Bumps in Mouth: Causes, Symptoms and Natural Treatments
There can be many reasons for having bumps in your mouth. Sometimes, bumps on the roof of your mouth can be caused by damaged saliva ducts or smoking. Or you may find bumps in your mouth in places like inside your cheeks or you may have lumps in the inner part of the lips. Sometimes, dental problems can cause lumps to appear on your gums. In some cases a bump in mouth can start out small and white but then become bigger and look like a pimple. Generally, the underlying causes of bumps, lumps or pimples in the mouth are infections, allergic reactions, digestive problems, some kind of injury, or stress.
Finding any kind of bump can be a cause for alarm. However, usually lumps or bumps in the mouth can be easily treated. Some natural home remedies can help to reduce the pain and discomfort that the bump causes. Other natural treatments can help to cure the cause of the bumps in your mouth.
In this article, I will look at the many reasons why bumps can occur in your mouth and you will find many helpful home remedies to help soothe the discomfort that lumps in the mouth cause.
Bumps in the Mouth – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Canker Sore
Bumps on the inside of your cheeks, at the base of your gums, or on the roof of your mouth that are white in the center with a red border are probably canker sores. The lumps caused by canker sores can range from being quite small to large clusters of sores that are very painful.
According to Dr. Kathleen Romito on WebMD, it’s not known what causes canker sores to develop. However, stress, injuries to the inside of your mouth, food allergies, hormonal changes, or vitamin deficiencies can all cause these bumps to appear.1
The American Academy of Oral Medicine says that canker sores can’t be cured, but there are many therapies to ease the pain that they cause, shorten the healing time of the canker sores, and even reduce how often they occur.2
An effective home remedy for bumps caused by canker sores is to apply a baking soda paste to soothe the discomfort that they cause. The properties of baking soda will help to reduce inflammation and pain that the bumps are causing. Make a paste by mixing 1 tsp. baking soda with a little water. Apply the baking soda paste to the canker sore for a few minutes and then rinse off. Do this frequently to ease the pain caused by canker sores.
To prevent these lumps in your mouth from recurring, Dr. Weil recommends taking vitamin C or vitamin B complex.3 If you suffer from frequent outbreaks of canker sores, then the American Academy of Oral Medicine recommends keeping a diary to see if there is a connection between outbreaks and diet or lifestyle.2
Another natural option is to use witch hazel to treat canker sores. Use it as a mouth wash and to help reduce the pain and inflammation of canker sores and promote healing.
Canker sores can also appear on your lips or tongue. I have written some helpful articles on the causes and treatments of bumps on lips and why many people develop lumps on their tongue that you can read for more information.
Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is caused by an overgrowth in the oral cavity of the Candida fungus. Oral thrush can cause white bumps or spots to appear on your inner cheeks, the roof of your mouth, gums, and tonsils. These spots can turn into larger white lesions. According to the Mayo Clinic, those most at risk of oral thrush are babies, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system. Antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of Candida fungus because they cause an imbalance in the body’s levels of “good” bacteria.3
One way to treat and prevent outbreaks of oral thrush is to take probiotic supplements. A study published in the Brazilian Dental Journal found that probiotics helped to reduce the symptoms of oral thrush.4 According to the University of Maryland, taking probiotics while taking antibiotics can help to put “good” bacteria into the body.5
To treat the symptoms caused by oral thrush, you can use an apple cider vinegar (ACV) mouth rinse. Raw, unfiltered ACV helps to restore pH levels in your body and it contains many enzymes which help to inhibit Candida growth. To use ACV to get rid of oral thrush, mix 2 tsp. ACV with 1/2 tsp. salt in a cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth several times a day until your symptoms of oral thrush improve and the white bumps in your mouth are gone.
Also research has shown that coconut oil is effective in treating yeast infections.
Cold sores (fever blisters)
Cold sores, or fever blisters, can cause bumps on the inside of your cheek, on your lips, and around the edge of your mouth. The bump usually develops into a sore blister which can be very painful and make eating and talking uncomfortable.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV1) and it remains in your body after you are infected. According to Dr. E. Gregory Thompson on WebMD, cold sores can be triggered by exposure to sunlight, stress, food allergies, a weakened immune system, and hormonal changes.6
One of the best natural home remedies for cold sores is raw honey, especially Manuka honey. Honey contains many antibacterial properties which can help to treat the virus that causes fever blisters. In fact, one study showed that honey was more effective than acyclovir, a popular cream that is used to treat cold sores.7 To get rid of mouth bumps caused by cold sores, dab a clean cotton bud in some honey and apply to the cold sore. Do this 3 or 4 times a day until the cold sore is completely gone.
