What is clear bubble on inside of lip

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Last reviewed on: 8/13/2020

Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

A mouth cyst is a thin, fluid-filled sac on the inside of your mouth. Also called a mucous cyst or mucocele, the sac is harmless and painless, says the National Institutes of Health(NIH). It may annoy you though, because you feel a bump inside your mouth.

These cysts commonly occur on the inside of the lips but can also form on your tongue, palate, inside of the cheeks, floor of the mouth or around piercings on the tongue or lips. A cyst on the floor of your mouth is called a ranula, and a cyst on the gum is called an epulis. The mucocele sac is bluish and clear and contains clear fluid. Your dentist can usually diagnose a mucous cyst just by looking at it.

Causes and Prevention

The cause of these fluid sacs on the lips, gums or inside of the cheeks is believed to be sucking the tissue between your teeth. Not intentionally sucking your cheeks or lips may prevent some cysts from forming, but some cysts can appear at random.

Mouth Cyst Treatment

A mucous cyst often does not require treatment because it will usually rupture on its own, according to NIH. Continue your usual home oral care routine, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

If a mouth cyst becomes uncomfortable or irritated, interferes with chewing, or does not go away in a couple of weeks, see a dentist. Your dentist may use a sterile needle to open the top of the cyst to drain the fluid from it and eventually will go away.

Removing a Cyst

Sometimes, your dentist or an oral surgeon will choose to surgically remove the cyst, especially if it returns after being opened. Complications of surgery are very rare, involving the standard risks of surgery such as infection or an adverse reaction to the local anesthesia. Always talk to your dentist or dental specialist and make sure you understand the risks.

Bumps, growths, and sores form in the mouth all of the time. These lesions can vary in size, symptoms, and severity, so you should have a dentist examine any new growths you find. Mucoceles are a common type of oral lesion, affecting 2.4 of every 1000 people, according to the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Learn what causes oral mucoceles, if you can prevent them, and what treatments are available.

What Are Oral Mucoceles?

Oral mucoceles, sometimes known as oral mucous cysts, are painless blisters that occur on the surface of the mouth. These cysts often appear clear or blue in color while smooth and round in shape. They commonly develop on the lower lip's inner surface, inside the cheeks, and the bottom surface of the tongue. Though mucoceles are usually painless, they may get in the way of chewing, speaking, swallowing, and breathing, depending on their size, which ranges from one millimeter to two centimeters.

What Causes Oral Mucoceles?

Mucoceles usually form at or near a salivary gland opening, also known as a salivary duct. Usually, these cysts result from trauma to the mouth. This trauma causes the duct to rupture and the saliva to spill into the connective tissue, which leads to inflammation and swelling. Common culprits for this trauma include lip biting or sucking, cheek chewing, constant contact with a sharp tooth, or continually thrusting the tongue against the teeth.

How Do You Treat Oral Mucoceles?

Your dental professional can usually diagnose an oral mucocele by its appearance. If there is any uncertainty, your dental professional can also perform an ultrasound or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. In most cases, oral mucocele treatment is unnecessary since the cyst ruptures on its own — usually after three to six weeks.

If the mucocele is persistent or large in size, your dental professional might use cryotherapy, laser treatment, or surgery to remove the cyst. Do not try to remove or rupture the cyst at home. Mucoceles can recur, so your dental professional might recommend removing the damaged or blocked salivary gland as well. They will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the site.

How Do You Prevent Oral Mucoceles?

You can't prevent all mucoceles from developing, but you can avoid bad habits and products that might lead to their formation. If you have a habit of biting your lip and cheek, put in the effort to stop by determining what triggers the behavior and implementing new habits — like chewing sugar-free gum.

While it might be tempting to take a "wait and see" approach, make an appointment with your dentist right away if you notice any new bumps or lesions in your mouth. Your dental professional can rule out more serious maladies — like oral cancer — and advise on the best course of action. With a dentist's guidance, you can take the right steps to return to a cyst-free mouth as soon as possible.

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