Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Mucous Cyst Removal·What If a Lump-Like Bump Protrudes Inside Your Mouth?

Hello.

Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

I am Dr. Seo Ho-yeon.

When something protrudes like a lump inside the lip or cheek, some people visit the clinic because they are alarmed.

Because the inside of the mouth frequently comes into contact with the teeth when chewing or speaking, even a small problem can continue to feel irritating or uncomfortable.

Today, using the case of a patient with a mucous cyst inside the lip, I will explain what a mucous cyst is and how it can be treated.

(June 1, 2026)

When we look at the photograph taken when this patient first visited, a round, swollen lesion can be seen on the mucous membrane inside the lower lip.

It may look like a blister or a lump.

When seeing a lesion like this, it is necessary to determine whether it is a mucous cyst, a traumatic fibroma, or another type of mucosal lesion.

Mucous Cyst

Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

A mucous cyst can develop when a minor salivary gland inside the mouth is damaged.

When people think of salivary glands, they often think of the major glands, such as the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.

However, minor salivary glands are also distributed inside the lips and cheeks, on the palate, and around the tongue.

If the duct through which saliva flows from one of these minor salivary glands is damaged by repeated irritation, such as biting the lip or being poked by food, saliva can leak into and collect in the surrounding tissue.

As a result, the area swells like a lump, which is called a mucous cyst.

Simply put, when the duct through which saliva flows is damaged, saliva collects in the tissue inside the lip, creating a fluid-filled swelling that looks like a blister.

Because mucus or saliva collects inside a mucous cyst, it often feels relatively soft.

Traumatic Fibroma

Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

In contrast, a traumatic fibroma develops when the tissue itself thickens due to repeated irritation, so it often feels relatively firm.

Because the name contains the word “tumor,” it may seem tumor-like.

However, rather than being a malignant tumor, a traumatic fibroma is closer to a reactive lesion in which the tissue has thickened due to repeated irritation.

For example, frequently biting the inside of the lip or cheek,

or repeated contact with an ill-fitting prosthesis or denture can cause an injury in that area, followed by repeated healing.

If the same area continues to be irritated, fibrous tissue may proliferate, causing the tissue to become firm and thick.

This can lead to a traumatic fibroma that feels like a lump.

In summary, a mucous cyst is closer to a fluid-filled swelling caused by saliva or mucus collecting inside,

while a traumatic fibroma is closer to a condition in which the tissue has become firm and thick due to repeated irritation.

For this patient as well, the possibility of a traumatic fibroma was initially considered.

As can be seen in the photographs, the inside of the lesion contained material that appeared to be a mixture of blood and mucus.

We carefully opened the lesion to examine the inside, and also removed the lesion tissue that looked like a mass.

The removed tissue was submitted for a biopsy for an accurate diagnosis, and it was ultimately confirmed to be a mucous cyst.

When a lesion containing fluid inside, like a mucous cyst, is removed, the area does not immediately become flat and adhere.

A vacant space may remain inside the tissue. If blood collects in this space, the area may appear swollen again after surgery or feel like a lump.

Therefore, after removing the lesion, the surrounding tissue is trimmed so that a large vacant space does not remain,

and the necessary areas are sutured to allow them to heal.

For this patient as well, the necessary area was sutured after the lesion was removed, and the procedure was completed.

About a week later, the sutures were removed and the recovery was checked.

At that time, because the tissue at the site of the lesion had not yet fully healed, the surgical site could look slightly swollen or feel like a lump.

This patient also had some swelling remaining when the sutures were removed,

but as we monitored the progress, the swelling gradually subsided, and the area that had been protruding healed naturally.

If only the visible part of a mucous cyst is ruptured, it may temporarily appear to have become smaller.

However, if the minor salivary gland tissue causing the problem remains inside, or the cause of saliva leakage continues, the area may swell again.

In particular, if you frequently bite your lip or the same area repeatedly comes into contact with your teeth, the area may be irritated again, so caution is needed.

Of course, not every mucous cyst needs to be removed at a dental clinic.

Whether to monitor it or remove it is determined after considering its size and location, the level of discomfort, and whether it has recurred.

However, if the lesion repeatedly swells and subsides, does not decrease in size, or continually gets in the way when chewing, it is advisable to have it examined at a clinic.

If bleeding or a discharge that looks like pus is also present, it is necessary to check whether there may be another cause.

A lump that develops inside the lip is easy to dismiss at first.

Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

However, rather than making a definite judgment based only on its appearance, it is important to consider the lesion’s location and size, how it feels to the touch, when it first appeared, and whether it keeps recurring.

Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic also examines lesions that develop not only on the teeth and gums, but also on the oral mucosa, such as inside the lips and cheeks, on the tongue, and on the palate.

Even a minor discomfort in the mouth can affect daily life,

so we first examine the current condition and its cause, and, if treatment is needed, provide a thorough explanation of the treatment approach.

If an area that feels like a lump continues to concern you, please visit the clinic and first have the cause examined.

Thank you for reading this long post. Have a happy day today as well. ^^

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Geoyeo Station Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic