Any dentists about or GPs? Small hard lump roof of mouth

[Sportacus17]

Hello,

I am looking for a bit of advice and perhaps perspective please. I know little about oral anatomy. I have a 4mm hard/firm lump on the location marked by the circle. Is this the hard or soft palate , or the junction between the two? Is this where small salivary glands are?

It looks like nothing on a photo but is palpable, like a small hard pea. The skin covering it is totally healthy. There is a small pink mark but I think this is from my rubbing it.

I noticed it on Wednesday when I yawned and felt a slight localised pulling sensation (no pain) and put my finger in my mouth to feel where the pulling feeling was. There is no pain at all. Not even when pressing it hard.

It doesn’t have a blistery, fluid filled sack on it like the pictures of “mucoleles” I can find online.

Do I need to go a see someone and if so would it be Gp or dentist (nothing wrong with my teeth at all). How long should I leave it before seeing someone?

please don’t reply saying “Why are you posting on mumsnet, nobody can diagnose you on here” - I know that. Also I know that the photo doesn’t really show anything so please don’t comment saying there is nothing there - there is a small hard lump

I had this (or what sounds similar) diagnosed by hygienist recently. She wasn’t too concerned as it was hard but asked dentist to check. He said it was just part of my anatomy. Suggest making an appointment with your dentist for reassurance but it’s most likely fine. I had never really noticed my “lump” until hygienist commented.

Thank you @Julen7 , was it just on one side ? I’ve read about “torus” on the hard palate (bony growth) but that appears to appear in the middle.

I forgot to say in my op that I have never smoked which hopefully stands me in good stead for mouth lumps.

Hi yes it’s slightly on right side

Dentist here. It is most likely to be a salivary gland where the duct has been damaged and blocked. Does it get bigger when you are eating?
It is a good idea to have it checked out by your dentist to confirm.
Blocked salivary ducts usually clear themselves eventually. Removing them is difficult and can cause damage to other minor salivary glands in the area.

@Angrymum22 thank you so so much for taking the time to reply. I haven’t noticed it getting bigger when/after eating but I will keep an eye on it to see if this happens. The little dotty bits in that area - are they the salivary ducts / glands ? I will call the dentist on Monday. Thank you again 🌷

Yes your palate is covered in salivary glands ( minor) to keep the mucous membrane in your mouth healthy. They can be damaged easily by sharp food or if you burn the roof of your mouth.

I had one too OP and have for as long as I can remember. I’ve never really thought about it.

interestingly I also have a mucuocele on my lip and have for years (Google tells me these are self limiting but not in my case!)

Thank you all so much. I have tried not to google but stupidly did so and got dreadful results so have stopped again. I am going to see the dentist tomorrow. @YourCraftyGreyOP is yours hard ? Mine is very hard and distinct feeling.

Yes it’s hard. No dentist has ever mentioned it to me and I had a check up a couple of weeks ago.

I am just back from the dentist. She wasn’t at all concerned and said exactly the same as @Angrymum22 . She said it might be there for a while but still not concerning. I only need to go back if it get bigger or sore etc. I need to give myself permission to stop worrying about it now! Hopefully this update will help anyone else looking for info on the same thing. Thanks again to those who took the time to help me :)

hello everyone,

the bump is now more visible - it has taken on a slightly whiter hue. I wondered if I need to go back to the dentist or if this is normal for a mucolele? as it’s whiter I now have clearer images. I also think it’s 1mm bigger in diameter.

@Angrymum22 I don’t suppose you’d have time to have a Quick Look at the picture please ? I was hoping it wouldn’t change at all so it’s got me worried again. Thank you.

When I say whiter , I think it looks a similar colour to the kite shaped bony bit in the centre of the palate.

It does look like a blocked saliva duct. And it will fluctuate in size. Because the skin on the palate is very tightly adhered to the bone it will be more painful and obvious than one in other areas.
I have had several over the years, including one on my palate. Eventually, repeated swelling and the saliva being forced through blocked duct widens it and it resolves. I have one in my cheek, I cheek chew. It comes up like a little balloon. It does come and go but I know if it surgically removed it will cause scaring and I may damage further minor glands.

