any dentists or doctors around please? lump in mouth

[tootsnwoocake]

Hi there, I have dreadful health anxiety which I thought I was managing but the last few days I have had a bit of discomfort in my upper left teeth (one of these has had root treatment and a crown and gets a bit sensitive from time to time). I was having a look and feel about and it is quite tender in the area above these teeth and at the very top of inside of my mouth, near my cheekbone, there is a small round fairly hard smooth lump which is tender to press. I have no idea how long its been there as I don't tend to stick my fingers in my mouth without good reason! I am really worried about what it could be. Are there glands/nodes in this area? I have had a bit of a cold lately but nothing major. It is more of a niggle that actual pain so don't think its an abscess and the lump is not right next to the tooth. My mind and google are taking me to some dark places. Has anyone any experience of this? Thanks in advance xx

Hi OP, sorry to hear about your health anxiety.

I'm married to a GP. They get queries about teeth every day but doctors don't treat teeth.

I don't think anyone can advise you over the internet. Sounds like the best idea would be to contact a dentist and describe the problem.

Hope it clears up

Hi
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I guess I am worrying about oral cancer the most as I wasn't 100% convinced it was a dental issue. It also hurts when I press on my cheekbone so I wondered if sinus issues after a cold could cause a swelling.
These things always seem to happen at weekends 😔

There’s a salivary duct that opens out in that position. Sometimes it can get a bit blocked and a little hard lump can form. It will often go away on its own

In not a dentist btw, it just happens with me. 🙂

I have one like that! I just found it recently (like 8 weeks ago).

Dentists have never commented but I asked one recently; he had to dig down to find it. He said he could refer me. I declined because I feel sure I've had this all my life but only just noticed. I am missing an adult tooth & suspect this lump is where it migrated to.

Mine isn't tender, I'm surprised I ever found it too.
Can't tell you what to do about it OP, but we all know it's probably harmless.

@Shooglywheel . Thank you. It is tender between my cheekbone and nose when I press it. Does that sound right?

@lljkk. Thanks! I feel like it may well have been there for ever too, but my anxious mind is telling me it is a 'new lump'.

It’s sort of under the cheekbone just above a molar.

It sounds just like the abscess I had which led to me having a tooth out last week. Does it hurt more when you lie down? Is it a throbbing pain? I ignored mine until it was so painful I couldn't sleep. This was a silly decision.

It hurt to press on it from the outside of my face as well, but the lump itself was just a lump and didn't hurt until it got really bad.

@Hawkmoth

It sounds just like the abscess I had which led to me having a tooth out last week. Does it hurt more when you lie down? Is it a throbbing pain? I ignored mine until it was so painful I couldn't sleep. This was a silly decision.

It hurt to press on it from the outside of my face as well, but the lump itself was just a lump and didn't hurt until it got really bad.

I'm sorry to hear about your tooth. It doesn't hurt unless I press on it but I'm going to call the dentist tomorrow and get it checked out.

Your parotid glands are just going down from where your cheek meets the ear. You normally cant feel them. But they are the glands that swell up massively if you get mumps.
You're more likely tobe feeling a salivary gland though.

@Torvean32

Your parotid glands are just going down from where your cheek meets the ear. You normally cant feel them. But they are the glands that swell up massively if you get mumps. You're more likely tobe feeling a salivary gland though.

Thank you for replying. Would it be normal to be able to feel a salivary gland?

Sounds similar to what I'm experiencing right now. I'm sure it's on the root of a tooth as when I touch it the nerves in my tooth tingle! It only hurts to touch, also when I wash my face the area is tender!

@YourStarlessEyes

Sounds similar to what I'm experiencing right now. I'm sure it's on the root of a tooth as when I touch it the nerves in my tooth tingle! It only hurts to touch, also when I wash my face the area is tender!

I would get it checked if I was you just in case. I wasn't in any real pain but went to the dentist on Wednesday, and it is indeed an abscess. The tooth has already been root treated so it looks like I will lose it altogether 😟. I'm gutted. I really didn't look after my teeth when I was younger and am paying the price now.

Dentist here. I think you’re doing the right thing planning to see your own dentist. No one can give you advice properly on here as they’ve not seen you.

@tootsnwoocake I'm having an x-ray next week, I've recently noticed something else that's worrying me now too.. I'll mention while I'm there. The anxiety level is high, I cannot wait to hopefully be reassured that all can be sorted.

@YourStarlessEyes. I hope you get it all sorted. Anxiety levels are high here too. Trying to distract myself but not very successfully. I am back at the dentist next week to see how things are. I've been given antibiotics and am on day 4 but still swollen.

@tootsnwoocake Thank you, the same goes for you too! I'm on antibiotics too and I don't feel as if they've done much tbh, I just want to skip to wednesday now to see what my dentist says.

Dentist here. I think you might stress yourself out more looking at the replies on this thread, and end up down a rabbit hole of worry and speculation. It's likely to be something simple. Contact your dentist on Monday to arrange an appointment. Only they will be able to tell you