Gum swollen between two teeth
A small swelling between two teeth is commonly linked to trapped food or local gum inflammation, but a periodontal pocket, foreign object, or tooth...
The short answer
A small swelling between two teeth is commonly linked to trapped food or local gum inflammation, but a periodontal pocket, foreign object, or tooth infection can also cause it.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The triangular gum between neighbouring teeth is called the interdental papilla. Plaque, a tight contact, a rough filling edge, a food fragment, gum disease, or an abscess near a tooth root can make this tissue red, tender, enlarged, or prone to bleeding.
What can you do next?
Gently floss or use an appropriately sized interdental brush, then brush the gumline with a soft brush. Do not force an object into the space or puncture the swelling; note bleeding, pus, bad taste, pain on biting, and changes in tooth contact.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek care if the lump remains after careful cleaning, returns in the same place, bleeds, drains, or is paired with toothache. Facial swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing needs urgent assessment.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the swelling is in the papilla, a gum pocket, or an abscess, and whether probing, a filling adjustment, cleaning, or a dental radiograph is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can home care fix the underlying problem?
Home care can protect tissue or reduce symptoms, but decay, infection, structural damage, and persistent lesions need diagnosis and treatment.
What information helps at an appointment?
Record when it started, what triggers it, whether it bleeds or swells, and any treatment or product already used.