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Considering that yours is predominantly an indoor cat and injury is not suspect:
The classic symptoms of underlying infection are calor, dolor, rubor, and tumor. You've already mentioned the latter (i.e. swelling); but, what about the others?
calor/heat - is the afflicted area warmer to the touch than the surrounding area? Is your cat's body temperature within normal limits?
dolor/pain - is there a painful reaction to the touch, is the cat guarding (avoiding contact with the afflicted area including eating), is the cat sleeping alright?
rubor/redness - is the swelling accompanied by discoloration inside or outside of your cat's mouth?
With the presence of other symptoms (besides swelling), the chances of it being due to infection increase. Acute onset is also indicative of infection. If other symptoms are absent and the change was gradual, then it could more likely be due to something else (e.g. abnormal tissue growth).
NAWWWWW! The cat probably just enjoys a good chaw of tobaccy ev'ry now 'n' then and he'd be fine if you'd spring for a spittoon so he wouldn't have to hold it in his mouth 'til he got outside!
Get well soon kitty. Get well soon pocketbook!
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