Most people experience mouth sores, bumps, or discolorations during their lifetime. Fortunately, most of these are benign and pose no significant health risk. Although some of these oral lesions go away without treatment, it is a good idea to have your dentist examine any abnormality that persists. One of the more common swellings is called a mucocele in the mouth, and these may require treatment to remove them. Although benign, these can cause other problems.
If you notice any changes in your teeth or oral soft tissues, schedule an appointment with Trident Dental for a complete evaluation.
What Is Mucocele in Mouth?
An oral mucocele, also known as an oral mucous cyst, is a bump that usually develops inside the lip, on the floor of the mouth beneath the tongue, on the palate, or the surface of the tongue. They can appear white, transparent, or bluish and are benign. Although mucoceles cause no harm, they can interfere with speaking, chewing, or swallowing as they enlarge due to filling with cystic fluid. Some resolve spontaneously without treatment, but others require surgical removal.
Pea Sized Lump in Cheek
If you accidentally bite your cheek, you can damage a salivary gland and cause the formation of a mucocele. This can feel like a pea-sized lump in your cheek. Another cause of this can be a blockage of a parotid salivary gland located in front of your ear. A blockage prevents the normal drainage of saliva from the gland into your mouth. The buildup of saliva causes a fluid-filled sac or mucocele to form. These mucoceles can increase in size and usually require treatment.
What Causes A Mucocele?
There are several possible causes of an oral mucocele, including:
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Lip biting. A common cause of mucoceles is habitually or accidentally biting or sucking on your lower lip or cheek. These can damage the salivary gland duct and disrupt the normal and healthy flow of saliva.
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Face trauma. A blow to the face can also harm the salivary gland duct and cause mucous to leak into the surrounding soft tissue. A cystic wall can form around this and result in a mucocele.
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Salivary gland injury. An inflamed and swollen salivary gland can also cause mucous to build up and form a mucocele.
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Lip piercing. A piercing of oral soft tissue can cause an infection and the growth of a mucocele.
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Poor oral hygiene. Not brushing and flossing regularly to remove plaque from your teeth can cause bacteria to accumulate. A severe bacterial accumulation can block a salivary gland and cause an oral mucocele.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Mucocele?
Mucoceles usually show traits, such as:
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Soft and round.
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Painless.
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Dome-shaped.
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Moveable.
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Small, typically less than one-fourth inches.
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Blue, white, or transparent.
Diagnosing A Mucocele
Because of their very characteristic appearance, your dentist may know from a physical examination if you have a mucocele. However, you may have a swelling that requires other diagnostic methods due to its appearance, location, and health history. Your dentist may ask that you have one or more of the following to confirm a diagnosis of oral mucocele:
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Biopsy. One of the major concerns when you notice a bump in your mouth is whether you have oral cancer. The only way to diagnose many oral bumps or swellings is through biopsy. There are two types of biopsies, incisional and excisional. An incisional biopsy removes a small portion for laboratory examination. An excisional biopsy removes the entire lesion for examination. Excisional biopsies are more common for mucoceles. Occasionally, fluid from the swelling may be drawn for microscopic examination to rule out a problem with a blood vessel.
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Ultrasound. This is a noninvasive technique using high-frequency sound waves to acquire images of the inside of a cyst. One of the advantages of this test is its safety. Ultrasound imaging, however, is limited in its ability to diagnose most oral swellings definitively.
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Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. CT scans use a series of radiographs to produce 3D computer images of bone and soft tissues. MRI uses radio waves and a magnetic field to generate computer images of body tissues.
Treatments For A Mucocele
Many mucoceles rupture after swelling and resolve completely without treatment. More extensive or persistent mucoceles, however, may require surgical removal.
After surgical removal, the tissue is sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination of its cells. This provides a definitive diagnosis of the lesion. If you have a large swelling, corticosteroids may be injected to reduce its size before removal. In some instances, this resolves the mucocele, and surgery is no longer needed.
Some mucoceles can be removed with the simple and easy method known as cryosurgery. This technique uses liquid nitrogen placed on a cotton swab to freeze the lesion. This may take a few applications over a couple of weeks for complete resolution.
Another noninvasive method to remove a mucocele is using a diode laser. This has particular application when it is advantageous to avoid possible surgical complications such as bleeding, swelling, and excessive surgical apprehension.
Can Mucoceles Recur?
Mucoceles, especially those found on the underside of the tongue, can recur. Recurrence is also more common in younger patients.
Types Of Mucoceles
There are two kinds of oral mucoceles.
Extravascular mucoceles
These mucoceles occur when mucous spills into the surrounding tissues after trauma or rupture of a salivary gland duct.
Retention mucoceles
These mucoceles are less common and are caused by a salivary gland duct blockage. These are more common in older adults.
Preventing a Mucocele
While you cannot prevent all mucoceles from forming, you can take steps to lower your risk. These include avoiding habits such as biting or sucking on your lip or cheek, maintaining good oral hygiene, and only using a qualified professional for any oral piercings. Regular dental checkups also can enable your dentist to detect and treat a small mucocele before it becomes a more severe problem.
Schedule Appointment
Regular oral examinations and professional teeth cleanings can help prevent tooth decay and other oral diseases. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Trident Dental.