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Share on PinterestSergey Mironov/Getty ImagesA lump or swelling on the face or surrounding area can cause the jaw to seem swollen. Depending on the cause, other symptoms may affect the mouth, neck, or other areas. This article looks at several possible causes of a swollen jaw and explores their other symptoms and their treatments. It also describes when to consult a doctor. Causes of a swollen jaw Some of the many possible causes of a swollen jaw include:tonsillitisstrep throatperitonsillar abscessviral infections mononucleosisLyme diseasejaw cyststhyroid nodulesin rare cases, thyroid cancer Each of these health issues causes other symptoms, and a range of treatments are available. Below, we look at each in detail. Tonsillitis Tonsillitis is the medical term for inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are two soft pads of tissue that sit at the back of the throat. Their job is to prevent harmful bacteria and other organisms from entering the body through the mouth or nose. Tonsillitis can cause swelling in the neck, which may extend up to the jaw. Other symptoms may include:a sore throatdifficulty swallowinga hoarse voice or an inability to speaka coughan earachea headachea fevernauseatiredness Treatment Tonsillitis symptoms usually go away on their own within 3–4 days. In the meantime, the following home treatments may help ease the symptoms:getting plenty of restdrinking plenty of cool fluidstaking acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease painsucking throat lozenges using anesthetic throat sprays Tonsillitis that has a bacterial cause may require antibiotic treatment. See a doctor if the symptoms are severe or last longer than 4 days. Strep throat Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils. Group A Streptococcus bacteria cause it. The infection can cause swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck and jaw. Other common signs and symptoms of strep throat include:a sore throatpain when swallowingred, swollen, or pus-streaked tonsilssmall red spots on the roof of the mouth People may develop other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting and a fever. Treatment Some people test positive for strep throat but have no symptoms. In this case, the infection is unlikely to pass to others and no treatment is necessary. Anyone with symptoms and a positive test will need treatment. Doctors will recommend either penicillin or amoxicillin. They can use other antibiotics to treat strep throat in people who are allergic to penicillin. In some cases, a person may develop an abscess around the tonsils. If the abscess does not respond to antibiotic treatment, a specialist may need to drain it. Peritonsillar abscess A peritonsillar abscess, or a “quinsy,” is filled with pus, and it develops between a tonsil and the wall of the throat. The same bacteria responsible for strep throat usually cause peritonsillar abscesses. They can also develop as a complication of tonsillitis, particularly in older children, adolescents, and young adults. An abscess may cause swelling in the face, particularly around the jaw. Some other symptoms may include:swollen lymph nodes in the necka sore throata muffled voicedifficulty swallowing or opening the mouth widea headachechills or a fever Treatment A doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics to treat the infection. If it is severe, a person may need IV antibiotics. In this case, the medication enters the bloodstream via an injection into a vein. In some cases, the abscess might persist despite antibiotic treatment. In these cases, an ear, nose, and throat specialist may need to drain the abscess. If a person has been unable to eat or drink, they may need IV fluids to prevent or treat dehydration. Viral infections Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) are highly contagious viruses that can all cause swelling in the lymph nodes around the jaw. These viruses were once common in the United States, particularly in children. However, they are now much less common due to the widespread use of effective vaccinations. The following table outlines some of the symptoms.VirusSymptomsMeaslesa fevera rasha cougha runny nosered, watery eyesMumpsa feverswollen salivary glandsmuscle achesheadachestirednessa loss of appetite Rubellaa fevera rasha sore throatred, itchy eyes Treatment There are no specific treatments for any of the three illnesses. The table below shows their usual duration.VirusDuration of illnessMeasles7–10 daysMumps1–2 weeksRubella1 week or under The following home remedies may help ease the symptoms of each infection:getting plenty of rest in beddrinking plenty of fluidstaking over-the-counter pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsapplying warm or cool compresses to swollen glandstaking steps to reduce eye discomfort, such as closing the drapes and dimming the lights These viruses are highly contagious and can spread through tiny sneeze or cough droplets in the air. People should therefore avoid contact with others while symptoms are present. The best way to avoid these illnesses is to receive an MMR vaccination. This is safe and highly effective at preventing the infections. Mononucleosis Mononucleosis, or “mono,” is another viral infection that can cause swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck and around the jaw. Some other symptoms include:a sore throata feverfatigue The Epstein–Barr virus causes most cases of mononucleosis. This virus is common among teenagers and young adults. Treatment There is no specific treatment for mononucleosis. However, the symptoms tend to go away within 2–4 weeks. The following home treatments may help relieve the symptoms:getting plenty of bed restdrinking plenty of fluidstaking acetaminophen or ibuprofen Lyme disease Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria. Ticks carry these bacteria and can transmit them to humans through their bites. The characteristic symptom of Lyme disease is a circular, target-like rash around a tick bite. The rash usually develops within 30 days of the bite. As the condition progresses, people may develop additional symptoms. Those that can affect the jaw include:pain, stiffness, or swelling of the jaw musclespain in the jaw jointlimited jaw movementpopping sounds in the jaw when opening or closing the moutha misaligned bite Some other potential symptoms of Lyme disease include:headachesneck stiffnessdrooping on one side of the facebone, joint, and muscle painnerve painheart