Waking up and glancing in the mirror, only to have your heart jump into your throat, is not the best way to start your morning. Let’s say you were getting ready to begin your day but were halted in your tracks after noticing an innocent little lump smiling up at you from inside your mouth.
What is this hard knot-like thing, and how can you get rid of the bump on your gums?
If you find yourself freaking out, go on and take a deep breath. Everything is alright. A bump on the gums is nothing more than a result of bad oral hygiene. In most cases, it’s not even a medical emergency. In fact, they tend to clear away on their own. However, on rare occasions, these soft and painless bumps can also be considered a sign of oral cancer.
What Does It Mean When A Bump Grows On Your Gums?
A bump on your gums is nothing to worry about. They’re usually benign and fade away in due time. Nonetheless, there are many variations regarding identifying the type of bump and what it might mean. Here’s a list of 5 common reasons you can feel a hard lump on your gums.
- Canker Sores A type of mouth ulcer, canker sores are harmless but extremely painful. They’re circles of white lesions with a red ring around them. You may notice redness and swelling surrounding these little nodes. Canker sores usually go away on their own, but to speed up the process, you can also use over-the-counter analgesic creams.
- Dental Cysts When your tooth is nearly dead, a cyst tends to develop near its roots. These cysts are little pockets filled with air or other oral liquids. You might not take notice of the symptoms at first, but once the infection worsens, so does the pain. Dental surgery is usually required to remove these cysts from their core.
- Periodontal Abscess Periodontal Abscess are formed as a reaction to dental infection. These pus-filled sacs are painful and tender to touch. Draining the abscess is the only way to get rid of the bump on your gums.
- Fibroma The most popular reason for a lump to fester on your gums is because of Fibroma. These dome-shaped nodules are noncancerous and occur due to irritated gums. They might be painful at first, but when left alone, they reduce in size and vanish on their own.
- Pyogenic Granuloma Pyogenic granulomas are blood-filled lumps that appear on your gums. This happens as a result of minor oral injuries. There may be a bit of bleeding but don’t worry; it’s nothing serious. A simple dental surgery can eliminate them without a trace.
- Mandibular Torus If you find a hard but bony bump at the base of your gums, it’s most likely a mandibular torus. The exact cause of these is unknown. However, they can be removed through a minor surgical procedure.
- Oral Cancer Rarely does a bump on gum lead to cancer. Nevertheless, if your gum remains swollen for more than two weeks, you should schedule a dentist for an oral screening.
How Can I Get Rid of the Bump on My Gums?
Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent bacteria and plaque from settling down. Make sure to brush your teeth meticulously and floss every day. If possible, repeat the process after every meal. This will allow your gums and teeth to remain clean and pain-free.
Furthermore, if you’re looking to schedule an appointment with a Dentist in Houston, Texas, then visit Royalty Dental Associates for more information. You can also contact us at (281) 655-0500 (Spring Cypress) or (281) 288-0900 (Cypresswood).
