
What are the causes of oral bumps?
Oral bumps are oral mucous cysts that are caused due to irritated or inflamed salivary glands. At times many people experience gum pains and irritations at some point. Oral bumps are caused due to the build-up of plaque and several other types of bacteria which is the cause of gum pains and irritation. While this buildup of bacteria can also lead to bleeding and the redness of the gums.
There are several reasons which cause oral bumps in your mouth, some of the common reasons include stress, hormones, hypersensitivity, and infections.
While at times these tiny oral bumps are not always a matter of concern and can be treated without any medical help or medicines within several weeks.
10 most common causes when you should take an oral bump seriously
Cysts
Cysts are small bubbles that are filled with air, liquids, and other soft materials. Dental cysts are commonly formed in the gums and around the teeth. Commonly dental cysts are formed around the roots of the dead or buried teeth. These oral cysts are harmless and rarely cause any painful symptoms until and unless they are infected.
If the cyst is large it will cause pain in your gums which will put pressure on your teeth and even causes pain in the jawline. Most of the time these dental cysts are easy to remove through a surgical procedure. In this process, the doctor will remove the dead root tissue which will prevent the cyst from returning.
Abscess
The abscess may feel like a soft, warm bump and these are caused by bacterial infections. These dental abscesses are often very painful. If you have these painful dental abscesses, you should immediately contact a dentist. The dentist might remove the source of the infection and if the condition is very severe then there might be a need for the removal of the teeth or perform a root canal.
The common causes of the dental abscess:
- A sudden throbbing pain that gets worse.
- Redness and swelling which is seen in the gums or face.
- The pain gets worse when you lie down.
Canker Sores
This is one of the most common causes of oral bumps. These sores are usually red with white, yellow, or grey in the middle. Canker sores are not at all contagious and they often go without any treatment within 10 to 14 days. They are usually harmless and even get healed within a few weeks.
Canker sores are caused due to weak immune system, hormonal changes, deficiency of vitamins, toxins in drinking water, and emotional stress.
Symptoms of the Canker sores is
There is a sudden pain while eating and drinking.
Fibroma
The oral fibromas are a painless thing, they look like hard, smooth, and dome-shaped lumps. These limps are noncancerous and these are mostly formed on the irritated or injured gum tissues. They look like dangling skin tags and they mostly look lighter or darker than the rest of the gums.
Most of the time Fibroma doesn’t require any treatment and if it gets worse or more painful your doctor might remove it through surgery. Fibromas are caused inside the lips, on the sides of the tongue, and even inside the cheeks.
Pyogenic Granuloma
The oral pyogenic granuloma is a red bump that occurs in the mouth including the gums. They appear as a swollen blood-filled lump that even bleeds. Even the doctors are not sure what causes these pyogenic granulomas, but it is often said that minor injuries and irritation are the causes.
While is seen that some women might face these pyogenic granulomas during their pregnancy as hormonal changes might be the factor. The treatment of pyogenic granuloma includes the removal of the bump through the surgery. Pyogenic Granulomas often look swollen, soft, painless, and reddish or purple.
- Oral lichen planus: Oral lichen planus affects the lips, cheeks, gums, and tongue. If you are infected then you will notice raised, lacy patches of tissues, while in some cases you might even notice red and swollen mouth sores.
- Leukoplakia: This is a severe oral condition that causes thick and white patches which appear on the soft tissues inside the mouth. This is very common among people who smoke, while the symptoms usually go easily and in severe cases, and this even leads to oral cancers.
- Oral Cancer: A small outgrowth on the gum or the inner walls of the cheek could be deemed to be oral cancer – if and only if expressed through the report of biopsy. Prompt steps must be taken if such disease occurs and it is indeed a medical emergency.
- Gingivostomatitis: It is one of the most common infections which takes place in the mouth and gums. This is commonly seen among children. It commonly takes place on the gums and inside the cheeks. Gingivostomatitis produces tender sores.
Just like the canker sores they also appear greyish or yellow on the other side and red in the centre. These are painful sores and they often lead to drooling and pain while eating. If anyone is suffering from gingivostomatitis they might even experience the symptoms of mild flu too.
Oral Thrush
This is a yeast infection that takes place inside the mouth and on the tongue. It is a very common symptom that takes place among infants and children. It even takes place among adults too and it indicates a weak immune system.
If there is a dry mouth or taking medicines like antibiotics leads to the cause of developing oral thrush. Oral thrush looks like creamy white bumps that appear on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, or tonsils. The creamy white layer can be easily scraped off.
The symptoms of oral thrush include:
Pain at the site of the bumps, loss of taste, sudden pain while swallowing or eating food, and dry and cracked skin at the corners of the mouth.
When should I see a doctor or a dentist over mouth sores?
While in most cases a dentist can easily cure and diagnose mouth sores, if you have a severe mouth sore that is related to a medical condition then you should visit your primary care physician.
How will you heal your mouth sore?
To heal mouth sores your dentist will provide a proper medication process to ease the discomfort. Some of the mouth sore treatments include steroid gel and anti-inflammatory.
On the other hand, you can even do a couple of things at your home to get relief from the symptoms of mouth sores. Some of the home remedies include rinsing your mouth with warm and salty water for few times a day. Do not smoke or use any kind of tobacco products.
What should I eat if I am suffering from mouth sores?
If you are suffering from mouth sores try consuming foods like ice poops, ice chips, or any other cold food items as they may be very helpful for providing relief and giving a soothing feeling in that particular area. Try avoiding foods that are spicy, hot, and salty as they will directly give a painful experience to you by triggering that area.
The risk factors of mouth sores:
Oral bumps on the tongue or inside the mouth cause infections and inflammations. If the oral bump is massive and deep it might also get irritated and infected which eventually leads to bleeding. Gum diseases also cause bleeding in or around the gum or even in the gum line.
Even brushing your teeth with a hard toothbrush leads to inflammations which directly worsens the oral bumps.
Prevention of mouth sores:
To prevent those painful mouth sores one must practice a few steps. To reduce the risk of mouth sores you should follow the steps to achieve good oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly. Consume enough water and stay hydrated, eat a healthy and balanced diet. Avoid tobacco products and reduce the consumption of alcohol.
Is there any long-term effect of mouth sores?
In most cases, mouth sores don’t have any long-term effects. If you have the condition of herpes simplex the sores might reappear. In the case of cancer, the long-term side effects and the outlook depends upon the type and the treatment of the cancers.