Any dentists here? I need you help

[Smithssy]

I suffer from health anxiety. I'm in a really dark place at the moment with it. I'm feeling desperate and I can feel the panic starting to rise That in mind, here we go...

Last week I noticed a small, hard lump on my lower jaw (inside my mouth) just below my bottom teeth on the right hand side. It hurt for a day or two so I assumed it was an ulcer. The pain stopped but the lump is still there.

It's rock hard and feels attached to my jaw. No movement with it. It feels like bone. No pain at all. Can't tell if it's changed shape. It's quite small, maybe the size of a pea although it's quite elongated rather than round (feels like it 'follows' my jawline if that makes sense?).

My GP and dentist are both fully booked and I can't be seen until at least after Christmas.

I can feel the panic, neurotic behaviour, excessive worrying, franticness and basically total mental chaos creeping in very quickly and I can feel myself totally losing control.

I'm terrified its mouth cancer and I'm going to die.

I'm 33 and otherwise fine. No other symptoms.

Please, I beg, can anyone reassure me? I'm feeling incredibly desperate right now.

I have terrible anxiety mostly centred around work ironically.
Anxiety is horrible
My guess would be a genial tubercle- benign bony lump that you’ve always had but have just noticed, possibly because you had an aphthous ulcer nearby.

Thanks black. I've managed to keep it under control but for some reason today I've totally lost it.

I've done some googling (yes, yes I know!) and I can relate to a 'gum tori'. Although my irrational anxiety arsehole part of my brain is telling me it's cancer and my disabled child will be orphaned and I'll be dead soon.

Fucking hate anxiety

Bump

Probably a Salivary Gland Stone. They’re harmless, drink plenty of water & massage it out.

It's not near my saliva glands. That's more under the tongue if I understand that correctly.

You're right, I think it's a bony lump called a torus. I have them upper and lower jaws. And like blacktoffeecat says you probably had an ulcer on it so you've noticed it.
Don't worry.

That sounds reassuring postitnot. I've never had anything like this before so it's thrown me.

My stone was under the tongue, the dentist told me to drink water & massage it out if it was bothering me.

You have salivary gland ducts under your tongue so it could be a small blockage or stone there. Anywhere around there is a common location for salivary stones.

Could be a small bony lump that you've not noticed before as well. People have them, I've got one about there but on the left. Could be a mandibular tori, a small bony lump. Most likely you knocked it with your toothbrush, got an ulcer or a sore on it and noticed it.

Much more likely to be either of these things than mouth cancer. More likely to be an abscess or cyst than cancer although I don't think it is, I think it's probably one of the two options above.

I have health anxiety too so I understand, and it's probably a good idea to get yourself booked in with your dentist after Christmas for your own peace of mind but I really don't think it's anything to worry about.

It sound like a taurus. They can change and develop so it may be new and your ulcer brought your attention to it.
If it's hard and solid, your gum over it looks the same as your other gum and not painful it's unlikely to be anything else. The most common site for them in on the inside of the jaw on the gum below the teeth.
They're really common. I know it's hard but try to stay calm.
Give your dental practice a call tomorrow, explain how worried you are and ask if they can let you know if they have any cancellations. We get lots in the week before Christmas- things come up and the dental check up becomes less important.

Thank you everyone for your reassurance. It really helps. It feels rock solid like bone, and the skin over it is pink and healthy looking. No pain etc. It's not moved or changed shape. It just feels like part of my jaw.

I'm trying desperately to keep my health anxiety at bay. On the whole I'm doing ok. Am just praying it remains at bay over Christmas otherwise it'll ruin the whole damn week.

I've put it down to a taurus as it seems to tick all the boxes. I didn't realise they were common, I've never heard of them before.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. Health anxiety is a fucker and I know it can be very frustrating for those listening so it's appreciated.

Glad you’re feeling better. I think it’s highly likely it is part of your jaw bone. Your dentist will be able to reassure you when you see them I’m sure.
I have had people come in before panicking that their normal anatomy is cancer though, it happens.
Enjoy Christmas xx