Causes of bone sticking out in the gum: bone spur

Why does bone spur (bone spicule) stick out in your gum?

Bone spur in your gum can happen spontaneously or because of surgical dental treatment that you have recently done.

If you have

  • performed a tooth extraction,
  • undergone an oral surgery on jawbone or periodontal part of your gum
  • taken certain medications to treat bone disorders and diseases like bisphosphonate drugs
  • performed radiation or chemotherapy

you are more likely see a sharp bone that appears out of gums and soft tissues in your mouth. This doesn’t usually happen but bone spur exists in the location of your previous oral surgical procedure.

What is a bone spur (bone spicule)?

Bone spur, also called bone spicule, is the appearance of bony parts in your gum’s soft tissue. Bone spicule, is like an extra piece of bone that is trapped in your gum and can cause pain, infection, swelling in its site in your gum. Bone spur is caused due to diseases, oral surgery (e.g. tooth extraction), medications and dental trauma or injury. Bone spur or bone spicule in gum is medically called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Necrosis means dead and here it means a dead bone fragment, which pokes out from your gum. It can happen in both jaws and you usually think it is your broken teeth but it is not.

The causes of bone spur in your gum

There are several causes for the sharp bony parts that stick out of your gums.

  • A tooth extraction
  • Dental injury
  • Medications (some bisphosphonates drugs)
  • Poor oral health and lack of nutrition and vitamins
  • Oral surgeries like periodontal surgery or dental implant surgery
  • Radiation therapy and chemotherapy
  • Smoking and alcohol use (especially during major health issues)

Where do bone spurs usually appear?

Bone spicules appear around the bony parts of inside your mouth, where your ligament and the jaw bones are. The most common site for bone spicule or bone spurs are:

  • In your gums both upper and lower jaw
  • the locations in mouth where you have had a tooth extraction
  • the location of surgical procedures that involve your jaw bone like periodontal surgery or dental implant

Common symptoms of bone spur in your gums

People can feel the sharp or masses of bone that show up in and around their gums. You may get worried about this unwanted bony part in your mouth, which can cause irritation to other soft tissues like your inner cheek, tongue or lips. If you want to make sure whether these are the same bony parts that we are talking about, which stick out in your gum, you will better know the signs and symptoms. If you have a bone spicule in your gums, you have these symptoms:

  • the bone piece that protrudes in your gum(easy to see by a quick look) 
  • pain
  • redness and irritation
  • swelling in your gums and soft tissue around
  • tooth/teeth loose
  • infection

 

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