What Is the Lump in the Roof of My Mouth? Causes and When to Seek Treatment

It can be worrying to find an unexpected or new lump in the roof of your mouth. It is natural to worry whether it is something serious and more importantly what you should do about it. There are many different types of lumps which may appear on the roof of your mouth, including small blisters, a cyst or even a hard, bony growth. 

By understanding the possible causes of lumps or lesions in the mouth, and when you need to seek medical attention, you can reduce any risks and improve your symptoms quickly and successfully.

Common Causes of Lumps in the Roof of the Mouth

Torus Palatinus

Torus palatinus is a harmless bony growth often found in the middle of the roof of the mouth. It can vary in shape and size and is often asymptomatic, meaning there is no pain or discomfort. This type of growth is fairly common, with certain studies showing that approximately 20-30% of the population have torus palatinus.

Smaller growths cause less obvious symptoms, with problems arising as they become larger. These include speech issues, where you may find it hard to pronounce certain words or letters, changes to the way you eat or drink, as well as issues maintaining effective dental hygiene. Although there are no exact causes, growth development may be related to dietary health, prevalence of bruxism, and increased bone density.

Nasopalatine Duct Cysts

Nasopalatine duct cysts (NPDC) can develop in your incisive papilla: the area behind your two front teeth. These cysts are asymptomatic and often go unnoticed. It is one of the most common types of cysts in the mouth often discovered by your dentist on an X-ray. Unless that they become infected or cause irritation they can be left alone or surgically removed when necessary.

Mucoceles

Mucoceles are mucous cysts which can form anywhere in the mouth, including the roof of your mouth. They are usually painless and occur as a result of irritation to a salivary gland, possibly from an injury in the mouth due to abrasive food or similar. If they rupture, however, they can become painful when eating or drinking. Most mucoceles go away by themselves but if they are reoccurring or longer lasting, you may wish to have them checked out by your dentist. 

Squamous Papilloma

Squamous cell papilloma can occur as a painless lump in the roof of your mouth. It often looks like a cauliflower and is white or pink in color. Although painless, if it grows bigger it can be uncomfortable to bite or chew your food. It is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and as with most viruses does not usually require treatment and should go away by itself. If it is large and causing discomfort it can be surgically removed. 

Infections and Oral Cancer

Infections such as oral herpes, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), can cause a lump in the roof of your mouth that is often a cold sore. Cold sores are fluid filled blisters which can sting or tingle in the mouth and become painful. They should disappear by themselves within two to three weeks, but recurring cold sores may be due to underlying conditions such as vitamin deficiency or a lowered immune system. 

If you have recurring lumps in the roof of your mouth or lumps and lesions which do not heal over time, a diagnosis may be required. In rare cases a lump in the roof of your mouth may be cancerous, typically presenting as red or white patches or even ulcers. They may be asymptomatic and go unnoticed at first. Regularly visiting your dentist serves as an important preventative measure against future complications and more serious symptoms.

When to Seek Medical Attention

It is important to speak to your dentist or doctor if:

• You notice a lump in the roof of your mouth that does not go away within one or two weeks
• The lump in the roof of your mouth is painful or significantly uncomfortable
• You have a lump that affects your ability to eat, speak, or move your jaw comfortably
• There are signs of infection around the lump: swelling, redness, increased pain, pus, foul taste, bleeding or swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  

In conclusion, most lumps in the roof of your mouth are painless and of little or no concern. By maintaining good dental hygiene at all times and visiting your dentist on a regular basis, any lumps in the roof of your mouth can be identified early on and treated accordingly. When a lump is causing significant pain or discomfort, is persistent and is associated with alarming symptoms, it’s time to seek treatment.