Treatments for Warts in the Mouth

Warts are a small, harmless growth. They may be found in the mouth, and are generally known as cold sores, if they are on the lips. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) family. Warts are very contagious. There are many treatments that can clear up warts in the mouth quickly and painlessly.

What to Look For

• Most mouth warts form on the outside of the mouth on the lips. But warts also can be found inside the mouth. Mouth warts can be caused by kissing or other close contact with another infected individual. Symptoms include skin changes and pain or irritation in the area. Mouth warts may make swallowing difficult, and certain foods and drinks may irritate them.

Over-the-Counter Medicines

• Treatments for mouth warts include creams and gels that can be applied directly to the wart. However, these may only work if the wart is very close to the edge of the mouth, as saliva will quickly wash away the medicine. Discuss the use of these medicines with a doctor.

Liquid Nitrogen

• A doctor may decide liquid nitrogen is the best way to get rid of a mouth wart. The doctor freezes the wart in a treatment called cryosurgery. It's a process that may take a few treatments. Cryosurgery freezes the affected tissue, so that it can be easily removed. Freezing can cause temporary discomfort.

Electrocautery

• Electrocautery is another way to remove a mouth wart. In this method, an electric needle is used to kill the tissue around the wart so that the whole area can be peeled away. Electrocautery is used when all other methods have been tried with no success, because it is an expensive procedure. I