Oral Mucocele (Oral Cysts)

An oral mucocele is a soft, dome-shaped bump in your mouth, which can vary in size from 1 millimetre to 2 centimetres wide. They contain saliva, which gives them a clear or bluish colour.

Most oral mucoceles won’t cause pain, but larger ones can be uncomfortable or irritating, especially if they interfere with your speech, chewing or swallowing.

Oral mucoceles most commonly develop on the inner part of your lower lip, but similarly to mouth ulcers, they can also affect your inner cheeks, gums, tongue, roof of your mouth and the floor of your mouth. They can also develop around tongue or lip piercings.

Mucoceles on the upper or lower lip, inside the cheeks and bottom side of the tongue are usually caused by lip or cheek sucking, accidental biting, rubbing on a sharp tooth, or tongue thrusting.

Mucoceles commonly arise when a minor salivary gland is traumatised by biting the lip or cheeks. The damaged saliva gland continues to secrete saliva, but it can no longer pass through the salivary gland duct into the mouth, and the saliva builds up under the skin instead. Sometimes they burst, and you may notice a salty taste in your mouth. After bursting, they usually reform.

A mucocele under the tongue arising from damage to the sublingual salivary gland is known as a ranula. There are several minimally invasive, gland-preserving treatments for a ranula.

In most cases, a maxillofacial specialist will be able to diagnose an oral mucocele or a ranula by examining your mouth.

If there is any doubt, your specialist may conduct some tests such as a biopsy, ultrasound or MRI scan.

While oral cysts cannot always be prevented, the following steps can help reduce their likelihood:

• avoid biting or sucking your lip or cheek to minimise trauma to minor salivary glands

• smooth or protect any sharp teeth or dental appliances, such as brace,s that may rub against soft tissue

• practise gentle oral habits and hygiene

• if you have an oral piercing, keep it properly aligned and maintained to avoid repeated irritation or injury

• seek advice if you notice any persistent lump or bump forming in your mouth

Most oral mucoceles are harmless and may resolve on their own, but certain outcomes can occur if they persist or are improperly treated, such as:

• recurrent cyst formation

• infection

• discomfort or interference with speech, chewing, or swallowing

At Welbeck, our maxillofacial specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Get in touch today to book an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.