There is a tiny lump under the inside of my bottom incisors. Imagine the backs of lower incisors as a cliff. Tucked just under there, right where the back part of my bottom incisors meet the floor of my mouth, there the lump is located. It is hard, and appears to be split into a pair of connected pieces. I don't know if it's under the skin or I just can't see it well, even with a flashlight. The lump is stationary, yet can be moved up and down with my tongue. I had an oral cancer test some three months ago and nothing showed up. The lump appears colorless, but I am mentally colorblind (I can see colors, just not interpret some of them). I just noticed this """lump""" a week ago. Is this a torus, do you think? Sublingual gland? Some part of my mouth I haven't noticed before. I asked a couple of people and they said that bit of hardness is something shallowly internal which connects the base of my tongue into the front of the soft palette. One or both of them claimed they had the same thing, although I can't remember straight on that last bit. Another pair of persons searched for lumps in similar places but couldn't find any, although I don't know how hard they were looking. Finally, my mother claims she has a similar lump, only by her molars. I'm a college student and can't really afford to go to my dentist until my next appointment. I am a bit of a hypochondriac, but there is a definite hard lump I don't remember being there, even though I might not have noticed it before. I don't smoke or drink, although at key points in the day I am in the vicinity of those who are smoking. I would appreciate any advice you people could give me. Thank you.

WIlliam, there are so many things this could or could not be, the best thing is to have it checked out by your Dentist. You already know this tho. I pray that this is nothing Nd you can continue on with your young life. Always,Vicki

Hello William

You are not in a high risk category and the structure you are feeling with your tongue is most probably a normal structure (see Figs 149 - 154) . I am curious as to why you had an oral cancer test - what was this, and who did it?

If you are a hypochondriac, you will need to see your dentist to put your mind at ease. Otherwise, just observe the area for a while.

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

Thanks for your replies. It's probably just swollen lymph nodes. The area isn't tender, but it does seem to well and recede, and it is definitely movable. The actual bumps themselves, floating around inside the baggy, soft flesh, feel hard as, or almost as hard as, bone. I don't want to see my dentist, despite my hypochondria, because I don't want to set up a boy-who-cried-wolf scenario. And I want to beat out my hypochondria, show my mind this is a totalitarian state, not an anarchic society. Plus, I do not want to be a G.O.M.E.R. You know what I mean

Oh, and to sate your curiosity as to the ORAL CANCER TEST. It was performed by my dentist as part of a routine check-up. They're required in New York. You know, nothing particularly fancy. Pinch tongue between fingers, check both sides, plus the soft palette. Is this not a national practice? I'm not trying to be acerbic; I really don't know.

Laters :thinking: :footinmouth: :boxedin: :twocents:

<<Is this not a national practice? I'm not trying to be acerbic; I really don't know.>>

Well it has been at every dentist I've ever attended for at least 40 years if my memory serves me correctly. I just don't think we'd call it an oral cancer test.

It's described as an oral check here.

Similar procedure to the check you described tongue left right up and over and a good look around the roof and gums before the actual dental check. Both my dentist and hygeinist always do this, often within minutes of each other and that was before my diagnosis.
I am sure this is standard UK practice, but the words oral cancer check would scare the life literally out of half the population.