A clear bubble appearing in the mouth can be a surprising discovery. While such an occurrence might prompt immediate worry, these oral lesions are often benign and a common response to minor disruptions.
Understanding Oral Cysts
Clear bubbles in the mouth are typically fluid-filled sacs called oral cysts. The two most frequent types are mucoceles and ranulas. Mucoceles are painless blisters, often clear or bluish, with a smooth, round shape. They commonly develop on the inner lower lip, inside the cheeks, on the bottom of the tongue, or on the gums. These are generally harmless oral lesions.
Ranulas are a specific type of mucocele forming on the floor of the mouth, under the tongue. These fluid collections contain saliva leaked from a damaged salivary gland. Ranulas are typically translucent, blue, and dome-shaped. While most are confined to the mouth floor, some can extend into the neck, known as a plunging or cervical ranula. Both mucoceles and ranulas are not cancerous.
Causes of Oral Cysts
Oral cysts, including mucoceles and ranulas, primarily form due to issues with the salivary glands or their ducts. Salivary glands produce saliva, which travels through ducts into the mouth. If a salivary duct becomes blocked or damaged, saliva can accumulate and form a cyst.
Trauma to the mouth is a common cause, leading to a ruptured salivary gland duct and saliva leakage into surrounding tissue. Common traumatic events include biting the lip or cheek, sucking on lips, or continuous contact with a sharp tooth. Other factors like piercings, poor dental hygiene, smoking, or chronic inflammation can contribute. Ranulas can also form spontaneously without a clear cause, though trauma is a significant factor.
When to Consult a Professional
While many oral cysts are harmless and may resolve on their own, certain signs and situations warrant professional medical attention. Consult a dentist or doctor if the bubble persists for an extended period, typically beyond a few weeks. Increasing size, pain, or a significant color change should also prompt a visit.
Interference with normal oral functions, such as difficulty eating, speaking, or swallowing, indicates a need for professional assessment. In rare cases, a very large ranula can affect breathing. A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose the cyst, rule out more serious conditions like oral cancer, and recommend the appropriate course of action.
Approaches to Management
The management of oral cysts varies based on their type, size, and whether they are causing symptoms. Smaller mucoceles often resolve spontaneously within three to six weeks. Avoid self-treatment, such as attempting to pop the bubble, as this can lead to infection, damage to oral tissues, and increased risk of recurrence.
For persistent, larger, or symptomatic oral cysts, professional interventions are available. Common medical approaches include cryotherapy, which uses extreme cold to destroy the cyst, or laser treatment to remove the lesion. Surgical excision is another method, where a dentist or oral surgeon removes the cyst, sometimes along with the affected salivary gland to prevent recurrence. For ranulas, marsupialization, a procedure creating a new duct opening and stitching edges to keep it open, may be performed for drainage.