You may occasionally experience red bumps inside of your cheeks. They may be caused by a trauma, such as a tooth rubbing the cheek or by accidentally biting the skin, or by a virus or skin condition. Some bumps require treatment, while others will simply resolve on their own. If you are bothered by bumps in your mouth, contact your dentist or doctor for advice and treatment.
Symptoms
Red bumps inside your cheek may be small or large and may have white or cream-colored centers. You may find them painful, or you may only notice them because they rub against your teeth or feel different to your tongue. Depending on the cause and type, you may have just one bump on one side of your mouth, or you may experience several bumps inside of both cheeks.
Types
Canker sores may begin as painful red bumps inside of the cheeks. As time goes on, the sore turns into an open, very painful ulcer. Bumps may also be caused by lichen planus. Lichen planus can affect various areas of the body, including inside the mouth, says FamilyDoctor.org. You may experience an itching or burning sensation along with red or purplish bumps inside your cheeks. If you bite your cheeks, you may experience an irritated fibroma, which is also sometimes called a fibrous nodule or an oral polyp.
Time Frame
If you have a canker sore, you should have decreasing pain within 10 days and complete healing within three weeks, according to MedlinePlus. If the sore is large, it may take up to four weeks to heal. Bumps caused by lichen planus may take months to go away and may recur. An oral fibroma will not heal on its own, but your doctor can surgically remove it if it is bothersome.
Identification
Canker sores can be identified by their moderate to severe pain and their cream-colored or whitish centers. They look like an open sore that eventually turns gray as it heals. Lichen planus and an oral fibroma should be identified and diagnosed by a physician. You may need a biopsy to rule out or confirm the diagnosis.
Warning
In rare cases, an ulcer, sore or bump that does not go away may be oral cancer. The Oral Cancer Foundation suggests seeing your doctor if you have any sore or bump that does not go away within 14 days. Early detection is key because oral cancer lesions are often not noticed in a timely fashion, allowing the cancer to spread to other areas of the body and increasing the mortality rate.
