Swelling above gum line
Swelling above the gum line can reflect irritation or infection around a tooth and should be examined when it persists or spreads.
The short answer
Swelling above the gum line may be caused by plaque-related gum inflammation, food trapped near a tooth, trauma, or infection inside a tooth or around its root. The cause cannot be identified from location alone, so persistent, painful, or spreading swelling needs a dental examination.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The gum over a tooth contains connective tissue and blood vessels, while the tooth root sits in the jawbone beneath it. Inflammation in either the gum or the tissues around the root can make the area look raised, red, tender, or fluid-filled.
What can you do next?
Brush gently with a soft brush, clean between the teeth, and avoid pressing or piercing the swollen area. A dentist may examine the gum pocket, test the tooth’s response, remove trapped material, and take an X-ray if a root or bone problem is possible.
When should you seek dental care?
Arrange prompt care when swelling is painful, recurrent, associated with a bad taste, or located beside a decayed or broken tooth. Seek urgent help for rapidly spreading facial swelling, fever with severe illness, or any difficulty breathing or swallowing.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the swelling begins in the gum, the tooth pulp, or the tissues around the root, and whether an X-ray or drainage is needed. Ask whether treatment involves cleaning, a filling, root canal treatment, extraction, or gum care.
Frequently asked questions
Can a swollen gum above one tooth be an abscess?
Yes, especially when there is throbbing pain, a bad taste, tenderness to biting, or a draining spot, but an examination is needed to confirm the source.
Should I put aspirin on the swelling?
No. Placing aspirin or other medication directly on the gum can irritate or burn the tissue; use only measures recommended for your situation.