Unfortunately, tori do not shrink over time. They will grow to a certain point, and then stop growing. A surgical team will need to remove them if your dentist deems it necessary.
Because mandibular tori are bone growths, you cannot get rid of them without surgical treatment from your dentist.
In the case that the tori is considerably large, the patient is encouraged to consider undergoing surgery to remove the growth. For individuals who wear dentures, tori may obstruct the plates from resting comfortably and evenly along the gumline.
Torus mandibularis is thought to be caused mainly by environmental factors, such as bruxism, vitamin deficiencies and calcium-rich supplements, although genetic background also plays a key role.
Stress in the jaw bone and bruxism are other factors. This condition is more common in early adult life, and consequently, it is believed that mandibular tori are the result of local stresses and not solely on genetic influences.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which one or more parts of the jawbones become dead (necrotic) and exposed in the mouth. These fragments of bone poke through the gums and may easily be mistaken for broken teeth. Both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaw can be affected.
Is mandibular tori caused by stress? The causes of mandibular tori are not fully understood, although environmental factors and diet are generally thought to be factors in developing these growths. Jaw stress is also related to tori growth, and emotional stress can be a contributor to jaw stress.
Tori—Disease Fact Sheet
These lesions can present at any age but are usually noted in early adult life. They are common, detected in 25% to 40% of the Unites States population (higher incidence in torus palatinus).
Due to laser technology, tori dental removal can be virtually pain-free.
Dental tori factors include: Trauma or injury to the mouth's interior. Jawbone stress due to teeth grinding and clenching. Lifestyle/diet influences, such as vitamin deficiencies, fish consumption, and calcium-rich diets.
Tori are considered normal and harmless. Phew! Tori may, however, get in the way of dentures or orthodontics in some cases. Or they may grow to a point and touch in the middle of the mouth.
Tori usually become apparent during the second or third decade of life. Tori may develop at the midline of palate (torus palatinus [TP]) or the lingual aspect of the mandible (torus mandibularis [TM]).
Complete healing after tori removal will take approximately 8 weeks. Remember, salt water rinses will help accelerate the healing process. Remember to also finish your medications, as both antibiotics and pain medications shorten the recovery time as well.
In most cases tori are benign and do not require treatment. However, tori will need to be surgically removed to accommodate upper or lower dentures and upper or lower partial dentures (flippers). Tori may also be removed to aid in minimizing food impaction under the excess bone, which will promote improved home care.
Recovery time for mandibular tori reduction is generally one to two days. There will be some swelling, but the pain can usually be reduced with over the counter medication. We also recommend gentle warm salt water rinses, and a temporary diet of soft foods.
The size of the tori may fluctuate throughout life but they do tend to get bigger over time. In some cases the tori can be large enough to touch each other in the midline of mouth.
They are less common than bony growths occurring on the palate, known as torus palatinus. Mandibular tori are more common in Asian and Inuit populations. They are slightly more common in males. In the United States, the prevalence is 7-10% of the population.
A mandibular tori is slow growing, and this is the reason that many people never know they have one. Once you have it, though, you have it. A mandibular tori (or any other torus) does not go away on its own.
Tori, or mandibular tori to give it its full name, are small growths of bone that tend to grow on the tongue side of our gums where teeth grinding is present. They are harmless but do indicate that the patient may be grinding their teeth.
Try to vigorously rinse your mouth with salt water. This could loosen the object and help soothe the gums. Try not to rinse with antiseptic mouthwash as this could actually irritate your gum tissues. If the object is still stuck, you can use waxed dental floss to remove an object that is stuck in the gum line.
Your gums do not grow back after receding, however they can be restored to an extent. This process is called regeneration and usually occurs after the underlying bone has been exposed. However, not all cases of gum recession are reversible.
Mandibular tori can be a painful condition that causes your throat and jaw to hurt, your gums to get inflamed, and even your teeth to come loose. Typically, these bony growths appear inside your mouth on the lower jaw.
Common Symptoms
The fact that their growth occurs so slowly over the years, mandibular tori can pop up without you ever thinking about them. It might take a comment from your dentist or hygienist for you to realize that they're even there.
Mandibular tori are very slow-growing, so much so that it can be challenging to identify what causes tori to grow. There is some evidence that bruxism can speed up the growth of tori. Diet may play a role in the growth cycle. Some tori also grow for a period of time, shrink, and then begin to grow again.