Mucoceles are relatively commonly seen in children.
How do they form?
There are over 600 minor salivary glands, which produce saliva. The glands are too small to be seen by the naked eye and consist of a small globular gland. The saliva that forms in the gland drains out through a narrow tube (the duct) into the mouth. This saliva helps us chew our food and also starts the process of digesting food.
The duct may get blocked for some reason due to some local injury. An injury may occur due to lip sucking or being bitten by teeth, or for some unknown reason. Once the duct gets blocked, the gland has a buildup of saliva. The gland becomes big and is seen as a soft, mobile swelling filled with clear fluid. It may have a bluish hue to it.
Blockage of the ducts that drain the salivary gland causes mucoceles of the corresponding gland. Saliva builds up in the gland and shows up as a slight bulge on the inner aspect of the lower lip.
Should I do something for my child’s mucocele?
Mucoceles are more of a bother and only occasionally cause significant symptoms.
- Local irritation – the child finds the presence of this swelling disconcerting and continuously touches it with his tongue or complains about it being present.
- Pain – only occurs if the child bites the cyst.
- Bleeding – happens if the child accidentally bites the cyst.
Yaay!! Doctor, the swelling has gone! All my worries are over.
Typically, the swelling gradually increases in size. Suddenly, one fine day, the swelling disappears or seems very small. As a parent, you are most thrilled about it, and it rarely happens that the cyst ever comes back.
The more likely process is that due to the constant secretion of saliva, the pressure within the mucocele increases to a point where the mucocele ruptures. Most of the time, this opening is tiny and heals by itself. Once it has recovered, the saliva builds up, and the process repeats itself.
Are all swellings in the mouth called mucoceles?
There are many causes of swellings in the mouth. Your pediatric surgeon must evaluate your child before labeling her as having a mucocele of the mouth.
How do we treat mucoceles?
If the mucocele troubles the child, it is better to remove it. For the young child in whom it occurs most commonly, it is better to do it under general anesthesia. An unconscious child ensures that the child does not have any pain, and just as important, the child remains still during surgery. Also, the child does not retain traumatic memories of the event.
You can help your child prepare for his upcoming operation by going through our general preoperative page.
The operation itself is minor. After excising the mucocele, we use dissolving sutures that don’t require removal.
Care after surgery
Very little special attention is required after this surgery.
- In general, one should avoid hot (thermally) and spicy food. Your child will be able to eat within two hours after the surgery.
- Your child can go home the same day or the next morning after surgery.
- Older children are advised to rinse their mouths to maintain proper hygiene. For younger children who can’t gargle, we recommend cleaning the operated area with Johnson’s earbuds soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution.
- You will have to bring in your child for a postoperative visit to ensure everything is OK, about a week after the surgery.
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