6 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Swollen Cheeks

If you have swollen cheeks or a swollen face, do not jump to conclusions and rush to the doctor just yet. It is important to keep in mind that a puffy face is a fairly normal occurrence that happens not just to adults, but to children as well.

Although having this problem may not look or seem very obvious, sometimes, especially for the more severe cases, this can be a source of embarrassment. Not only that, discomfort and pain tend to develop, leaving you with a constant reminder of what you are going through.

What Are Swollen Face Symptoms?

Usually, one look in the mirror is all it takes for you to diagnose yourself with puffy cheeks. Another way to tell that you have a problem is by the pain.

Tenderness, discomfort, heaviness and soreness will become very evident during this time, leaving you no doubt that your cheeks are puffing up.

What Causes Swollen Cheeks?

There are multiple reasons why your cheeks may swell up. One common cause is the way you sleep. Sometimes too much pressure is placed on one side of the face while you slumber.

This can easily result in a swollen face. Other common causes are an allergic reaction, an eye infection like conjunctivitis, sinus problems, side effects of certain medication or mumps. Dental issues can also play a huge role in facial swelling. From infected teeth and gums to the emergence of a crooked wisdom tooth, there are multiple ways that your cheeks may become swollen and enlarged. However the most common cause of distended cheeks have to be because of injury or trauma. A bad fall or knock with a blow to the face will cause the area to swell. Although there may not be any external damage to the face or cheek such as a cut, the trauma will reduce the flow of blood to the area. This in turn affects the tissues in that particular spot. This will cause swelling and most of the time, slight discoloration like bruising may occur.

How To Get Rid Of Swollen Cheeks

Similar to how there are several ways you can get puffy cheeks, there are also several things that you can do to reduce a puffy face.

Many of these are simple remedies that you can practice at home. Others require some patience and a change of lifestyle choices to effectively rid yourself of puffy cheeks forever.  Here are 6 ways you need to know how to reduce swelling:

1. Hot Compress

One of the simplest things that you can do to combat a swollen face is to use a hot compress. Prepare a warm compress and press it against the swollen areas. This will improve the blood circulation to the area and speed up the healing process. It will bring down the swelling and significantly lessen the pain. If you do not have a hot compress, you can also prepare some hot water and a clean cloth. Dip the cloth into the water and gently press it against your cheek. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat one more time, or until your cheek feels soothed. You should conduct this remedy three times a day for optimum results. Not only is this technique highly efficient, it is also simple to prepare and will not take up much of your time. You can do this at the office, at home, in the car or anywhere else appropriate.

2. Ice Packs

Similar to a hot compress, a cold one will work just as well. You can either use a compress, a bag of frozen peas, or ice wrapped in a towel. If you do not have ice or a compress, fill up a bowl of cold water and dip a cloth into the water. Gently press the cloth to your puffy face and hold it in place for half a minute. Repeat this process a couple of times. Not only will this bring you immediate relief, it will also numb the pain and give you that extra reassurance that you will be just fine going about your day. For maximum and immediate relief, do this every time you cannot take the pain.

3. Lessen Your Salt Intake

You will be surprised at how important food’s role is when it comes to face swelling. You have to cut down on your salt intake if you want to lessen the puffiness around your face. Salt plays a role in water retention, and hence too much will cause puffiness and cheek swelling.

The less salt you consume, the less chance you have of retaining water. This includes not just table salt, but food high in sodium. Junk food, canned food, frozen food and fast food contain high levels of salt and should be avoided at all costs. In general, stay away from processed foods and stick to fresh and healthy produce.

4. Use Potatoes

Potatoes have a colorful history of not only providing sustenance, but also as a remedy for inflammation and pain. This natural home remedy will do wonders for swollen cheeks. Raw potatoes have an extremely cooling effect so peel and slice up a large potato and place the raw slices on your cheek. Turn your face to one side and let the potato slices sit on your face for 15 minutes or so. This simple remedy will soothe the pain. You can also boil a potato until it is cooked through. Place the potato in the middle of a thin cloth or towel and mash it up. Wrap the mashed potato in the same cloth and place it onto your cheek. This acts as a hot compress and will give you instant pain relief.

5. Avoid Known Allergens

This step calls for some patience on your part.

As a long-term solution to ridding yourself of puffy cheeks, stay away from allergens that will irritate you. This is especially true if you are allergic to certain things and can pinpoint the swelling of your cheeks to these allergens. Always read the labels on food that you buy and insist that your waiter list down the ingredients in the dish that you plan to order. This will minimize the risk of you having to deal with swollen cheeks, trouble breathing and pain.

6. Seek Medical Advice

If the pain and discomfort persist, head to your family clinic or make an appointment to see a dentist. The dentist will be able to tell you if your facial swelling has anything to do with your gums or teeth. If not, your family doctor will prescribe medication to help with the pain and swelling. In either case, there is really no harm in seeking the advice of a medical professional, especially if the pain and swelling persists or does not calm down within a couple of days.