Spots and Bumps on the Roof of Your Mouth

We may enjoy polka dots on our umbrella. A cheetah spotted sweater may be the favorite piece of clothing to build an outfit. A pocket square could be the well-spotted accessory that pulls together everything you’re wearing (or maybe it’s the spotted socks). There are certainly ways that spots or polka dots can improve our day and our appearance.

However, if we find spots inside our mouths, we’re not happy to see them. They are not the perfect cap to our appearance; instead, they’re a matter of medical concern. White or yellow spots or bumps on the roof of the mouth do appear sometimes, and it’s totally normal to want to know what they are and how to treat them.

Most Likely Culprit: Oral Thrush

If your mouth has developed a case of cream-colored or white spots that may move or bleed if you wipe at them with gauze or a toothbrush, you may very well be suffering from oral thrush. Oral thrush tends to occur most often in babies, but it absolutely can pop up in older children and adults. When oral thrush occurs in adults, it occurs most often in those who use dentures or certain medications, particularly inhaled corticosteroids, that change how your immune system and oral microbiome function. Thrush also tends to occur in people who have weakened immune systems. Thrush is an infection caused by a common type of fungus (or yeast) that can overgrow in certain people.

At Home or In-Office Treatment for Bumps on the Roof of the Mouth

For many people, an at-home treatment may be enough to deal with oral thrush. At-home options include rinsing with salt water or using baking soda water on the thrush spots. It’s also important to properly clean your retainers, dentures, or anything else you would leave in your mouth to keep the fungus from re-infecting your mouth. If you prefer medical office treatment or if at-home options are not working, your doctor or dentist can help you with an antifungal medication.

When the Spots Won’t Budge: Leukoplakia

If you have tough white spots or white lines on the roof of the mouth, or the roof of your mouth is white, and it won’t budge at all when wiped, it’s probably not oral thrush. It’s possible that the skin of your mouth is affected by a condition called leukoplakia. Most of the time, those whitish patches in the mouth are benign. However, there is a small chance that these changes are pre-cancerous or can become pre-cancerous, particularly if you have a history of tobacco use. So, it’s a good idea to have your dentist look at any changes to the inside of your mouth.

When to See Your Dentist

Your dentist has the training to evaluate spots inside your mouth and determine if they are safe and can be left alone, if they need additional monitoring, or if they need prompt care. Most of the time, leukoplakia just needs monitoring and can be left alone. If you have a history that puts you at a higher risk for cancer, your dentist may recommend a biopsy, where a small piece of the spot is removed and examined under a microscope to make sure there are no dangerous changes. Either way, your dentist is the right person to consult for next steps to maintain optimal oral health.

When Your Spot is a Lump: Torus Palatinus

So, what if it’s less of a spot on the roof of your mouth and more of a hard lump? It might be a common type of bone overgrowth called a torus palatinus. If it’s painless, started growing at some point around puberty, and is in the middle of the roof of your mouth (your hard palate), it’s likely this type of growth.  Although it’s not perfectly understood why some people develop torus palatinus, it’s believed to be at least partially genetic since it runs in families. It also is associated with clenching, grinding, and high bone density. It’s most common in women and people of Asian descent.

What Can Be Done About Torus Palatinus

There’s usually no reason to mess with a torus palatinus. It’s not likely to turn cancerous, and it doesn’t usually hurt anything. If the lump becomes too large for safe eating and drinking or interferes with oral appliances (dentures, retainers, etc.), your dentist may refer you to a specialized surgeon to discuss if surgical removal of the overgrown bone is right for you. However, most of the time, it requires absolutely no attention or treatment.

Spots and Bumps on the Roof of the Mouth: The Bottomline

Any time you have a spot or bump on the roof of your mouth, your dental care team is happy to help you correctly identify the causes and recommend a treatment plan. Most spots and lumps are readily dealt with, so there’s no reason to wait and avoid getting answers.