There are bumps on your teeth, bumps under your tongue, bumps along your tongue … bumps everywhere! So, what do these variations mean, exactly? Are you suffering from an oral health issue? Are you just seeing the natural, unique shape of your oral tissues? Fortunately, we can help by answering some common questions. If you’re unsure, come in for a visit.
Questions and Answers
Question: What are the bumps and grooves on the borders of my incisors? Are they supposed to be there? I don’t like them.
Answer: These are called mamelons. They are bumps that have been there since your permanent teeth erupted. Incisors start out as three different lobes that all come together when they develop. During their fusion into a single tooth, the rounded tops of those lobes are left as the bumps you’re seeing. Usually, they’re worn away naturally from day-to-day use in childhood. However, sometimes they remain due to lack of sufficient contact between your teeth. We can smooth them down with dental contouring if you dislike them (but remember, they don’t represent an oral health problem).
Question: What is the strange bumped appearance along the border of my tongue? Does this mean there’s something wrong with my oral health?
Answer: We call this “scalloping.” It’s likely there because you either clench or grind your teeth as a result of a dental issue called bruxism. We provide comfortable, noninvasive treatment to improve this concern.
Question: Why are there bumps under my tongue that feel like bone sticking out?
Answer: These are tori. They’re benign growths of bone tissue that develop and remain covered by your gum tissue. They’re usually there as the result of genetics and rarely require any type of treatment. Feel free to discuss them with us during your next dental visit!
If You See A Bump, Come In For A Visit
If you see a bump and you’re not sure what it is, the easiest way to protect your smile and avoid anxiety is scheduling an appointment with us. Visit us for a dental checkup in Ankeny, IA by contacting Dental Impressions to schedule a visit at (515) 965-0230.