palpitationsdizzinessshortness of breath Treatment Antibiotics are the first line of treatment against Lyme disease. People who begin the treatment in the condition’s early stages usually make a rapid, full recovery. Those with cardiac or neurological symptoms may require IV antibiotics. Jaw cysts Cysts are sacs of tissue that contain fluid or solid material. They can develop anywhere in the body, including inside the jawbone or around the roots of a tooth. Most jaw cysts result from:a decaying tootha broken tootha tooth embedded deep inside the jawbone As the cyst grows, it may cause the following symptoms:numbness or tingling in the lips, gums, or teethloosening of nearby teethweakening of the jawbonea lump or swelling in the jaw Treatment Removing a jaw cyst usually requires surgery. The surgeon may also remove any broken, damaged, or embedded teeth that caused the cyst to develop. Following surgery, antibiotics may be necessary to prevent infection. A person also needs X-rays to show whether the bone is healing correctly. Thyroid nodules A thyroid nodule is a lump that develops in the thyroid gland. This is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple and above the breastbone. It produces hormones that have wide-ranging effects throughout the body. Thyroid nodules are common, and the cause is not usually clear. Two known risk factors include hypothyroidism and an iodine deficiency. Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include:a lump in the neckpain or swelling in the neck, jaw, or eara tickling sensation in the throat Around 90% of thyroid nodules are harmless, but some can be cancerous. Treatment If the thyroid nodule is benign, it may not require treatment. The doctor may recommend follow-up imaging scans to check for any changes in its size or shape. If the nodule produces too much of a hormone, a doctor may recommend one or more of these treatments:drug therapyradioactive iodine treatmentsurgery Surgery is necessary to remove any thyroid nodule that has cancer cells. According to the American Thyroid Association, most cases of thyroid cancer are curable, and they rarely cause life-threatening complications. Cancer Thyroid cancer can cause swelling of the neck or jaw. Other types of head and neck cancer, including oral cancer, can also cause these symptoms. Some other symptoms of head and neck cancer include:a growth that feels hard or irregular in shapea sore that does not healpersistent pain in the neck, throat, or earsunexplained weight lossfatigue Also, cancer from elsewhere in the body can spread to the lymph nodes in the neck or jaw. This can also cause swelling in these areas. Treatment The treatment options for cancer vary, depending on cancer’s type and severity. Health professionals will want to remove the cancerous growth when possible. Other types of treatment may include radiation therapy or chemotherapy. When to see a doctor See a doctor if swelling in the jaw persists, worsens, or accompanies any of the following:symptoms of a bacterial infectionsymptoms of Lyme disease after a tick bitesymptoms of a jaw cystpossible symptoms of cancer, such as a distinct lump in the jaw or neck or a sore that does not healdifficulty opening the mouthdifficulty breathing Summary There are many possible causes of a swollen jaw. Most are harmless and tend to clear up with minimal or no treatment. However, see a doctor if the swelling persists, worsens, or accompanies other concerning symptoms. Rarely, a swollen jaw can be a symptom of cancer. Some cancers are highly treatable when a doctor detects the disease in an early stage. A person should see a doctor if they are concerned about any lumps or areas of swelling in or around their jaw. Last medically reviewed on May 30, 2022DentistryEar, Nose, and Throat 14 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About infectious mononucleosis. (2018).https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-mono.htmlHead and neck cancers. (2017).https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheetJaw cysts. (n.d.).https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/dentalschool/patientinfoleaflets/JawCysts.pdfLyme disease. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.htmlLyme disease: Treatment. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/treatment/index.htmlMeasles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/mmr-vaccine.htmlMumps. (2020).https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/mumpsOverview: Measles. (2018).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/Rubella (German measles). (2018).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rubella/Signs and symptoms of untreated Lyme disease. (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.htmlStrep throat: All you need to know. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.htmlThyroid nodules. (n.d.).https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-nodules/Tonsillitis. (2017).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tonsillitis/Your guide to thyroid nodules and swellings. (2018).https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-nodules-and-swellingsleafletFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Aaron Kandola — Updated on May 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageThyroid nodule symptoms, treatment, causes, and all else you need to knowMedically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP Thyroid nodules are lumps that can occur in the thyroid gland. Most are harmless, but some may need treating, and a few are cancerous. Find out more…READ MOREWhat to know about Lyme diseaseMedically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH Lyme disease is an illness that infected black-legged ticks can transmit to humans. Find out about the symptoms, treatment, and how to reduce the risk.READ MOREAll about mononucleosis (mono)Medically reviewed by Xixi Luo, MD Mononucleosis, otherwise known as mono, glandular fever, or the “kissing disease,” is a common illness, especially among teens and college students…READ MOREWhat you need to know about mumpsMedically reviewed by University of Illinois Mumps is a childhood illness caused by a virus. Symptoms may include a fever and an aching, swollen jaw, lasting 7 to 10 days. Vaccination can prevent…READ MOREEverything you need to know about jaw painMedically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. Various factors and conditions can cause pain in the jaw and nearby areas of the face. In this article, learn about some causes and which treatments…READ MORE