What Does a Pimple or Bump on My Gum Mean?

A pimple or bump on your gum is most often a gum boil, a small opening where pus drains from an infected tooth or gum pocket. It usually means there is an abscess underneath, even if it does not hurt. It will not heal for good on its own, so book a dental exam within a few days, or the same day if it is painful or swollen.

What is the bump on my gum?

A bump on the gum can look like a small pimple, a blister, or a white or yellow spot, often just above or below a tooth. When it is soft and leaks a salty or bad-tasting fluid when pressed, it is almost always a gum boil. Dentists call it a parulis.

A gum boil is not the problem itself. It is a drain. When bacteria infect the inside of a tooth or the pocket between a tooth and the gum, pus builds up and looks for a way out. The body tunnels a small channel through the bone and gum to release the pressure, and the bump is where that channel opens.

That is why a gum boil can be strangely painless. Once the pus has a way out, the pressure that causes a throbbing toothache drops. Many people notice the bump, feel fine, and decide to wait. The infection is still there, though, and it keeps working on the bone around the tooth.

What else can cause a bump on the gum?

Not every bump is an infection. A dentist can usually tell the difference in a few minutes with an exam and an X-ray. Common causes include:

Any bump that grows, bleeds easily, or has not healed in two weeks should be looked at, whatever you think it is. A dentist would much rather check a harmless bump than miss one that needs treatment.

Why does a gum infection happen?

Most gum boils trace back to one of three things:

• A tooth infection. Deep decay, a crack, or an old injury lets bacteria reach the pulp inside the tooth. The pulp dies and the infection spreads out through the tip of the root. This is the most common cause.
• Gum disease. In periodontitis, deep pockets form between the gums and teeth. Bacteria and debris trapped in a pocket can form a periodontal abscess. Our guide to why gums bleed when you brush explains how gum disease starts.
• Trapped food or a partly erupted tooth. A popcorn hull wedged under the gum, or a wisdom tooth that is only partly through, can trap bacteria and set off a local infection.

Having had a root canal or a crown on the tooth does not rule out an infection. Older work can develop new decay or a crack underneath.

Is a pimple on my gum an emergency?

It depends on what comes with it. Use this as a rough guide:

• Book an exam within a few days if the bump is small, painless, and you feel well.
• Get seen the same day if it hurts, keeps draining, the gum around it is swollen, you have a bad taste that will not go away, or a nearby tooth feels loose or sore to bite on.
• Go to a hospital emergency room for facial swelling with fever, swelling that spreads toward the eye or down the neck, or any trouble breathing or swallowing. Those can mean the infection is spreading, and that needs emergency medical care right away.

For more on how a tooth infection behaves, see our guide to dental abscess warning signs.

What can I do at home until I am seen?

Home care can make you more comfortable, but it cannot treat the infection. Until your visit:

• Rinse gently with warm salt water, about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water, a few times a day.
• Keep brushing and flossing the area gently so food does not collect there.
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label if it is sore.
• Do not squeeze, pop, or poke the bump, and do not place aspirin on the gum, which can burn the tissue.
• Do not wait for it to disappear. A gum boil that stops draining often comes back.

If the pain wakes you at night, our guide to toothache at night has more tips for getting through until morning.

How is a gum boil treated?

Treatment goes after the source of the infection, not just the bump. At Bleu Dentistry it starts with an exam and digital X-rays to find which tooth or gum pocket is infected. From there, the usual options are:

• Root canal treatment when the infection comes from inside a tooth that can be saved. Removing the infected pulp lets the gum boil heal and keeps your natural tooth.
• Drainage and a deep cleaning when the source is a gum pocket. Cleaning below the gumline removes the bacteria and buildup feeding the infection, and dental laser therapy can help treat the infected gum tissue.
• Extraction when a tooth is too damaged or cracked to save. Tooth extractions, including impacted wisdom teeth, are handled in-house, so there is no referral across town.

Dr. Allen Charles explains what he finds in plain language and gives you a written plan with prices before any treatment begins. If medication is part of the plan, he will go over it with you. Anxious patients can ask about sedation options, and payment options are on our financing page.

Can children get a bump on the gum?

Yes. Children can get gum boils from a deep cavity in a baby tooth or after a fall that injures a tooth. A baby tooth infection still matters, because it can affect the adult tooth forming underneath. Bleu Dentistry sees children for dental emergencies, so bring your child in if you see a bump that drains or a swollen gum.

When can I be seen in Dallas?

Bleu Dentistry is at 3607 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 250, close to Uptown, Highland Park, and Knox-Henderson. New emergency patients start with a $99 exam that includes X-rays. Walk-ins are welcome, and you can book online any time. Our hours are Mon & Wed 10–7, Friday 3 PM to 7 PM, and Sat 10 AM–8 PM, when many other offices are closed. Todo nuestro equipo habla español.

More about same-day care is on our emergency dentist page and our Saturday emergency page. Bleu Dentistry has 250+ patient reviews from Dallas patients.

Bottom line

A pimple or bump on the gum is usually a sign of an infection draining from a tooth or gum pocket, even when it does not hurt. It will not clear up for good on its own. Get it checked within a few days, the same day if it is painful or swollen, and go to the ER for facial swelling with fever or trouble breathing or swallowing.