Lump on Gums - Pictures, Causes, Painful, Painless, (Hard Soft), Bumps, Get Rid

A lump on gums can occur due to a variety of reasons. The lump may feel hard or soft occurring either after a root canal or as a result of oral cancer. The lump can also be caused by a bacterial infection or yeast infection inside mouth. The lump could also occur above tooth or below tooth. Here is how to get rid of a lump with or with no pain.

Having a lump on your gums can be worrying. It becomes very difficult to perfume simple task like chewing, talking or swallowing food. Though some the bump might not be serious or be life-threatening, it is advised that you have a professional health care provider look at it as soon as you can.

Understanding what the actual cause of the lump is can help in treating it and preventing it from recurring in the future. Based on the available symptoms, your health care provider can make an accurate diagnosis which will lead to correct medication.

Lump on gum NHS

According to NHS, gum diseases are very common. Most of this condition causes the gums to become swollen, sore or infected. With most of the gum diseases, your gums may bleed especially after brushing your teeth, most people are also likely to have bad breath. A common sign of gum disease that could lead to lump on gum is known as gingivitis.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums when left untreated, t could lead to a condition known as periodontitis. This condition refers to the inflammation of the tissue around teeth. This condition often causes shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth.

According to NHS, periodontitis should not be left untreated for long, this is because when the condition is left untreated, the bone in the jaw may be damaged causing small space to open up between gums and teeth. Eventually, the teeth may become loose and all out.

Regular dental checkups are important, this is because gums disease isn’t always painful, and this means it may be difficult for you to even realize you have such problems. Dentist says that healthy gums are supposed to be pink, firm and hold your teeth securely in place. Your gums are not supposed to bleed when touched or brushed.

Here are some signs and symptoms of a possible gum disease:

Red and swelling gums
Gums bleeding after brushing or flossing
Bad or foul breath
Unpleasant taste inside mouth
Persistent loose of teeth
Painful gum abscess and boils
Excess saliva inside mouth
Difficulty talking or swallowing food
fever

Lump on gum after root canal

Lumps on gum as mentioned are common. Some may occur due to a viral or bacterial infection whereas other to some people the lump may occur after a root canal. A root canal is a dental procedure of replacing an infected pulp with an inert material.

A root canal is needed when an injury, trauma or a large cavity damages the tooth’s root. A damage tooth root may become infected or inflamed, this can be very painful. The procedure for a root canal according to the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is as follows:

a dentist numbs the infected tooth, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber
A special file is then used to remove the infected and unhealthy pulp out of the canals. The canal is then shaped for filling material. Irrigation is used to clean the canal and remove debris
The canal is then filled with permanent material, commonly a material known as gutta-percha is used, this will help keep the canal free of infection and contamination
To seal the remaining opening, a temporary filling is placed on the gutta-percha. The material will remain until permanent filling or a crown is placed on the tooth.
The crown is finally cemented in place.

Hard Lump on gum no pain

A lump on gum will have different characteristic depending on what the underlying cause of the bump is. For starters, a bump may be soft of hard, painless or painful, large or small and so on. The most common cause of hard bump is oral cancer, but not all hard bumps are cancerous.

A bump appearing on the arch side of jaws can more likely be a torus. Torus is a harmless, small bony hard lump. It is a benign bony growth in the lower jaw.

Possible Causes:

Here are some possible causes of the hard lump on gum with no pain.

Tooth decay

Tooth decay is the decay of the outer surface of the tooth as a result of bacterial infection. Tooth decay occurs when acid is produced from plaques that build up in teeth. When the plaque are allowed to build up, it could result in further oral problems. It is possible for you to develop dental caries, gum disease or a dental abscess.

Common symptoms of tooth decay will include the following:

Severe toothache
Tooth sensitivity
Hard gray or black spots inside mouth
Bad breath
Unpleasant taste in mouth

Tooth decay is a common problem that can be prevented with simple by keeping your teeth and gums healthy as possible. To achieve healthy teeth, here are what you need to do:

Have regular visits to your dentist
Reduce your consumption of sugary and starchy foods
Brush your teeth regularly with a with a mild fluoride toothpaste
Cut down on alcohol and tobacco product

Mandibular tori

This is a bony growth in the mandible (lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the face, it forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place) along the surface nearest to the tongue.

