Do you notice bumpy gum tissue in your mouth? While you'll want to visit your dentist to check any growths out, what they might actually be is tori. Tori aren't tumors; they are harmless bony protuberances that are covered by gum tissue. Tori are often seen under the tongue, on the roof of the mouth, or near the upper gums on the cheek side. Take a look at what causes them and when they might need to be removed.

What Causes Them?

Genetics can influence the development of tori, so if your family members have them, you're more likely to have them. However, stress factors, like tooth clenching or an uneven bite, can also cause them to develop over time.

Do They Increase the Risk of Oral Cancer?

While tori are extra growths of oral tissue, they are not cancerous and don't cause cancer. Signs of oral cancer can include things like slow-healing sores, lesions, changes in the thickness of oral tissues, difficulty swallowing, discoloration of oral tissues, and/or numbness.

When Would Tori Need to Be Removed?

If you have no problem eating, speaking, or maintaining your oral health, then tori don't need to be removed. However, there are two main reasons they may need to be removed: food impaction and appliance interference.

Food Impaction

Some people have large tori underneath their tongue, so when they eat hard crunchy foods, like chips, the sharp edges of food debris can get caught between the tori and lower alveolar ridge. As you can imagine, this can be quite painful. In worst-case scenarios, food can become impacted and increase the risk of gum disease and infection if it isn't removed. If food debris keeps irritating tori gum tissue, then you can also develop ulcers, which are open sores that can be painful and get infected. If your tori are affecting your dietary choices and your comfort levels when eating, then it's a good idea to visit a dentist to have them removed.

Appliance Interference

Do you need to get a dental appliance, like a denture? In order for dentures to stay in place, they need to suction to the palate and alveolar ridges. It's hard for dentures to get good retention if tori are in the way. Tori can also interfere with the stability of retainers, mouthguards, partials, sleep apnea devices, etc. Ultimately if you need to wear an oral prosthesis or orthodontic appliance, your dentist may ask you to schedule an appointment to remove your tori.

Your dentist might remove the tori if they are small, but if you have larger tori, then he or she might refer you to an oral surgeon for their removal. Reach out to your family dentist to learn more.