Swollen but no pain—is this normal?

So, here’s the situation: my gums are feeling pretty swollen, though they don't actually hurt unless I apply pressure. It’s just this weird sensation when I bite down—almost like a nerve is being pinched. It isn't massive swelling, but it’s definitely noticeable. Does anyone know how long this lasts or how I can fix it? Please don't tell me to go to the dentist right now; I really don't feel like dealing with an appointment before the holidays! To make things even more interesting, it feels a bit numb, too!

Jose Wright2 said:So, here's the deal. My gums are acting up. It doesn't really hurt unless I apply a little pressure—kind of like if I'm pressing down on a nerve or something. It’s not massive swelling, just enough to be annoying. Does anyone know how long this kind of thing lasts or how to fix it? And please, don't tell me to go to the dentist right now. I am seriously not feeling a trip to the clinic before the holidays hit. It feels almost numb, if that makes sense.

You didn't mention if the swelling is actually above the tooth, but if it is, that's coming from the tooth itself. If there's no pain, that tooth has probably been rotting for a while now. You need to see a dentist. If you can't make it this weekend, get it handled on Monday.

And how long will it take for this swelling to go down? It isn't even that bad right now if you look closely, but you can still see it...

Jose Wright2 said:How long does it take for the swelling to go down? It doesn't even look that bad right now if you actually take a good look at it...

It all depends on what’s going on underneath, but if they start treatment within a few days, it should shrink up significantly.

Does anyone find relief from LED therapy? Or should I just stick to over-the-counter meds?

Jose Wright2 said:Does ice help? Or maybe some Advil?

Look, painkillers will definitely take the edge off. Ice helps too. But let's be real: both of those are just masking the symptoms. They aren't actually fixing whatever is broken. You can't cure this stuff on your own. You're just chasing the pain away temporarily.

Honestly, it might not even be a tooth issue at all. Could just be a canker sore or some basic gum irritation. 🤷
What does the painful spot actually look like?

Man, my gums swell up constantly, especially when I'm eating popcorn and a kernel gets stuck between my teeth and the gum line.
I must have particularly sensitive gums; no matter how thorough my brushing is, the second any food debris gets lodged there, the swelling starts immediately.
It clears up after a few days.

The problem is, it usually hurts like hell.

There can be a whole bunch of reasons why your gums start acting up, but if they’re swelling enough that you can actually see it in the mirror, you’re probably looking at an abscessed tooth