A lump on gum might arise some questions, such as what the things is, how dangerous it can be, and why it forms in the first place. Lumps on gum commonly form on either the upper or the lower jaw, very close to the cheek. In many cases, people do not realize the presence of these lumps, since they are usually painless. However, they do get harden eventually and this is when people usually notice the lumps.

How lumps on gum form

There are a couple of things that may cause a lump on gum. The presence of a flat bone called a torus on the tongue side of the lower jaw or on the hard palate of the mouth is the main reason why it is possible for a lump to grow on gum. These tori do not generally trigger any complications when your mouth, tongue, gum, and teeth are healthy and well-maintained, and you do not experience any incidents giving a knock on these flat bones. However, knocked out teeth, removable dentures, and multiple teeth growths may influence the state of these tori, causing the appearance of lumps on gum. Lumps on gum are often related to mouth cancer, although in fact, not all gum lumps are cancerous. Specific symptoms, signs, and locations of the occurring lumps may tell you a lot about the main causes of its presence.

What a lump on gum means

Observing the symptoms and signs of lumps on gum will enable you to tell what possible causes are.

Examine the texture and characteristic of the lump

Lumps on gum may be either soft or hard. Hard lump on gum is in most cases, a small bony bump from the torus. It is possible for the torus to be non-malignant, and this often causes hard lump on gum. On the contrary, soft lump on gum may indicate something different than merely a torus growth. In a few cases, recurrent soft lumps on gum indicate oral cancers, although this diagnosis needs to be drawn based on many others characteristics of the lump and the mouth in general.

Find out the locations wherein the lump on gum grows

The most common locations for a gum lump to occur are on the lower jaw near the cheek or on the lower or upper jaw near the wisdom teeth. The lump on these locations are very common as a result of the ruptured gum area from wisdom teeth trying to erupt. This may also cause the swelling of the lymph nodes. A lump on gum near the site where the wisdom teeth should be may not always be painful, yet it often affects your ability to chew or merely close the mouth.

Determine the color of the lumps

In addition to texture and location of the lump on gum, you can also determine what your lump might convey by seeing through its color. Dark or light shade of the gum lumps may tell what complication might be going on inside the mouth.

• If you have a bright red lump on gum, which is in the form of soft clusters, you might need to anticipate an oral cancer, although a series of tests and examination might still be required. This is possible because a cancer cell will need a steady blood supply in order to maintain its fast growth. As a result, the lump on your gum turns color into the blood color of red. Dark red colored gum lumps that grow inside the gum, on the inner lip or cheek, or inside the jaw might signify oral cancer symptoms, which require immediate doctor visit.
• If you are suffering from painful-painless lump that is pinkish or light pink in color, it is very likely that you have a mandibular torus growth. This is possible, since the bone is present just under the gum. However, dark pink lesions which stay for more than 2 weeks might show a lot more than merely the torus problem.

Other possible causes of lumps on gum

There are some other reasons concerning either small or big lumps on the gum, such as:

• Recurrent lump on gum that is always there may be calcium deposits, which is identified as a hard lump on the gum under the tooth.
• Lump on gum may also develop from prolonged or untreated dental or gum abscess. This is often accompanied by pain, swelling, and elevating temperature.