Oral fibroma, also known as reactive hyperplasia, is a common, benign (non-cancerous) growth in the mouth. It's essentially hard and smooth scar tissue that forms as a reaction to irritation or injury.
Appearance and Characteristics
Oral fibromas typically match the natural color of the inside of your mouth. However, recent bleeding – often caused by ongoing irritation – can cause them to appear white or dark red.
Causes
These growths develop as a response to:
- Chronic irritation: This could be from ill-fitting dentures, cheek biting, or other repetitive trauma.
- Injury: A past injury to the mouth can also trigger fibroma formation.
Treatment
In most cases, no treatment is necessary unless the fibroma causes discomfort or interferes with normal function. If removal is deemed necessary, a simple surgical procedure is usually sufficient.
