HomeAnswersDentistryaphthous ulcerWhy am I having white spots on gums?

I have a painless, small, white dot on my gums. What could it be?

Share
I have a painless, small, white dot on my gums. What could it be?

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At February 23, 2017
Reviewed AtSeptember 1, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have a small white dot on my gums. It looks like a whitehead. I noticed it a couple of days ago. It is painless. It is just above my left canine. I do not know what it is. It is towards the top of the gum. I have attached the photo. Can you suggest what it could be? I am scared of the dentist, so any option avoiding that would be nice.

Answered by Dr. Paras Angrish

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It looks like a minor aphthous ulcer, which gives no pain and subsides by itself. Please check if there is any pus discharge, pain in the tooth and any other area of the mouth also has this kind of spots. Aphthous ulcer often causes minimal symptoms or problems. Oral ulcers are small round or ovoid ulcers of two to four meter in diameter. They are round or ovoid in most situations but are often more linear in common site. They have an ulcer floor that is initially yellowish white and surrounded by an erythematous halo or redness. They are found mainly on the mobile mucosa of the lips, cheeks, the floor of the mouth, sulci or below the tongue. Yours is in between the junction of gums and sulcus of the cheek, so it is a soft mucosa looks like to be. They occur in groups of only a few ulcers that is, one to six at a time. In your case, you have one only. They heal in seven to ten days, and they may recur at intervals of one to four months. They leave little or no evidence of scarring. If it pains, then you can apply pain relieving gel. If it does not subside in a week or 10 days, then do visit your dentist.

Differential diagnosis

Aphthous ulcer.

Preventive measures

Do not eat spicy food.

Regarding follow up

For further information consult a dentist online.---> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/dentist

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Paras Angrish
Dr. Paras Angrish

Dentistry

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Read answers about:

oral ulceraphthous ulcer

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Dentistry

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy