Fibromas are overgrowths of soft tissue. They appear as raised, relatively small areas. They commonly occur on the lips, inside the cheeks and on the tongue. Fibromas are usually pink. They also can be whitish or light-colored. If injured, fibromas may be reddish or bluish. Fibromas may develop because of constant irritation of the lips, the inside of the cheeks, or the tongue.

Symptoms

You may see or feel the fibroma. There are usually no symptoms. Fibromas may get bigger over time.

Diagnosis

Your dentist will examine your mouth and ask you a few questions. Usually that will be enough for the dentist to diagnose a fibroma and determine a cause. A fibroma can be removed to confirm the diagnosis. In this case it should be examined in a lab to make sure it is not cancerous.

Prevention

To avoid fibromas, avoid habits such as biting your lips or the inside of your cheeks. If you grind your teeth, ask your dentist to fit you with a night guard.

 Treatments

A fibroma will grow if the area continues to be injured. Fibromas that are large or interfere with speech should be removed.

When fibromas are removed, the tissue is sent to a laboratory for a biopsy. If you drink or smoke, your dentist is likely to order a biopsy to rule out oral cancer. Another reason to do a biopsy is if the fibroma has an unusual color. Fibromas are not known to become cancerous over time.