Mucocele: Its Causes, Symptoms And Amazing Home Remedies And Treatment

A mucocele is a benign, mucus-containing cystic lesion of the minor salivary gland. Mucoceles often show up on the inside of your lower lips, your gums, the roof of your mouth or under your tongue.

A mucocele can be easily mistaken for a cold sore, which is caused by a virus and can be contagious. However, a mucocele is evidently just blister, and not an ulcer or a sore.

*Cause

A mucocele is due to a salivary gland that is plugged or injured. Experts say that the most common root cause of a mucocele is lip biting.  Having piercings in the mouth can also be regarded as a cause. Some people may develop mucocele upon the use of toothpaste or any other oral care product that contains certain chemicals.

*Risk Factor

People who are not practicing good oral hygiene are at higher risk of developing a mucocele. The same is true for those who are stressed or are suffering from anxiety, and are unknowingly nibbling on their lips or cheeks.

*Symptoms

A mucocele is characterized by a raised blister on the inner lip or elsewhere in the mouth, such as the inner cheeks. It is possible for a mucocele to appear bluish.

A mucocele does not cause any pain. But there are instances when it can cause pain and can interfere with eating, drinking or talking. If a mucocele tends to appear on the same spot repeatedly, it’s not unlikely for it to become painful after some time of habitually forming in your mouth.

*Treatment

A mucocele requires no medical treatment. It tends to heal on its own, especially if it’s superficial. Laser therapy and cryotherapy are some of the most common medical treatment for a mucocele. steroid is injected into the growth to reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process.

*Home Remedies

Gargling with salt water (half a tablespoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water) may be done to ease the pain and inflammation.

If the mucocele is causing some discomfort when eating, drinking or talking, immediate relief from it may be obtained simply by placing an ice cube over it.

Many people swear by the effectiveness of placing over the mucocele a recently-used tea bag — tannins in it can help with inflammation and pain.

Applying honey, aloe vera gel or turmeric paste (turmeric powder with a few drops of water) on the growth is also known to be a very good home remedy.