It feels like I have some swelling on the inside of my inner lip. It recedes while I sleep. Why is this happening?

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Has there been any trauma to the lip prior? It may be a mucocele. A mucocele is when the duct to a small salivary gland is blocked or damaged. As the day goes, saliva builds up in the lip and can't be released into the mouth. At night, salivary flow decreases so the mucocele is smaller. Does the swelling become more prominent before a meal? Your dentist or oral surgeon can treat the condition, if necessary. I would have this looked at to confirm the diagnosis.

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DISCLAIMER: Ask a University Dentist is a University of Mississippi Medical Center informational program designed to provide general information on a variety of health topics. It is not a physician referral service, nor is it designed as a "second opinion" source for the initial diagnoses of individual health care providers. It is certainly not intended to take the place of your personal physician - should you or one of your family members have a medical problem, always consult your own physician for diagnosis and treatment.