Swelling in inner gums
Inner-gum swelling may come from plaque inflammation, trauma, a blocked eruption, or infection around a tooth.
The short answer
Swelling on the inner gums may result from plaque-related inflammation, trauma, a blocked erupting tooth, or infection around a tooth.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The inner gum is the tissue on the tongue-facing or palate-facing side of the teeth. A bump may be inflamed gingiva, a fluid-filled abscess, an eruption-related swelling, or an injury from biting or a sharp tooth edge.
What can you do next?
Keep the area clean with a soft brush and rinse gently with warm water. Do not puncture the swelling, apply caustic substances, or place aspirin on the gum, and note whether a tooth is painful or food is trapping there.
When should you seek dental care?
Arrange dental care for swelling that persists, enlarges, recurs, bleeds, drains, or is associated with tooth pain. Facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing needs urgent medical attention.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the swelling is in the gum or comes from a tooth, whether an X-ray is needed, and whether cleaning, drainage, a filling, root canal treatment, or extraction addresses the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can a gum bump be an abscess?
Yes. An abscess may produce a tender swelling or drainage, but examination and often an X-ray are needed to identify its source.
Should I pop the swelling?
No. Puncturing it can injure tissue and does not remove infection inside a tooth or deeper tissue.