This hard painless growth are usually present near the premolars and above the location of the mylohyoid muscles attached to the mandible. In most cases, there will be a torus (bony growth in upper and lower jaw) on both the left and right side.

Mandibular tori are usually a clinical finding that required no treatment. Due to trauma, it is possible for ulcers to form around the area of the tori. If removal of the hard bone growth is required your dentist may recommend surgery.

Calcium deposit

Another possible cause of the painless hard lump on gum can be calcium deposits. Calcium deposits can form on bones and teeth, this is called calcification. The plaques adhere to teeth and form plaques which harden to form tartar or calculus. Maintain good oral hygiene may help prevent against this.

Prolonged or untreated gum abscess

An untreated gum abscess can cause the spread of bacterial infection to another area. This abscess can also cause the formation of hard bumps when the pus in them solidifies. Have a doctor check it out as soon as possible.

Lump on gum after tooth extraction

Tooth extraction which is basically the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone can also possible led to lump on gums. According to the Columbia University of Dental Medicine, a tooth extraction is done when there is too much damage for the teeth to be repaired.

After a tooth is extracted, you gum remains exposed, thus leaving you open for a possible viral of bacterial infection. This may lead to the formation of lumps, cyst or bumps that are filled with pus and blood.

Common reasons for tooth extraction include:

Extraction of tooth that blocks others
Extraction of baby teeth that fail to give room for permanent teeth
In cases of radiation therapy in head or throat, teeth in the line of radiation need to be extracted to give way for the radiation
Extraction of decaying wisdom teeth (also called third molars)
Extortion of infected tooth especially for people who have had organ implants, this is common because of decreased or suppressed immune system.

It’s important to be on the lookout in cases of anything after having a tooth extraction. Having a tooth out is more like a surgery, you are likely to experience discomfort. Your gums may swell, become inflamed and cause a lot of pain. Your dentist may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can help to reduce the inflammation after a tooth extraction.

Lump on gum at the back of mouth

A lump or bump on gums can appear anywhere. The position of your mouth a gum appear will vary depending on what the underlying cause of the bump is. A lump at the back of the throat can be as a result of irritation or a bacterial infection occurring inside the mouth.

Localized traumatic injuries at the back of mouth can also cause these bumps to occur. Gum irritation, common in people who grind their teeth, the repeated irritation could lead to the formation of these bumps if the irritation is occurring at the back of gum. This is considered a protection mechanism resulting from a response of the immune system.

Regardless of where a lump on gum appears, most of the bumps occurring on gums will have the following symptoms:

Most will be filled by pus, blood or semi-solid material especially when infected
A throbbing sensation around the lump
Most will be painful
Tenderness
Swelling and inflammation of the gum
Fever especially in children
Painful fluid-filled blister may form along the mucous membrane lining the inside of your mouth
Tooth sensitivity

Painful lump on gum above tooth

A painful lump on gums should worry you. It is annoying and can make it difficult to perform activities such as chewing food, swallowing, speaking or just moving your mouth. A lump above tooth can be formed by any of the following.

Candidiasis a yeast infection caused by a species of candida
Canker sores, this are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues inside the mouth or at the base of mouth. This are not contagious
Cold sores also called fever blisters, this is a common viral infection that causes tiny fluid filled blister to appear around lips, inside of mouth and on gum in rare cases
Tooth abscess or a dental abscess is an accumulation of pus that forms inside teeth or gum. This lumps often accumulate from a bacterial infection often n the soft pulp of the tooth
Hormonal changes (pyogenic granuloma) common in pregnant women is also a possible cause of lump on gum
Tumor of the teeth or gum can either be a malignant growth or a benign growth.
Cyst of the jaw or a jaw cyst is a pathological epithelial lined cavity filled with material, it usually grows from internal pressure generated by fluid being drawn into the cavity from osmosis.
Other possible cause of painful lump above tooth will include the following

Traumatic injuries
Vitamin deficiency (vitamin k & c)
Gingivitis
Bacterial infection
Localized abscess

Lump on gum below tooth

A lump below tooth can be caused by the following conditions.

