal, or antibiotics—first you need urgent assessment.
  • You do not need to identify the exact tooth with certainty before seeking help.
  • You do not need to push through work, driving, or plans—this is a same-day issue.

Important reassurance

Facial swelling from a tooth problem can feel frightening and out of proportion to the tooth pain—but you’re not overreacting. Getting assessed urgently is the safest way to prevent complications and get proper treatment started.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance to help you stay safe and reach the right service quickly. Later decisions may need a dentist or hospital team after assessment.

Important note

This guide provides general information, not a diagnosis. If you are finding it hard to breathe, have eye symptoms, have a lot of swelling in your mouth, or you’re unsure whether you’re becoming an emergency, seek emergency care immediately.

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