I'm somewhat concerned, and hope that someone can help me.

I'm 22 years old, never smoked, only occasional drinker, and I do not chew tobacco. I consider myself to be perfectly healthy, and the only cancer history in my family is that my Grandmother died from Lung Cancer.

In the last couple of weeks, I have noticed two small lumps in my mouth, about the size of a matchstick head. One is under my tounge, on the left side about 3 or 4 mm below my teeth. I am not a dentist, but it is directly below the second tooth on the left side of my mouth (i.e, not including the four teeth at the front). It is not discoloured, and it is not at all painful. It is not even slightly annoying, it is simply there. I noticed it roughly 2.5 weeks ago, and it has not grown, but it hasn't gotten smaller either. It is very hard, as hard as the bone structure beside it.

The other bump is on my inner cheek on the right side. It is near the back of my mouth, roughly in line with my last tooth. This bump protrudes more than the other, and it is not near as hard. It is quite soft and can be "wiggled" with my tounge. It is about the same size as the other bump. My gut feeling, however, is that the two bumps are unrelated.

I visited a medi-clinic this morning and the doctor provided me with an "Oracort" ointment. It was not my family doctor (I had to work today, and only had a few minutes at lunch time) and I was none too pleased with the examination this doctor provided.

Anyway, I'm somewhat concerned, so any comments would be helpful.

Hello Gnote

In the cheek opposite the upper molar teeth, there is a normal landmark. This is the papilla and opening of the parotid duct (Stensen’s). The two little bumps on inner side of your gums behind your lower front teeth could either be 1) minor saliva glands or 2) gingival fibrous nodules which are often found at the mucogingival junction on the attached gingiva or 3) a reddish, slightly-raised sessile small nodule called a retrocuspid papilla that presents behind or lingual to the lower cuspid tooth.

See Figure 1.21 and Figure 1.54. for more information and pictures of normal appearances in the article called Examination Technique with Normal Findings and Structures Mistaken for Disease.

While it is unlikely to be a cancer, you should see your dentist for an opinion if you are concerned.

You might also find this Guide to Normal Oral Tissues of the Mouth to be of help in identifying what is normal. The links given will take you to images of normal tissue appearance.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you for your reply, Dr. J.

The bump under my tounge is only one bump. It looks somewhat like figure 1.54 (Retrocuspid papillae), but there is only one, on the left side, not both. And it may be slightly toward the back of my mouth, relative to those in the picture.

Again, thank you for your response.

Hi you should get this checked out by the doctor, i have a lump in my mouth and my doctor said it may be a cyst he as actually sure it was, and normally they just go away by them selves.i would not worry about it but just go to your doctors to double check!. good luck Bonnie