I woke up this morning and the lower half of my right jaw is extremely sore, it feels as if someone punched me, ifs tender to the touch and is a little swollen. I called my dentist and have an appointment for tomorrow morning. The weird thing is he asked if any of my teeth on that side hurt, and they don't, it's just the area under the jaw bone. Anyone have any idea of what this can be? Any suggestions of how to releive some of this pain and swelling? I took tylenol but it hasn't done a thing for me yet. TIA

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I've had that happen where I've slept wrong with my lower jaw sort of shifted over, but if your gum is swollen, I would floss carefully if possible to make sure you don't have a piece of something lodged, like popcorn.

He is probably wondering if you have an abscess. If that's the case, he will likely prescribe antibiotics and may want to drain it if there is an obvious problem that he can see. Do you get to the dentist twice a year? Is there any chance that you have a cavity that was not treated?

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"Dance like no one is watching."

You may also want to swish with hydrogen peroxide or salt water, but be careful not to swallow it. Won't taste very good.

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"Dance like no one is watching."

bsrs, thank you so much, I am going to try the peroxide when I get home . I do see my dentist regularly in fact I was just there about three weeks ago, that is why this seems so odd to have come from no where.

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

Maybe a swollen gland? Do you feel bad?

Maybe a salivary duct stone. Does it get worse when you eat?

As for pain, maybe a cold pack would help.

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

for swelling: either Aleve or Motrin/Ibuprofen (2 aleve or 4 motrin)
either hot or cold to help w/ pain. Or you can alternate hot/cold (20 min warm pack, then 20 min ice pack).

It could be from ear/sinus issues, salivary gland or glandular.
Are you running a fever?

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I woke up one day a couple of years ago with the entire right side of my face swollen. I was so scared. My husband drove me straight to the dentist's office and he said he thought I had a stone and sent me to an oral surgeon.

That's what it was and it required a very minor surgery to remove it. He showed it to me and it was about a quarter of the size of a grain of rice. Hard to believe that a tiny sliver like that could cause so much pain. It had to be biopsied but thank God, it was fine.

Update.. i woke up this morning with no swelling and just a dull pain. I went to the dentist and he said its a small abcess so I am on antibiodics.

__________________
~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

HOpe you feel better Christine hugs and peace. Catherine

I had one too, but I was lucky - it popped out on its own and caused no pain. I just noticed a white bump under my tongue one day. I googled around and suspected a salivary gland stone based on pictures I found. I made an appointment with my ENT and on the day before my appointment, it just popped out! I saved it and he confirmed it was a salivary gland stone. Weird. I hope it doesn't happen again.

Glad the OP is on the mend.

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.