Dra. Cléo Salustiano In this article
SummaryWhat could a bump on the gums be?What to do, what to avoid and when it is urgentFAQRead nextBump on the Gums: What It Could Be and When It Is Urgent
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A white, yellowish or pus-filled bump on the gums is often a fistula, the drainage point of an infection from a tooth with an affected pulp, and it will not go away for good unless the cause is treated, usually with root canal treatment or extraction. Other causes include a periodontal abscess, pericoronitis, canker sores, mucoceles, granulomas, fibromas, cysts and tori. Do not pop the bump or use home remedies or antibiotics on your own. Fever, spreading swelling or difficulty swallowing or breathing require the emergency room, and lesions lasting more than about two weeks need an exam. In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients every day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A bump on the gums, especially a white or yellowish one or one that releases pus, is often a fistula (also called a gum boil): a small channel that drains infection from a tooth whose pulp (the "nerve") is affected, or from a gum pocket. It may not hurt, but it will not go away for good unless the cause is treated, and it needs to be checked by a dentist. Other possible causes are a gum abscess, a canker sore, inflammation around a wisdom tooth, a mucocele, a granuloma, a cyst or harmless bony growths such as a torus.
In the office, patients often say the bump appears, bursts, disappears for a few days and then comes back in the same spot. This coming and going is typical of a fistula: the infection has found an exit, the pressure eases and the pain fades, but the source is still active inside the bone. That is why the absence of pain does not mean everything is fine.
Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844), a dentist in Mooca, explains what a bump on the gums can be, how to tell the most common causes apart, what not to do at home and which signs call for urgent care.
This article comes from Dr. Cléo Salustiano's dental office in Mooca, São Paulo (care in English, Portuguese and Spanish). See the gum health page to learn how the treatment is done here and book your assessment.
What could a bump on the gums be?
Fistula (pus bump): the most frequent cause of a white or yellowish bump on the gums, usually above or below the root of a tooth. It appears when there is infection at the root tip, from deep decay, a tooth that took a blow, a large filling or an old root canal that became reinfected. The pus works its way through the bone and drains through the gum. The dentist examines the tooth and, when needed, requests an X-ray to locate the source; treatment targets the cause, usually root canal treatment or, when the tooth cannot be saved, extraction. The article tooth abscess: what to do explains this in detail.
Periodontal abscess and gum inflammation: when there is a gum pocket from periodontal disease, trapped food or tartar, pus can build up closer to the gum line, with swelling, pain and sometimes a tooth that feels loose. Around a partially erupted wisdom tooth, inflammation called pericoronitis also causes swelling and pain. To understand the signs of inflammation, see swollen gums: what to do.
Lesions that are not infections: a canker sore is a shallow, whitish, painful ulcer with a reddish border, not a pus-filled bubble; the article canker sore on the gums shows how to tell them apart. A mucocele is a soft, translucent bump caused by a blocked salivary gland, more common on the lip. A pyogenic granuloma is a reddish growth that bleeds easily and can appear, for example, during pregnancy or from local irritation. Fibromas are firm nodules linked to repeated biting or rubbing. A denture or braces that rub can also cause tissue overgrowth.
Hard bump: a hard lump covered by normal-looking gum, on the inner side of the lower arch or in the middle of the palate, is usually a torus or exostosis, a harmless bony growth that generally needs no treatment unless it interferes with a denture. Cysts can grow without pain and are sometimes found on X-rays. In children, an eruption cyst looks like a bluish bubble over a tooth that is about to come in. Since several of these lesions look alike to the naked eye, only an exam can define the cause; when needed, the dentist requests further tests or refers for a biopsy.
| What the bump looks like | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| White or yellowish, releases pus, comes and goes | Fistula from a tooth with root infection | Dental assessment; treat the cause |
| Swollen, painful, near the gum line | Periodontal abscess or trapped food | Assessment as soon as possible |
| Shallow white sore with a red border and pain | Canker sore | Usually heals; get it checked if it lasts beyond about two weeks |
| Soft and translucent | Mucocele | Assessment; do not prick it |
| Hard, covered by normal gum, painless | Torus or bony exostosis | Assessment; usually just monitoring |
| With fever, spreading swelling or difficulty swallowing or breathing | Spreading infection | Emergency room immediately |
What to do, what to avoid and when it is urgent
Do not try to pop the bump, prick it with a needle or squeeze out the pus. This can push the infection into other tissues and hurt the gum, and the bump comes back as long as the cause remains. Do not put aspirin, alcohol, plain baking soda or other home remedies on the gum, and do not apply ice directly to the area. Antibiotics should not be taken on your own: they may reduce swelling for a while, but they do not treat the tooth at the root of the fistula.
While you wait for your appointment, keep brushing with a soft brush, including that area, floss gently and, if there is pain, use a pain reliever only as advised by a doctor, dentist or pharmacist and according to the label. Watch whether the bump changes in size or color or releases pus, and note how long it has been there: this information helps with the diagnosis.
Seek same-day care if you have severe pain, facial swelling, a pus taste that is quickly getting worse or a tooth that is very tender to touch. Go straight to the emergency room if you have a fever, swelling spreading toward the eye, the neck or under the tongue, or difficulty swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth: these are signs the infection may be spreading. Any bump, lump or sore that does not go away within about two weeks, even without pain, also needs to be examined.
This content is for information only and does not replace an exam: consult a dentist to find out what is causing the bump. In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano sees patients every day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including Sundays and holidays, for dental emergencies in Mooca and gum disease treatment.
What is a white bump on the gums?
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Most of the time it is a fistula: a small pus outlet from a tooth with a root infection or from a gum pocket. It can also be a canker sore, which is a shallow, painful ulcer, or another type of lesion. Because appearances can be misleading, a dentist needs to examine it and, when needed, request an X-ray.
Does a gum fistula go away on its own?
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It may shrink or disappear for a few days when the pus drains, but it usually comes back in the same place because the infection remains inside the tooth or bone. Solving it requires treating the cause, usually with root canal treatment or, when the tooth cannot be saved, extraction.
Can I pop a pus bubble on my gums?
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No. Pricking or squeezing it can hurt the gum and push the infection into other tissues, and it will return as long as the cause remains. Keep brushing with a soft brush and see a dentist to assess the tooth involved.
Is a painless bump on the gums dangerous?
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No pain does not mean everything is fine. A fistula often does not hurt precisely because the pus is draining. A hard, painless bump, on the other hand, may be a harmless bony growth such as a torus. Any lesion that lasts more than about two weeks should be examined.
What is a hard bump on the gums?
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A hard lump covered by normal-colored gum is usually a torus or exostosis, a harmless bony growth that generally needs no treatment unless it interferes with a denture. Cysts and fibromas can also form firm nodules, which is why an exam matters.
When is a bump on the gums urgent?
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Seek same-day care if you have severe pain or facial swelling. Go to the emergency room if you have a fever, swelling spreading toward the eye, the neck or under the tongue, or difficulty swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth. Do not take antibiotics on your own.
Where can I get a bump on the gums checked in Mooca?
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In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients at Rua Hipódromo, 1141, near Bresser-Mooca station, Monday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays, also for urgent cases. Appointments via WhatsApp (11) 97409-7834, in Portuguese, English or Spanish.
