Growth in mouth

[Peteyg]

To whom it may concern,

I have a growth in my mouth on the inner side of lower right gum wall. if i look at it looks like a whitehead inside my mouth. it doesn't hurt when I hit it. However the lower gland on the right hand side of my face is slightly swelled up when i feel it. could someone please let me know what it may be? I have been chewing alot of gum lately and i do smoke at the same time... thankyou. Regards.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

An abscess is basically a build up of pus and infection in the jaw bone area.  I assume that since you've seen a dentist recently, it probably would've been spotted at your last checkup as they generally develop from large cavities.  There are abscess that also develop from gum disease as well but assuming you had a cleaning and check up, thats also a little more unlikely.  Best to get it checked out and taken care of.

  

[Peteyg]

It's been a while since I've had a dental check up. I would say around 8 months now. I've used a mouth wash on it and it seems to have smoothen out a bit but its still there and looks white. I will go and have a dental check up as soon as I return home next week. What exactly is an abscess? is it somehting to worry about? One more question could this abscess have anything to do with my jaw feeling a bit week on the same side? It isn't exactly on the jaw its just above it on the inner side of the lower gum wall. Thankyou for your time.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

When was the last time you had a dental checkup?

My initial guess is that it may be an abscess.  Best to get it checked out by a dentist for proper care.