Small bump on gums above tooth
A small gum bump above a tooth can result from irritation, a draining dental infection, a cyst, or normal bone, so its cause needs examination.
What could cause a small bump above your tooth?
A small gum bump above a tooth can result from irritation, a draining dental infection, a cyst, or normal bone, so its cause needs examination.
How can a bump above a tooth relate to its root?
A bump on gingiva over a root may be a sinus tract from infected pulp, while a firm painless prominence may be bone or irritation.
What should you avoid doing to a small gum bump?
Do not squeeze it. Note size, color, tenderness, drainage, and duration; a dentist may test the tooth, probe the gum, and take a radiograph.
When does a small gum bump need urgent attention?
Seek prompt care for pain, pus, enlargement, or a tooth with decay or a crack; facial swelling, fever, or swallowing difficulty is urgent.
What tests should your dentist use to find the cause?
Ask whether vitality testing and imaging show a root infection, and whether treatment concerns the tooth, gum, or observation.
Frequently asked questions
Could this have another cause?
A bump on gingiva over a root may be a sinus tract from infected pulp, while a firm painless prominence may be bone or irritation.
What should I do first?
Do not squeeze it. Note size, color, tenderness, drainage, and duration; a dentist may test the tooth, probe the gum, and take a radiograph.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.