Bump in gums behind teeth
A lump behind a tooth may be normal bone or tissue, but it can also reflect irritation, infection, a cyst, or an erupting tooth.
The short answer
A lump behind a tooth may be normal bone or tissue, but it can also reflect irritation, infection, a cyst, or an erupting tooth. The gum sits over the jawbone and surrounds each tooth. A firm, unchanged ridge can be normal anatomy, while a new, tender, red, draining, or enlarging lump may come from inflamed gum, a tooth root, or a developing tooth.
How can I compare a gum lump with normal anatomy?
Compare both sides with a clean finger, but do not squeeze, puncture, or repeatedly rub the area. Continue gentle brushing and interdental cleaning, and note its size, color, tenderness, and change over time.
When should I arrange care for a lump behind my teeth?
Arrange dental care soon if the lump is painful, growing, bleeding, draining, associated with bad taste, or present with tooth pain. Facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing needs urgent care.
Could this lump be attached to my gum or tooth?
Is it attached to the gum or the tooth, and is the underlying tooth healthy? Ask whether an examination, periodontal probing, or an X-ray is needed.
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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.