Back of mouth gum swollen
Swelling at the back of the mouth often involves the gum around a wisdom tooth, but decay, food impaction, trauma, or a gum infection can produce.
The short answer
Swelling at the back of the mouth often involves the gum around a wisdom tooth, but decay, food impaction, trauma, or a gum infection can produce similar swelling.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Partly erupted third molars can leave a gum flap over the tooth. Bacteria and trapped food beneath the flap may cause pericoronitis, with tenderness, redness, bad taste, or pain when opening the mouth.
What can you do next?
Clean gently with a small soft brush and rinse with lukewarm salt water while arranging an examination. The dentist may flush the pocket, inspect the second and third molars, take an X-ray, and treat infection, decay, or the tooth position.
When should you seek dental care?
Obtain urgent care for fever, facial or neck swelling, pus, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or limited mouth opening. Even without those signs, recurring swelling should be assessed because the adjacent molar can be damaged.
What should you ask the dentist?
Can swollen gum at the back heal by itself? Mild irritation may settle, but repeated or worsening swelling can signal disease that requires treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can swollen gum at the back heal by itself?
Mild irritation may settle, but repeated or worsening swelling can signal disease that requires treatment.
What if symptoms continue?
Obtain urgent care for fever, facial or neck swelling, pus, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or limited mouth opening. Even without those signs, recurring swelling should be assessed because the adjacent molar can be damaged.