The mouth is one of the most sensitive areas of our bodies, and finding something unusual is the reason for concern. A dental exam is the best way to find out more about your bump, and you should take some steps to ensure that the problem does not get worse.
What Causes Bumps in the Mouth?
The cheeks and gums are prone to small injuries while your teeth are chewing foods, so finding a sore or tender area is fairly common. Some of the more surprisingly reasons that people develop bumps in the oral cavity are:
- Smoking
- Injured saliva ducts
- Sore caused by biting your cheek
- Allergies
- Stress
- Digestive issues
- Trauma to the mouth
- Infections
What are Types of Bumps Require Treatment?
- Oral thrush that develops when a certain type of fungus grows inside the mouth. The sores typically appear as whitish spots or bumps on the tonsils, upper palate, cheeks, and gums. The spots or bumps may increase in size. Infants, older patients and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for oral thrush.
- Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, look like little blisters on the edge of the mouth, inside the cheeks or on the lips. Fever blisters cause a great deal of discomfort, especially when chewing or talking.
- Canker sores are found on the gums along the bottom of the teeth, on the inside of the cheeks and the upper palate. The sores have a red border that surrounds a white center. As the condition progresses, the sore may grow larger, or you may develop several sores that are clustered.
- Abscessed teeth can cause small red bumps on the gums near the infected tooth. The condition requires immediate attention by an oral healthcare provider to stop the infection from spreading and causing damage to the bone.
- Leukoplakia appears as white bumps at the entry of the throat. Patients who smoke and have digestive problems typically develop these types of bumps.
- Oral cancer causes bumps on several areas of the mouth, such as under the tongue, upper palate and on the inside of the cheeks.
Do You Have an Unusual Bump in Your Mouth? Contact Centennial Dental Center.
If you have a bump in your mouth or would like to learn more about dental cleanings, same day crowns, and our other services, contact Centennial Dental Center to schedule an appointment. You can contact our Boise office directly at (208) 322-1112.
