Many conditions could be responsible for a lump appearing along your jawline. Are the lumps small, large, firm or mobile, fixed or mobile, tender or painful? Treatment will vary depending on the cause. Keep reading to learn about lumps along the jawline.
What Causes a Lump at the Jawline?
A bump, mass, swelling or lump along the jawline could cause fear. A lump can indicate a number of benign or easy-to-treat conditions, such as an insect bite or swelling of the lymph node.
While benign tumors are less common than cancerous, they should still be checked out by a doctor. Here are some common causes of jawline bumps:
Tooth Abscessed
Untreated cavities are often what cause a severe infection. The bacteria spreads to the pulp canal system via the blood vessels, nerves and inner chamber of the tooth. Abscessed teeth can also be caused by tooth fractures, severe trauma, or problems in the existing root canal.
A large amount of swelling can result from an abscess, which may form a lump near your jawline. The swelling can be severe and rapid.
Get treatment: Schedule an appointment immediately with your dentist to examine the tooth. Treatments usually require extraction or a canal. Your dentist may recommend antibiotics and drain the affected area.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
A swelling lymph node could be indicated by a moving lump in your jawbone. Your immune system can protect your body against illness through the use of a network lymph nodes. These lymph nodes are found under the jaw, chin and in the neck.
Your lymph nodes swelling can indicate an infection such as the flu, cold, or sinus infection. An abscessed tooth may also lead to a swelling of the lymph nodes. The size of a swollen, enlarged lymph node may vary and can feel tender when you touch, chew, or turn your head.
Treatment: In order to reduce the swelling of your lymph nodes you’ll need to treat the underlying problem. The doctor or dentist might prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medications or an over-the counter (OTC) pain relief to reduce inflammation. The removal of pus from the lymph nodes might be necessary in severe cases.
Cysts, benign tumors, or both
Another non-cancerous growth might cause a lump to form along your jawline. Cysts are filled sacs with fluid or matter. Benign tumors are formed when cells divide at an unusual rate. These tumors can not spread or infect other tissue.
These cysts and tumors are usually painless to touch but can cause discomfort if they grow and place pressure on nearby structures.
Treatment A dentist or doctor will likely recommend that you have your teeth removed. This could include the removal of nearby tissue or jawbones. A pathologist will inspect the area to determine if the tumor has been removed. The size and impact of the tumor may dictate whether surgery is required to reconstruct the jawbone or other areas of the mouth.
Cancer
A lump can also form around the jawbone. Although these cancerous growths are more common in older adults, they can occur at any age. The lumps feel firm and do not hurt. There are many reasons why a lump may form near your chin.
- Affecting a nearby organ like the mouth, throat, thyroid or salivary glands.
- Spread the infection from one organ to the other lymph nodes.
- Through nonmelanoma-skin cancer.
- Through sarcoma and lymphoma.
Treatment: A doctor may recommend that you undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. Your treatment plan will depend on your health, type of cancer and the progress.
Other Causes
The following are possible causes for lumps at the jawline, which may not be mentioned above:
How often should you see a doctor if your Lump Under Jawline isn’t healing?
A lump near the jawline may disappear by itself in some cases. If you notice a lump, contact your dentist or physician right away.
- It’s painful
- Growing
- Unexplained
- Do not present for longer than two weeks
- Begin by weight loss and fever
- Either difficulty breathing or difficulty swallowing
A dentist might refer you for further examination to an oral surgeon, a pathologist or a head & neck surgeon.
Sometimes it is impossible to prevent the lump. You can still practice good hygiene to prevent abscessed tooth.
You can also reduce your chances of getting oral cancer with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption. You can also see your dentist at minimum twice per year to help detect any issues as soon as possible.
Before you worry about it, be sure to check the warning signs above and to make an appointment to visit your dentist. They will be able to identify the cause of your problem and develop a treatment plan that will return your jawline to normal as quickly possible.