Has it ever happened to you that you have noticed a lump on your palate, for example, when eating, talking or brushing your teeth? It is something that can happen to anyone, regardless of age or any other factor or condition. Although it is not for you to be excessively alarmed, it is very important that you act quickly, since the variety of possible causes is very wide.
Symptoms of a lump on the palate
In addition to feeling the lump on your roof of the mouth, you may also feel some of these other symptoms of a lump on the roof of your mouth or palate:
- Pain.
- Swelling or inflammation .
- Itch.
- Inconvenience.
- Irritation of the area.
- Color changes in the area.
- bleeding.
You should know that not all lumps that appear on the palate present any of the symptoms that we have just described. There are some that go unnoticed and there are even asymptomatic lumps on the palate , that is, they do not present any symptoms.
Possible causes of a lump on the palate
The possible causes for a lump to grow on the palate are very varied. For example:
- Smoker's palate: they are benign lumps on the palate that usually appear in smokers. The diagnosis is simple, because apart from the fact that the person is a smoker, you can see red lumps with a white center. The lesions tend to disappear when smoking is stopped .
- Pyogenic granuloma: although it can affect people of any age, it usually occurs in pregnant women in the middle of the palate. Its appearance is soft and pink. It can grow rapidly and bleed. It must be removed by surgery performed by a dentist.
- Abscess or odontogenic cyst: the dental abscess is related to some pathology that affects the teeth near the area where the lump appears.
- Sexually transmitted disease: this type of pathology can cause lesions in the mouth. For example, herpes simplex causes very painful and bothersome blisters, sores, or blisters, which may initially appear as a painful lump on the roof of the mouth, gums, and cheeks.
- Mucous cyst or mucocele: as its name indicates, it tends to form due to the accumulation of mucus or the alteration of the salivary glands. It grows slowly and is soft and usually goes away on its own. If it causes you discomfort, the specialist can remove it.
- Palatine torus: this protuberance is, in most cases, of genetic origin. It forms in the bone, so it is like a hard lump on the palate or gums. It is painless and almost never causes discomfort, but it can be removed by surgery.
- Pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands: it is a benign tumor that usually appears on the sides of the palate, in the salivary glands. It grows slowly and painlessly, so it can go unnoticed for a long time. Although it is not cancerous, it is better to remove it because it can cause discomfort when eating or voice problems. If not completely removed, it can grow back, and in some cases even develop into a malignant lesion.
- Malignant tumor of the salivary glands: although there are different degrees of malignancy, this scenario can be fatal. So, if you notice a lump on the palate, act immediately, because if it is this disease, the lesion must be removed as soon as possible. A biopsy is also performed to determine if a more aggressive treatment is necessary to avoid metastasis or if it is not. This tumor can appear in anyone, but it is more common in adults, smokers and regular consumers of alcohol.
Children can also suffer from lumps on the palate. For example, apart from the fact that they can develop most of the pathologies described above, children are very prone to gingival cysts or Epstein Pearls , painless and harmless bumps.
How to know if the lump is benign or malignant
The definitive diagnosis of the degree of malignancy of a lump in the palate is in the hands of the specialist doctor . It is necessary that you put yourself in his hands to know his professional diagnosis, which is the most reliable of all that you can obtain.
In the first instance, the dentist will take a history, a physical examination and will evaluate the medical history and family history. Then she will determine if other tests such as X-rays, blood tests, CT scans, biopsies, etc. are necessary.
There are symptoms that may indicate that we are facing a cancerous lesion :
- Weightloss.
- Difficulty healing.
- Acute pain.
- bleeding.
- Excessive swelling.
- Difficulty eating and/or speaking.
If you have one or more of these isolated symptoms, it does not always mean that you have a malignant tumor. For this reason, at OneHOWTO we believe that it is necessary to have a professional diagnosis for any lump you detect on your palate, as it is the only one that can definitively tell you if you have a benign or malignant lump on the palate .
What to do if I have a lump on the palate
As you have seen, a bump on your palate should not go unnoticed. It is important that you receive the appropriate treatment and this will depend on the type of lump and its evolution.
Your doctor may prescribe medications (such as antibiotics, pain relievers, or anti-inflammatories), perform surgery to remove the lump, and even use chemotherapy in more severe cases.
There are also some home remedies for pain relief , such as cold water gargles and aloe vera compresses. These remedies must be authorized by the doctor and never replace the treatment indicated by the doctor, but rather be a complement.
When you detect a lump on your palate and need to find the appropriate treatment, which will vary depending on the case, you will have to follow these steps:
- Stay calm: nerves can increase your stress and make your general condition worse, or they can lead you to make the decision not to seek specialized help. So stay calm and avoid thinking the worst.
- Go to a specialist immediately: although there are many possibilities that it is not something serious, you should not take unnecessary risks. Acting quickly can save your life in the event of a cancerous injury.
- Tell your doctor everything: every detail about the evolution of your lump, your medical history, family history and habits can be useful for a good diagnosis.
Follow the specialist's instructions to the letter, even if they are uncomfortable or you think they are not necessary for you. Also remember that the most important thing is to visit a specialist as soon as possible. He or she will be the person trained to make a diagnosis, prescribe treatment or perform surgery if necessary.