Try not to m ss with it. They become white because the skin thickens around them, a bit like a callous.
In smokers you often see them dotted all over the palate.

Maybe stick to cold drinks, non spicy foods and avoid acidic foods for a while. It’s salad season and raw tomatoes can irritate the skin in your mouth. Also use a basic toothpaste, none of the complicated 12 hour ones. They contain an ingredient that adheres them to your teeth and soft tissues. Many of us are allergic to SLS’s and prolonged contact can cause inflammation. It’s in all toothpaste but in basic ones it’s washed off rapidly by saliva.

Thank you @Angrymum22 , I will read through all of that a few times as there is so much helpful info. I have a brain that needs to understand things so the detail about the changes and causes is really good for me to know. I did start to get to a worried place with this today esp as it’s changed a bit, and I can’t tell you what a difference you’ve made to me. You’re not obligated to help a random stranger on the internet but as a very real person with two small kids (who is prone to anxiety) I’m very grateful indeed.

Hello, do you still have this? I’ve got a lump on the roof of my mouth since March and it’s now gone the same colour as the other part of the skin @Angrymum22 do you think mine could be similar? My dentist wasn’t concerned but still wants to refer me to double check it’s got me worried sick x

Hi yes I still have mine , its been 5.5 weeks since I noticed it and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon …. It is pretty much the same as it was when I last posted. Sometimes it feels wider and more “proud”, sometimes it feels flatter and/or narrower. But overall the same size, hard and painless. Are you bring referred to oral surgery ?

I can’t actually see yours in the pic ! I believe you that it’s there though… mine has been v difficult to photograph

Yeah mine is the same feels different everyday one minute it feels more lumped but then others it feels flatter. Yeah I’m being referred my dentist doesn’t think it’s anything concerning but she can’t tell me what it is so wants a second opinion I think I’m just nervous because she wants to refer me so assume the worst. Mines difficult to see too I think it’s probably because I know where it is, I’ve attached another picture circling the lump

I think the changing size is characteristic of a mucolele. I don’t think a tumour would fluctuate in size, so hopefully that is reassuring for you. I know how you feel though, I googled loads and went into a spiral of despair. I wish I’d never noticed the bloody thing!!

Try not to worry about the referral, most referrals end up being fine. I’ve been referred for dodgy moles before including an urgent possible cancer referral, and it was benign.

please let me know how you get on though as it looks almost identical to mine!

The dentist I saw in person was a very experienced older dentist who immediately said mucolele.

she did say it might just sit there for the long term … I asked “will it go away ?!” And she said it might, but it might also just sit there.

Thank you so much for your reassurance lovely, I’m hoping I get in soon fingers crossed! I will definitely update on here once I’ve been seen. Google is the devil haha! Hope they both go away soon for both of us x

Hiya lovely, I’ve been chasing my referral ever since and still waiting for an appointment! It’s still the same not changing at all just hoping I can have some answers soon! Is yours still there? x

Hi yes mine is still there and exactly the same. I decided to use my private insurance to get seen by an oral surgeon just for peace of mind really. I am going tomorrow evening so will report back! I suppose the fact that it hasn’t changed in two months ( in my case) is reassuring.

I’ve just come out and the oral surgeon is confident that it’s bone. A small bony growth next to my torus (?). He is sending me for a cat scan (he explained this as a 3D xray) of the mouth to confirm and “for my peace of mind”. He said it is NOT CANCER. Mine is very hard and does not move at all, and is totally painless. He said worst case if it got bigger they would shave it off.

That’s reassuring! When is your cat scan? Mine hasn’t grown either but still noticeably there it’s hard but not bone like if I press on it, it goes slightly flatter than normal I wish my appointment would hurry up it’s got me stressed to bits