Question: what are the bumps on the back of my teeth?
Answer: An abscess that develops on the gums is often referred to as a gum boil. They appear as swollen bumps on the gum. The main cause of a gum boil is bacteria — often from plaque, food particles, or tooth decay — that leads to infection beneath the surface of the gum. Rarely, a gum boil is a symptom of oral cancer.