Small Growth in Mouth: Causes and Treatment
The appearance of a growth or ball-like shape in the inner cavity of the mouth can cause a great alarm to the person suffering from it, as a person's first though is that it's a serious or malignant condition that must be taken care of immediately. However, in most cases there is no reason to worry unless this injury begins to show noticeable changes. In this oneHOWTO article we explain in detail the causes and solutions of of a small growth in the mouth and when you should go to a specialist urgently.
Contents
Fibroids in the mouth
One of the most common causes for the appearance of a small growth on the mouth, palate, gums, the inside of the lips or throat are fibroids in the mouth, benign tumors with a round and well defined shape that are usually bright and hard.
They commonly appear in areas in which friction takes place, although they can appear on any point of the oral cavity. They do not represent any danger and in some cases, when they are small in size, they may disappear on their own although, if they grow, it is desirable for them to be removed for the patient's comfort.
Mucous cyst or mucocele
This type of growth in the mouth usually forms on the inside of the lip, on the cheeks or on the floor of the mouth, although it can also be present on the gums or the palate. It is a round ball of a variable size, but it has a particular characteristic: it is filled with liquid inside. A mucous cysts is not painful, but depending on where they are located it may be annoying for the patient.
These types of injuries can appear due to the habit of sucking the cheeks or inner part of the lips and also due to perforations and piercings. Normally, they do not require any type of treatment and over time they usually explode on their own, however if it causes a lot of discomfort, it should be removed.
White growths in the mouth
If we detect the presence of white growths in the mouth or the tonsils, it is important to pay attention to them, because unlike the conditions previous mentioned, in this case, a specific medical treatment is required, depending on the origin of these growths. The most common causes of white lumps in the mouth and tonsils are shown below:
Oral thrush
This infection is caused by the candida fungus, which is characterized by the presence of white lumps in the mouth accompanied by pain when swallowing and bleeding when brushing your teeth. The fungus must be controlled and removed to put a stop to the problem.
The usual treatment for this condition includes the use of antifungal drugs to combat the overgrowth of candida albicans as well as good oral hygiene care. In addition, it is recommended to increase the consumption of probiotic foods, which help to balance yeast levels.
Discover more details about this condition in our article on how to treat oral thrush in babies and young children.
Oral herpes
It occurs due to the infection of the herpes simplex virus type 1, characterized by the presence of white thrush, burning or itching in the area in which they are found and pain when swallowing.
In some cases, fever may occur, this condition usually disappears on its own, but can also be eliminated with medication. Antiviral medications are prescribed, which can be administered topically or orally.
In the following article you can see more details about how oral herpes spreads.
Caseum
They usually form in the tonsils and throat, it is an infection caused by the accumulation of dead cells that is characterized by producing bad smell in the oral cavity and can also cause a sore throat.
To diagnose and treat it, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist, who will be responsible for eliminating these whitish or yellowish formations and help to solve the problems of bad breath caused by them
Mouth cancer
It is very unlikely for a growth in your mouth to be related with mouth or oral cancer. The type of growth that may indicate that it is a form of cancer include a bleeding growth, gum weakness, jaw pain, difficulty chewing, thickening skin in the mouth, pain in the tongue, dentures do not fit properly, etc...
Note that studies have found that it is most common in middle-aged men, although it has been detected in younger adults[1]. Bad habits such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, having HPV or a weak immune system may trigger the appearance of these symptoms and mouth cancer.
When to go to an emergency doctor?
A growth in the mouth usually does not pose a serious health problem, however it is always important to see an otolaryngologist or dentist for a timely diagnosis.
Despite this, there are situations in which this type of injury warrants an urgent visit, so you should always use a specialist immediately if:
- The growth becomes an ulcer.
- If the injury hurts or bothers you severely.
- If you have problems when talking, chewing or swallowing.
- When there is inflammation in the lymph nodes.
- If there is a loss of weight without an apparent cause.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Small Growth in Mouth: Causes and Treatment, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
