Mucole, also known as a mucous cyst, is a type of blister that forms on the lip, tongue, cheeks or palate, usually due to a blow to the area, repeated bites or when a salivary gland becomes clogged.
This benign injury can vary in size from a few millimeters to 2 or 3 centimeters in diameter, and is not usually painful, except when accompanied by a certain type of injury.
- Mucocele is not contagious and usually returns naturally without treatment.
- However.
- In some cases.
- Minor surgery by the dentist may be needed to remove the affected cyst and salivary gland.
The mucocele forms a kind of bubble, containing mucus inside, which is usually painless and transparent or purple. It can sometimes be mistaken for cold sores, but cold sores usually don’t cause blisters, but mouth ulcers.
After a while, the mucocle may recede, or break, after a bite or blow to the area, which can cause a small wound to the area, which heals naturally.
In the presence of symptoms that indicate mucocle and persist for more than 2 weeks, it is important to go through the assessment of the dentist, as there is a type of cancer, called mucoepidermoid carcinoma, which can cause similar symptoms, but instead of improving, usually worsens over time. Learn how to identify other symptoms that indicate oral cancer.
Mucocele is curable, which usually occurs naturally, with a cyst regression in a few days without treatment. However, in cases where the lesion develops too much or where there is no natural regression, your dentist may recommend small surgery in the office to remove the affected salivary gland and decrease swelling.
This surgery is a simple procedure, which does not require hospital admission and therefore the patient can return home within a few hours of treatment, being able to go to work 1 to 2 days after surgery.
In addition, in some cases, mucocele may recur and additional surgery may be necessary.
Causes of cystic fibrosis are related to blocking or injury of a salivary gland or canal, and the most common situations include:
In addition, mucocles can also appear in newborns at birth due to strokes caused at birth, but rarely require treatment.