Please read my article about natural remedies for cold sores (fever blisters) where you can find out how vitamin C, Echinacea, propolis and certain essential oils can get rid of cold sores.
Tooth Abscess
An infected tooth can lead to an abscess which, in turn, can cause a sore red bump in your gum. If you suspect that the bump in your mouth is caused by an abscess, you should see your dentist promptly.
To prevent dental abscesses the NHS in the UK recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing between your teeth. You should also reduce sugary and starchy foods and drinks in your diet.8
There are many ways that can help you to get rid of gum infections naturally. For example, a simple salt and water mouth rinse can help to kill off infections and reduce swelling in your gums. This can also help to prevent tooth abscesses from developing.
Leukoplakia
The appearance of white bumps in the mouth at the back of your throat could be leukoplakia. It is thought that leukoplakia is caused by irritants in the oral cavity and, therefore, is common among smokers.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also cause these white lumps in the mouth to appear. This happens when acid from the stomach comes up into the mouth causing irritation.8 GERD can also cause a burning sensation in the stomach and chest as well as stomach pain after eating.
To get rid of the bumps in the mouth that are caused by leukoplakia, doctors recommend removing the irritant. So, for smokers, it means to stop smoking. If you think that GERD is the cause of white bumps at the back of your mouth, then my article about the 12 effective natural treatments for heartburn and stomach ulcers, has some practical advice to relieve the discomfort caused by GERD and acid reflux.
Oral Cancer
In some cases, a sore lump in the mouth or on the lip can be a sign of oral cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, these lumps can appear on the roof of the mouth, inside the cheeks, and under the tongue.9
If you notice a lump anywhere in your oral cavity that doesn’t go away, you should visit your doctor for a thorough examination.
Bumps on the Roof of the Mouth
Lumps and bumps can appear anywhere in the mouth. However, there are some bumps that are more common on the roof of the mouth – either in the soft palate (at the back of the mouth) or in the hard palate (at the front of the mouth).
Mucous cyst (mucocele)
A common place for mucous cysts to appear is on the roof of your mouth. Mucous cysts develop in the mouth when your saliva glands are blocked or damaged. This causes a buildup of mucous which develops into a lump.
Mucous cysts can also show up on the inside of your lower lips or on the side of your tongue. This is often caused when a person is in the habit of biting his lip or tongue.
According to Doctor of Dental Medicine Dr. Alfred D. Wyatt Jr., mucoceles usually go away without any treatment. However, if they cause you irritation or discomfort a dentist or doctor can remove them.10
Smoking
If you smoke, you may find scattered small red bumps on the hard palate which can become inflamed but are painless. This is a condition called nicotine stomatitis and it is caused by extreme heat in the mouth. This affects more pipe smokers than cigarette smokers. If a smoker wears dentures then the small bumps will only appear at the back of the mouth.
Dr. Delwyn Dyall-Smith, a dermatologist, says that the only way to get rid of bumps in your mouth caused by smoking is to stop smoking.11 The red bumps will usually disappear in 1-2 weeks.
Torus Palatinus
A large bump on the roof of the mouth could be caused by torus palatinus. This is a harmless bony protrusion that occurs in the palate and can be about 2 cm in size.
Usually, this can be left alone and doesn’t require any treatment. However, if the lump causes difficulty eating or drinking, or if a person needs dentures, doctors may suggest having it surgically removed.
Incisive Papilla
Lumps can sometimes form on the part of the roof of your mouth called the incisive papilla. This is the part of the palate just behind the upper teeth. This can become inflamed or cysts can develop in it. Usually, lumps on the incisive papilla go away by themselves. However, if you notice that after 2 weeks they are still there, you should see your dentist.
Read these related articles:
1. 8 Warning Signs Your Tongue May Be Sending
2. Bumps on lips: Causes and Top Natural Treatments
3. White Spots on Throat – 6 Common Causes
4. Bumps on Tongue: Causes and Natural Treatments
5. Sore Throat on One Side: Causes and Treatments, Backed by Research
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