What is leukoplakia of oral mucosa?

What is leukoplakia of oral mucosa?

Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.

What are the symptoms of leukoplakia?

It causes fuzzy white patches, often on the sides of the tongue, that look folded or ridged. They’re not painful and cannot be brushed or scraped away. Antiviral medicines, or treatments applied directly to the patch, may be prescribed to treat hairy leukoplakia.

How long does leukoplakia take to go away?

Leukoplakia is usually harmless. Patches in the mouth often clear up in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. In some cases, the patches may be an early sign of cancer.

How do you treat leukoplakia of the gums?

If eliminating the source of irritation is ineffective in reducing leukoplakia, the lesion may need to be surgically removed. The lesion can be removed either by your general dentist or by an oral surgeon. Hairy leukoplakia needs treatment with an antiviral medication.

What is the most common oral precancerous lesion?

The most common precancerous lesions present clinically as white, red or a mix of white and red mucosal changes. These clinical conditions are known as leukoplakia or erythroplakia. There are other pathological conditions that are considered precancerous including oral lichen planus and oral submucous fibrosis.

Can leukoplakia be caused by stress?

Canker sores – These painful red or white sores on your tongue, mouth, lips and cheeks can be caused by stress, trauma, irritation or diet. Leukoplakia – These are thick, whitish patches on cheeks, gums or tongue that can lead to cancer. They can be caused by tobacco, dental work or cheek-biting.

Is leukoplakia an emergency?

While not normally dangerous (most patches are considered benign), a small percentage of leukoplakia instances show early signs of mouth cancers appearing next to the growths. If you notice a sudden blossoming of these growths within your mouth, you should immediately contact your dentist for advice and treatment.

Does leukoplakia spread fast?

PVL is usually diagnosed late in the development of leukoplakia, as it takes time to spread to multiple sites. It also has a high rate of recurrence. There is also a condition called oral hairy leukoplakia, which also happens as a result of having the Epstein-Barr virus, which stays in your body throughout your life.

How do I get rid of leukoplakia?

Patches can be removed by using laser therapy, a scalpel, or a freezing procedure. Hairy leukoplakia is not likely to result in mouth cancer and usually does not require removal. Your healthcare provider might prescribe antiviral medications to help stop the patches from growing.

Are white patches in mouth normal?

White patches in the mouth are a common symptom of infection, inflammation, trauma, malignancy, and other underlying conditions and diseases. Mouth white patches result from pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, which inflame the lining of the mouth causing swelling, redness, and ulcer formation.