Gingivitis

This is the inflammation of the gum. Gingivitis is the earliest sign of gum disease. The inflammation is caused by the accumulation of plaques (soft, sticky colorless film of bacteria that forms constantly on the teeth and gums)

Poor oral hygiene such as failure to brush or floss your teeth is a common cause of this accumulation. The accumulated plaques may produce toxins that can irritate the gum causing gingivitis. Gingivitis can be protected by:

Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly
Feed well to ensure healthy jawbone and teeth
Cut down on alcohol and tobacco
Make sure you have regular checkups with your dentist

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is the other common cause of a lump below tooth. It is a bacterial infection that causes the inflammation gum. The infection destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth.

Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis is the inflammation of soft tissue surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth, including the gums and the dental follicle. The signs and symptoms of this inflammation can range from mild to severe and would include swelling gums, tenderness, redness, bad breath and swollen lymph nodes around the neck.

Lump on gum cancer

Gum cancer is a malignant tissue growth that occurs due to uncontrolled growth of cancer cells in the gums. Gum cancer is a type of oral cancer. In general, it is a rare type of cancer. Gum cancer is curable if caught in the early stages. Cancer grows relatively slow, when untreated, however, it could spread to deeper tissues of mouth and neck.

Left untreated, gum cancer could spread to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes and blood where this cancer cells can form another cancerous tumor. The symptoms of gum cancer will vary among individuals and differ depending on the stage the cancer is in, common symptoms will include:

Painful gums
Swelling and inflammation of the gums
Painless hard lump on gums
Bleeding gums
Sore and lesion that do not heal
Unusual sensation n gums such as numbness and pain
Swollen lymph node especially on neck

Lump on gum line in child, baby

Teething is the common cause of the lump in children’s gum. Teething by definition is the process of your child growing his or her first teeth, milk teeth. The teething process will vary from one baby to the other. The process is, however, common during the first year. Common teething symptoms are:

Your baby’s gum becomes red and sore where the teeth is to come out from
Either the left or right cheek is flushed
More fretful than usual
Your baby may dribble more than usual
The baby may gnaw and chew one thing for long
A hard lump on gum

A thermal burn of mouth or tongue often described as burning mouth syndrome, this is a medical condition that refers to a chronic or recurrent burning in the mouth without any obvious reason [Mayo clinic]. The discomfort may affect the tongue, gums, lips, inner cheeks, palate and the entire inner mouth.

How to get rid of lump on Gum

Getting rid of a lump on gum will depend on what the underlying cause of the lump is, and what symptoms the lump has such as its size and what it contains (puss, blood or other fluids)

1. Salt water rinse

A salt water rinse can be used for a number so different reasons. Salt water rinse is a great remedy for those with sore throats, gum throats, or those who have recently undergone a dental procedure. Salt water rinse can:

Soothe and heal mouth sores
Benefit sore throats causing strep throats and tonsillitis
It can also provident emergency dental hygiene in an event you do not have a regular mouth wash.

2. Oral or topical antibiotics

In cases of bacterial infection resulting from the lump gum, your dentist may prescribe either a cream or antibiotic pills to try and fight down the infections.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking and chewing tobacco products are a common cause of oral problems, to try and prevent this kind of condition (lump on gum), you need to cut down on such smoking.

4. Maintain proper oral hygiene

Maintain proper hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. To get rid of the bumps and other oral conditions, you will need to maintain a proper diet to keep your gums stronger and your teeth healthier. A regular visit to your dentist is encouraged.

5. Anti-inflammatory medication

For severe swelling and inflammation of the gum due to a lump, anti-inflammatory medication may be used. Most dentist will prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

6. Surgery

In cancerous of malignant cancerous growth on gum, a surgical procedure may be prescribed to get rid of the cancerous cells. This will not only help get rid of the cancerous cells but also prevent the cancerous cell from spreading to other parts of the body.

7. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for oral cancer

Depending on the extent and type of cancer you are suffering from, other options may be used to try and get rid of the cancerous growth. This includes chemotherapy, where strong chemical drugs are prescribed to kill the cancerous cells and radiation therapy that uses a high-energy radiation to destroy cancer.

Sources and references:

Lump on Gums – Pictures, Causes, Painful, Painless, (Hard Soft), Bumps, Get Rid