Crime-time TV shows have introduced a new term to the American lexicon: petechial hemorrhaging. This happens when blood vessels burst leaving tiny, flat, round, red or purple bruises where blood has pooled in the tissue. They don't blanch or fade color when pressed.
On TV, it's evidence an evil-doer strangled the hapless victim. Closer to home, you can see it on your arm where your bratty brother gave you an Indian burn, or in your own mouth. Your own mouth? Let’s examine the evidence.
The most common cause of petechiae is trauma. For example, chewing on a pencil or toothbrush ruptures blood vessels when you push the object against the roof of your mouth. Petechiae can also form if you eat rough, hard foods like chips or crackers. An ill-fitting denture or a jagged, rough filling can cause tiny blood vessels to break.
Petechiae can also be caused by blood disorders, systemic diseases and vitamin C deficiency, and the mouth is often the first place a disease appears.
If the petechiae are caused by a trauma like eating crackers, the bruises usually go away without treatment in a few days. However, an area that is continually traumatized from a habit like chewing pencils or an intentional injury jeopardizes your health.
If you notice anything unusual in your mouth, it is best to let us take a look to rule out a serious condition that needs treatment. Catching a condition in its early stage can be key to your good health, just like catching the butler in the library with the rope right before the credits roll.
Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.
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