In the Know for You to Know

Your baby is healthy and happy, and achieving their milestones. Next on the list is teething. Yes teething, but you’ve got this, you’re on it.

Then one day when you’re cleaning your baby’s mouth you notice a bump. Not just any bump, a bluish-purplish bump on their gums where a tooth is supposed to be.

You’re thinking what is this bump? It wasn’t there before, where did it come from?

While you’re used to the more common signs of teething like children drooling, putting their hands in their mouths, running a low grade temperature, diarrhea, or pulling on their ears. there is also a not so commonly talked a sign of teething.

There are some babies and toddlers who may have a bump on their gums around their developing tooth. This bump is called an eruption cyst.

What Is An Eruption Cyst?

An eruption cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms around a tooth that is developing before that tooth comes through the gums.

As the tooth moves closer to the gums the sac (or bump) appears through the gums and as the tooth continues to grow the bump becomes more apparent.

An eruption cyst does not affect the development of the tooth. The tooth develops as it normally would.

How Does An Eruption Cyst Form?

When fluid accumulates around the special dental tissue which surrounds the developing tooth the eruption cyst forms.

The normal pressure from the developing tooth on the fluid pushes on the gums and because the gums are thin the bump appears bluish-purple.

Sometimes blood can be in the bump around the tooth, which gives the bump a red-brown color.

There are some theories as to why this can occur, there aren’t any definitives as to what causes the fluid to accumulate around the developing tooth.

How Is An Eruption Cyst Treated?

Most of the time when the tooth has fully developed to the point it is ready to come through the gums the eruption cyst will pop on its own.

When the eruption cyst pops and the fluid is clear you’ll see a brand new tooth coming into your baby’s mouth with sore looking gums around the tooth. The sore looking gums are from the eruption cyst that popped and usually gets better on its own in about a week.

However when the cyst pops and there is blood in the bump you’ll see blood in the mouth and on the lips. The best thing to do if you see this is to wet some clean soft wash cloths and gently clean your baby’s mouth. This way you can see where the blood is coming from. When it comes from a new tooth the gums will look sore and get better on their own in about a week.

If you have any worries or concerns always contact your child’s dentist or pediatrician.

What To Know About An Eruption Cyst

• Can be a bluish-purple or reddish-brown bump or bruise on the gums which forms over a developing tooth,
• This bump may feel spongy or look like a small balloon on the gums,
• They may look uncomfortable, but they usually are not painful,
• An eruption cyst lasts until the tooth comes into the mouth,
• There can be redness around the gums when the eruption cyst pops and the new tooth comes into the mouth.

What To Remember

Eruption cysts are the not so often talked about part of teething. It is formed by fluid accumulating around a developing tooth. These sacs can look like a bluish-purple or red-brown bump on the gums. They usually aren’t a cause for concern and pop on their own when the tooth comes into the mouth.

Have you seen an eruption cyst up close in person? What did you think when you saw it? Share your thoughts with us, we’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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