Ulcer on gum above tooth

An ulcer above a tooth may be trauma, a mouth ulcer, or a draining dental infection, so its duration and nearby tooth symptoms matter.

The gum above a tooth contains attached gum tissue over the tooth root and supporting bone. A shallow sore with a white or yellow centre can follow biting or brushing trauma, while a pimple-like swelling that releases fluid may be connected to infection around the root or gum pocket.

Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and rinse with plain water or a mild salt-water rinse. Do not pop, pierce, or burn the lesion, and avoid foods that repeatedly rub it; note its size, pain, discharge, and how long it has been present.

Arrange dental care for a sore that persists, returns in the same place, enlarges, or is linked with toothache, pain on biting, bad taste, or facial swelling. Seek emergency medical care if swelling affects breathing or swallowing or spreads quickly.

Ask whether the lesion looks traumatic, ulcerative, or related to a tooth root or gum pocket. Ask whether vitality testing, periodontal measurements, or a periapical X-ray is appropriate and what treatment will remove the underlying cause.