Probably TMI but I've had this slow growing grape sized lump on my gum for about a year. I'm frightened of the dentist so I've never got it looked at hoping it would go away. It's painless and I can feel it on the outside of my face, I had a root canal on this tooth about 10 years ago so I doubt it's an abscess as also it doesn't hurt. It doesn't really cause problems it's just annoying, I don't know if it's serious or nothing as it's not disappearing, it doesn't move, most of the time it's hard but occasionally goes soft. Any similar experience and turned out to be nothing.