Lumps and ulcers in the mouth can occur for various reasons. They will normally be picked up by your dentist on a routine examination and dealt with appropriately.
They can be benign or cancerous in which case you will have to see a doctor as soon as possible so that the appropriate treatment can be started soon. If you feel any abnormal growth in your mouth please contact your dentist soon.
Benign lumps in the oral cavity include:
This will involve a simple local anaesthetic and excision is performed by the surgeon. You may need some stitches to control bleeding and usually, they dissolve with time. A pathology report describing the nature of the lump is obtained after a microscopic exam which secures diagnosis.
If the appearance is suspicious, then you will be referred to the hospital for further management.
Cysts of the jaw can arise in healthy adults or children. They are thought to arise from the remnants of developing tooth tissue. They can also arise out of the infected tooth. Very occasionally the cysts of the jaw can turn into tumours which may require aggressive treatment. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence. Many times they are picked up as incidental findings during a routine dental examination. Treatment involves removal of cyst lining, in certain types aggressive bone removal may be necessary to prevent a recurrence.
Many swellings/lesions in the head and neck region are benign. However, one needs to be aware of the following signs and check with your doctor or dentist as soon as possible as they may indicate signs of malignancy:
- Lump appearing under lower jaw or neck.
- Smokers with white patches in their mouth especially the tongue/floor of mouth/lips.
- Non-healing ulcer for more than 14 days in the mouth.
- Bleeding ulcer in the face.
- Difficulty swallowing associated with or without change of voice.
- Any of the above associated with weight loss, anorexia, fatigue and night sweats.
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