5 Potential Asymmetrical Smile Causes
Disclaimer: The article does not replace an evaluation by a physician. Information on this page is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.
1.Bell's Palsy
Bell's palsy (facial palsy) causes sudden weakness in facial muscles and makes half of the face appear to droop. The exact cause is unknown, but it's believed to be the result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of your face or may be a reaction that occurs after a viral infection.
Weeks to 6 months
- Rarity:
- Uncommon
- Top Symptoms:
- arm weakness, facial numbness, arm weakness, hearing loss, pain on one side of the face
- Symptoms that always occur with bell's palsy:
- face weakness, weakness in one side of the face
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
2.Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a diseased blood vessel within the brain bursts, allowing blood to leak inside the brain. (The name means within the cerebrum or brain).
Serious life-threatening condition with a high chance of death. Consultation with a brain specialist (neurosurgeon) is needed to determine outlook.
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- nausea, new headache, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck
- Urgency:
- Emergency medical service
3.Head and Neck Cancer
There are five main types of head and neck cancer, which are all named according to the part of the body where they develop: laryngeal (voice box), nasal cavity and sinus, nasopharyngeal (air passage way behind the nose), oral (mouth), and salivary gland cancers. Most of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), meaning they begin in the flat (squamous) cells that make up the thin surface layer of the structures in the head and neck.
Head and neck cancers span different types of cancer with variable prognosis so a consultation with an oncologist is required to determine outlook.
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, hoarse voice, neck bump, ear canal pain
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
4.Cholesteatoma (a Non - Cancerous Growth in the Ear)
Cholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst that is located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull. It can be a birth defect though more commonly occurs as a complication of chronic ear infection.
Chronic, but curable
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- ear fullness/pressure, ringing in the ears, pain in one ear canal, vertigo (extreme dizziness), hearing loss in one ear
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
5.Wegener's Granulomatosis
An inflammation of the blood vessels by the body's immune system is a rare, but possibly dangerous problem. The inflammation can happen anywhere, but often in the sinuses, lungs, and kidneys.
Uncertain
- Rarity:
- Rare
- Top Symptoms:
- fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, shortness of breath, fever
- Urgency:
- Primary care doctor
Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Asymmetrical Smile
- Q.Have someone else watch you during this physical exam. Try to close your eyes tightly. Can you close both eyes fully?
- Q.Have you noticed a change in your hearing?
- Q.Have you noticed any vision changes?
- Q.Is the skin on your face asymmetrical?
If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions, try our asymmetrical smile symptom checker to find out more.
Take a quizAsymmetrical Smile Symptom Checker Statistics
People who have experienced asymmetrical smile have also experienced:
- 15% Face Deformity
- 11% Facial Asymmetry
- 5% Drooping Eyelid
People who have experienced asymmetrical smile were most often matched with:
- 12% Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- 6% Head and Neck Cancer
Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).