What Could a Bump Inside Your Mouth Mean? When to Visit a Dentist by Courtney Louis

You know your dentist as the specialist you see twice a year after your hygienist cleanings. Maybe he spots a cavity or perhaps he tells you to brush your teeth more thoroughly, but your dentist is more than just the professional in charge of overseeing your teeth cleaning regimen. He’s the doctor of whatever ails your mouth as well. If you experience an issue that’s not directly related to your teeth but affects your gums, tongue or the tissue inside your cheeks, head to the dentist as soon as possible.

There are many causes behind a bump in your mouth, some of which are serious and many more of which are benign. However, if it’s serious, it’s best you get it diagnosed and treated before it develops into something even more worrisome, and even if it’s benign, if it’s causing you discomfort, a dentist will be able to advise you on how to treat it and lessen your pain. Many mouth bumps are white in color, while others are red or even virtually invisible as they’re the same pink as the surrounding tissue. Whether you can see a bump or if you can just feel it, schedule an appointment at one of the leading dental offices in your area today.

Irritation

Many bumps are caused by irritation or repetitive rubbing. If you chew the inside of your cheek or run your tongue over an area over and over, you could develop a bump, ulcer or canker sore on the inside of your mouth. If you have braces or other metal appliances in your mouth, these could cause the bump as well. Treatment involves stopping the behavior whenever possible or applying dental wax to the metal as well as applying dentist-prescribed ointment to the area when applicable.

Yeast and Diet

Sometimes a bump is caused by what you eat. A diet high in yeast can cause small white ridges to break out on your tongue and throughout your mouth. If you have a light allergy to any food, your mouth could break out in irritation. Treatment involves identifying the dietary cause of the bumps and eliminating it from your meals. If the dentist pinpoints a yeast infection, treatment involves cutting back on yeast and potentially taking some medication to reduce the outbreak.

Cancer and Other Causes

Diet and irritation may be among the most frequent causes of mouth bumps, but they’re not the only causes. More worrisome are the mouth ulcers and tumors caused by conditions such as cancer, low white blood cell count and other medical issues. A dentist can run a test in his office to check for abnormal cells in your mouth and refer you to a surgeon who will perform a biopsy on the bump if necessary.

A biopsy doesn’t mean the bump is necessarily cancerous, but that it shares some traits with cancerous bumps, and the dentist wants to be sure. Cancerous bumps are typically red or white, and may be coupled with other early signs of cancer, such as sore throat and difficulty swallowing. If you’re a smoker, you’re at greater risk. If oral cancer is ruled out, the dentist may refer you to a doctor to determine other possible causes.

Your dentist will be able to allay your fears and prescribe treatment for the bump in your mouth. If he thinks it might be something that requires further examination, he’ll refer you to the oral surgeon or another doctor best suited to assisting you. Whenever a bump appears, it’s safer to have it examined by a dentist as soon as possible than to let it linger and possibly develop into something worse.

About the Author: Courtney Louis is a senior health care advisor in Brooklyn who recommends Park Slope Dentistry to all of her clients.

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