Oral Mucocele - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

What Is An Oral Mucocele?

What is oral mucocele and how long does mucocele last? We’ve got the answers for you. An oral mucocele most commonly appears as a clear bump inside the lower lip that is filled with fluid. An oral mucocele may also be located in different areas of the mouth. For instance, you may experience an oral mucocele/ranula on the roof of mouth, cheeks, or gums. You may even have a mucocele under tongue.

Fortunately, this lesion is typically a harmless condition and often arises as a result of minor trauma or blockage of a salivary gland duct. They are usually soft, round, moveable, painless, and clear or blue in color. On average they range in size between 2-10 millimeters in diameter, and may sometimes cause issues with speaking, chewing, and swallowing. If you believe you have an oral mucocele, you should contact your healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Who Is Affected By Oral Mucoceles?

Anyone can become affected by an oral mucocele. However, research has found that there is a greater prevalence of oral mucoceles in children and young adults, typically under the age of 30 years old. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 70% of oral mucocele cases are from individuals between the ages of 3-20 years old.

What Is The Prevalence Of Oral Mucoceles?

According to a study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2.4 out of every 1,000 people suffer from oral mucoceles.

What Symptoms Indicate The Presence Of An Oral Mucocele?

You should keep an eye out for these common oral mucocele symptoms:

Water blister in mouth, no pain.
Large cysts may cause discomfort with speech, chewing, swallowing or even trouble breathing (medical emergency).
Swelling and tenderness intraorally near the affected area.
External facial swelling.

What Are The Common Causes Of An Oral Mucocele?

There are many possible causes of an oral mucocele. The most common include:

A habit of biting or sucking on the lips
Notice a bump on the inside of the lip? You may have a routine of biting or sucking on your lips, which can lead to the development of mucoceles. Lip biting can damage salivary glands and should be avoided to prevent oral mucoceles and other dental issues.

Persistent inflammation caused by smoking or tobacco use
Chronic smoking and tobacco use can cause significant damage to body and oral tissues. Smoking and tobacco use trigger prolonged inflammation that can result in damage to salivary glands and ducts leading to the formation of an oral mucocele.

Salivary ducts that are thickened or damaged
Salivary gland ducts can become thickened or damaged by oral piercings, bacteria, or other irritants. This can cause the saliva from the gland to improperly drain into your mouth and cause a mucocele to form.

Injury caused by intubation
Intubation during a medical procedure may cause pressure on your oral tissues. This can lead to the potential damage of salivary gland ducts that can trigger oral mucocele formation.

How Is An Oral Mucocele Identified And Diagnosed?

A consultation with your dental professional is necessary to diagnose an oral mucocele. Your dentist will examine your head, neck, and mouth and review your symptoms. Other conditions, including benign or malignant salivary gland tumors, fibromas, lipomas, hemangiomas, or lymphangiomas, will need to be ruled out. In order to make these distinctions, alongside the clinical examination your dentist may recommend an ultrasound, biopsy, or computed tomography (CT) scan.

Ultrasound: An ultrasound may be recommended to help visualize the cyst internally and rule out other conditions.
Biopsy: Your dentist may perform a biopsy, which involves taking a small sample of the mucocele for evaluation using microscope technology.
Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan is often used to analyze larger mucoceles, particularly those involving the neck or surrounding facial structures.

How Is An Oral Mucocele Treated?

An oral mucocele can be treated in various ways, depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, oral mucocele supportive therapy or a mucocele home remedy may be recommended, which involves focusing on prevention habits and pain-relief while letting the mucocele heal naturally on its own. Other treatment options include:

Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is a non-surgical treatment option that involves freezing the mucocele with liquid nitrogen to destroy it. This treatment is usually indicated for small mucoceles.
Treatment using lasers: Lasers can be used to vaporize mucoceles to destroy them. Laser treatment has been shown to be quick, simple, and effective at treating small mucoceles.
Surgical excision: Larger mucoceles are typically removed by surgical excision. Your dentist will make a small incision to remove the cyst and the underlying tissue, helping reduce the risk of recurrence.

What Steps Can I Take To Prevent Oral Mucoceles?

There are several steps you can take to prevent oral mucoceles:

Step 1: Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene can increase your risk of developing mucoceles. Brush and floss daily to remove plaque and bacteria, which can not only prevent mucoceles but also numerous other health issues.

Step 2: Check-in with your Dentist

Continue to visit your dentist for regular check-ups so that dental issues can be caught and managed in a timely manner before further complications occur. If you believe you have an oral mucocele, consult your dentist as soon as possible.

Step 3: Break Bad Oral Habits

If you are in the habit of biting or sucking on your cheeks or lips, do your best to stop immediately. Also avoid smoking/tobacco use, as this can damage your oral cavity and increase your risk of developing mucoceles.

Step 4: Protect your Teeth during Sports

If you are participating in sports or activities where your mouth may be at risk for harm, make sure to wear a mouthguard. Speak with your dentist about mouth guard options to protect your smile.

Step 5: Be Mindful when Eating

Take your time chewing when eating to avoid damaging your oral tissues. Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can increase your risk for oral injury and tooth decay.

What Is The Recovery Time After Oral Mucocele Treatment?

Depending on the type of oral mucocele treatment you receive, the recovery time can vary. In general, cryotherapy and treatment using lasers tend to have a relatively quicker recovery time than surgical excision treatment. However, in general you can expect to feel normal after a few days to a week after any mucocele treatment. It is important to follow all post-operative care instructions from your dentist to ensure proper recovery.

Great Lakes Offers Effective Treatments for Oral Mucocele

How to get rid of mucocele? Great Lakes Family Dental Group is the place to start. Consult with our dental specialists for the best mucocele treatment and quality dental care. If you notice a cyst or abnormal lesion in your mouth, contact us right away so that we can thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, and mouth and get you on the right course of treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is oral mucocele?

An oral mucocele, sometimes called a mucous cyst, is a common benign fluid-filled sac located inside the oral cavity. It is typically triggered by a damaged or blocked salivary gland duct that results in saliva accumulation.

2. How to get rid of oral mucocele?

There are several possible treatment options for an oral mucocele that your dentist may recommend. In most cases, mucoceles heal on their own without treatment, and your dentist will diagnose and observe the lesion with scheduled follow-up appointments. For mucoceles that do not resolve on their own, cryotherapy, laser treatment, or surgical removal of the mucocele or damaged salivary gland may be recommended.

3. How long does oral mucocele last?

Oral mucoceles often disappear on their own after 3 to 6 weeks. If the mucocele does not seem to resolve after a few weeks or if it appears to grow in size, contact your dentist. You should also contact your dentist immediately if you are experiencing pain, bleeding, or other concerns.

4. How to treat oral mucocele?

Oral mucoceles should first be evaluated by your dental professional. Once diagnosed, they may recommend observation follow-up appointments to see if it resolves on its own without intervention. Other treatment options include cryotherapy, laser treatment, and surgical excision.

5. Can you pop an oral mucocele?

No, you should not pop an oral mucocele, as this can lead to possible infection and damage to your oral tissues. Instead, consult your dentist for appropriate treatment options.

6. How do you get oral mucocele?

Oral mucoceles may appear for various possible reasons. Most commonly, trauma to your oral tissues (i.e. lip or cheek biting, sports injury) may cause damage to your salivary glands or ducts. Other factors such as poor oral hygiene and bacterial accumulation, chronic inflammation, and smoking/tobacco use, may result in a blockage in the salivary gland ducts that can cause oral mucoceles.