What is a Mucocele? (A Small Ball in the Mouth)
Has it ever happened to you that you bite down and a lump appears in your mouth or a small lump that you don’t know what it is? Possibly it is something called a mucocele. In this article we will explain what is a mucocele, which is a type of oral mucous cyst that affects mostly children and adolescents.
What is a mucocele?
It is a lump that appears inside the mouth due to an alteration in a minor salivary gland. This causes an accumulation of mucous and a blister-like appearance with transparent or bluish tones.
The mucocele is nothing more than a small cyst filled with mucus that forms in the regions where minor salivary glands are present. Studies estimate that 96% of mucoceles originate in the lower lip.
This lesion is not transmitted to others and is associated with alterations in the production of mucus and saliva of the oral mucosa. In most cases, the mucocele resolves spontaneously.
It can be superficial or deep, ranging in size from a couple of millimeters to 3 centimeters.
Where does it normally appear?
The most frequent location to find a mucocele is the surface of the lower lip, although it can also be found on the upper lip.
It can also appear on the inner side of the cheek, on the anterior and ventral side of the tongue and on the floor of the mouth. In the latter case, the mucocele is called a ranula.
How do you know if you have a mucocele?
Symptoms are usually not painful, especially if the mucocele is small. If it is painful, it is usually only sensitive to direct contact.
Like most cystic lesions, the mucocele may resolve spontaneously, allowing drainage of the fluid accumulated inside, or it may require surgical drainage.
To confirm this type of cyst, you should ideally visit your dentist. However, we can usually find the following characteristics:
- It does not cause pain.
- It has some mobility (fluctuating)
- Its texture is smooth and its shape is round.
- The surface is translucent or bluish in color.
- It usually measures between 1 and 10 mm, although it can reach up to 2 cm.
- They may last several days or even years to disappear and may have recurrent swellings with continuous rupture of their contents.
Why does a mucocele appear?
The main cause of its occurrence is trauma, especially a lip bite (lip mucocele). The lesion involves a rupture of a salivary gland and subsequent saliva leakage.
The mucous secretion accumulates in the epithelial tissue and forms a lump or nodule.
Another possible cause may be chafing from orthodontic appliances or certain ill-fitting removable dentures. Continued contact with the oral mucosa can cause the appearance of this annoying cyst.
Types of mucoceles
There are two types of mucoceles according to their origin:
- By extravasation: this is the most frequent and is usually suffered by children and adolescents. Seventy percent of mucoceles affect children under 20 years of age. Its cause is trauma (bite, piercing, orthodontic friction, etc.). Its most common location is under the lip.
- Retention: this is rare and usually occurs in adults in their 30s or 40s. In this case, it is due to an obstruction of the salivary ducts due to the presence of impurities in the saliva. These impurities gather and form a lithium or stone that breaks the gland.
How is a mucocele treated?
The mucocele is not painful or serious, but it can be annoying and visible. Most of the time it tends to reabsorb spontaneously without any intervention, after a short time. Others tend to remain chronically and require surgical removal.
The surgical option contemplates two procedures for removal: cystectomy and cystostomy.
The former is usually performed when the cyst is located in the major salivary glands, and consists of completely inoculating the lesion, with its capsule and contents.
On the other hand, cystostomy is usually applied in those cases in which the mucoceles are close to very important structures, and consists of opening a space between the cavity in which the cyst is located and the external surface.
The surgical procedure is very simple and is performed under local anesthesia. The operation consists of removing the external surface of the mucocele. In cases of recurrence, the affected gland is removed as a preventive measure.
After the surgical procedure, an anti-inflammatory drug may be given together with Chlorhexidine rinses, and it is recommended to follow a soft diet and avoid hot food and drinks.
How can we prevent a mucocele?
The main way to prevent this benign cyst is to avoid biting your lips. However, if in your case it is due to orthodontic chafing, you can get orthodontic wax to prevent damage to the oral mucosa.
This type of professionals have the necessary knowledge and supplies required to be able to diagnose you, as well as indicate the most appropriate treatment to treat the pathologies you present.
You can visit us at our clinic Lamicq Dental Care, where we will put at your disposal all the experience and knowledge of our dentists, who are willing to help you and clarify all the doubts you may have regarding your oral health.
Do not hesitate to contact us on our WhatsApp to schedule an assessment and an appointment to begin treatment as soon as possible.