Bubble on Gumline

I have a bubble on my gumline and I am not sure what it is I think it might be a mucocele. I have had it for 5 years and it gets larger sometimes but then gets a little smaller.  It never goes away, and it is swollen right now so my cheek looks big. Can anyone help identify what this is and what I need to do about it.  Thank you.


http://bit.ly/fwFHlH     You can find a picture right here. Thank you

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Mucoceles usually are on the lower lip due to trauma (biting yourself) resulting in a cyst.  It may be a mucocele of some sort although trauma to that area would be more unusual.  You may want to go to a dentist or oral surgeon to get it evaluated.  How often is it swelling up and down, every few hours, daily, every few weeks?

[Bubble1961]

Not often at all it has been this size for about a month now maybe a little more. It is now starting to get in the way of me chewing my food.
  Thank you for all the help you are giving.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Ya, that's probably not a mucocele.  Mucoceles usually change in size during meals because you start to salivate when you're about to (or during) eating.  

There's no way to know until you get a thorough evaluation and possibly a biopsy.

[Bubble1961]

Not a Mucocele, I didn't really think so because it doesn't change in size and the home remedy I was using didn't seem to have any effect.  Thank you for answering me, I won't be able to get it evaluated for awhile. Let me ask one more question: If I was to lance it on my own would that be a problem? I have been wondering if I just cut it open whatever is in there might come out and it would go down. Or might there be some type of poison inside it?  
Thank you again Dr. Tsang.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I wouldn't recommend it only cause if you lance it with something, it may get infected later on which would make it worse.  Luckily its not a purple/red bubble.  Usually that indicates blood which means it would bleed quite a bit if you lanced it.  Anyways, I would recommend just waiting it out until you can get into a doctor.

[Bubble1961]

Thank you I will wait it out, I appreciate you answering.