Mouth growths can appear in any tissues in and around your mouth. It can also appear on connective tissue, nerves, bone, and muscles. Some of the mouth growth causes irritation and pain. Most commonly, mouth growths appear in -

• Lips
• Sides of your tongue
• Mouth floor
• Back part of the roof of your mouth

These mouth growths can be non-cancerous, precancerous or cancerous.

Cause of mouth growths

Various kinds of mouth growth can occur in and around your mouth. If you see any persistent lump or raised area on your gums, you must evaluate it by your dentist. Such kinds of lumps are caused by gum irritation or tooth abscess. Growths that occur because of irritation are very common and, if required, can be removed through surgery. However, sometimes this reoccurs as some irritant remains, and in some cases, when this growth stays for a long time, it can show some precancerous changes.

Non-cancerous mouth growth

• Ordinary warts can also cause infection in your mouth when someone has the fingersucking habit. Genital warts can get transmitted to your mouth through oral sex. One of the common methods of removing warts is surgery.
• Mouth thrush is a kind of yeast infection that occurs where the area is moist. In the mouth, it is like a white-colored cheese-like patch. It gets stuck to the mucous membrane very tightly, and a red-colored patch is left behind when you wipe it. 
• A torus is a round-shaped bone projection that grows very slowly in the middle of your mouth roof. It is widespread and does not cause any harm.
• Keratoacanthomas are mouth growths on the lips and other areas exposed to the sun, like your hands, face, and forearms.
• Cysts are hollow and fluid-filled swellings that often cause jaw pain. They are often present next to your wisdom teeth and can damage a substantial part of your jawbone when they expand. They can be removed by surgery, but many times they recur.
• Odontomas are the overgrowths of those cells that form on your tooth that appears like extra teeth or a big mass of tooth material. While in children, they can cause hindrance in the way of normal teeth, in adults, they will push your teeth out of alignment. Usually, they are removed surgically.

Precancerous mouth growth

• White-colored, red-colored, or a mix of white and red-colored areas that are difficult to wipe away and persist over two weeks can be precancerous. When not removed, this precancerous growth can become cancerous.
• Leukoplakia is one kind of precancerous mouth growth that can develop when the moist lining of your mouth is inflamed for a long time. It appears white because of the thick layer of keratin.
• Erythroplakia is a red-colored, flat, or worn-away area that occurs because of thinning of your mouth lining. This area is red as the underlying capillaries become more visible. Compared to leukoplakia, it is more of a risk factor for mouth cancer.

Mouth cancer

People who use tobacco and alcohol are at higher risk of getting oral cancer, mainly on the inside of the cheeks and lips. It can also occur in the sides of your tongue, mouth, and throat. While cancerous growth of the mouth can have varied appearances, it mostly resembles precancerous lesions.

How are mouth growths evaluated?

When the following symptoms and characteristics appear, it is a cause of concern, and a dental doctor should evaluate it.

• Loss of weight
• Lump in neck
• Sore throat that does not goes away
• Difficult to swallow

When should you see a doctor?

People having mouth growth that persists for more than a week or two must visit the doctor. During the early period, oral cancer does not show any symptoms, therefore, everyone must go for a routine checkup.

What does a doctor do?

At first, the doctor asks questions about various symptoms that you are getting and also about your medical history, followed by a physical examination. This helps the doctor in finding out the reason that caused mouth growth. Then, after careful analysis, the doctor will suggest treatment based on the cause of the mouth growth. At MyDentalPlan, you can speak to our highly skilled dentists and get the most desirable treatment for your oral growth problem.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author:

Suprithi Choudhary, M.Pharm (Pharmacology) Medical Content writer

Suprithi is a Pharma Professional working as a medical content writer and previously worked as a Research Scientist and Senior Research Analyst

Education

• C.M Academy
• Attended the Panjab University- Chandigarh, Pharma post-graduate in Pharmacology

Special thanks to Dr Deepak Kulkarni, a dental surgeon with over 23 years of experience who proofread this blog. He graduated from the H.K.E's Dental College, Gulbarga, and has certifications in ACHS International Accreditation Education Plan; Advanced Rotary Endodontic - Restorative Continuum; and Leadership, Team Building and Customer Service Leadership from the Oscar Murphy International.