Leukoplakia is a condition typically causing grey or white spots inside the mouth. These commonly appear on the gums, on the roof of the mouth, or on the tongue. It’s the mouth’s reaction to ongoing irritation of the mucous membranes inside the mouth. Smoking or chewing tobacco is the most common risk factor of leukoplakia, though other irritants can trigger the condition, too.
Mild cases of leukoplakia aren’t dangerous and can go away on its own or through changed lifestyle habits. However more severe cases of leukoplakia are known as precancerous lesions, where the mouth tissue is more likely to develop cancer.
A strict oral hygiene routine, including regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash can help to reduce the chance of future flare ups of leukoplakia.
What are Leukoplakia Symptoms
The most common marker of oral leukoplakia is one or more grey or white patches in the mouth that are slightly raised and that gradually change in appearance.
The lesions of oral leukoplakia can look different from person to person. It’s not uncommon to notice a grey tongue or white dots on the lips because of the condition – however others may develop white patches on the gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, or inside the cheeks.
Hairy Leukoplakia Oral hairy leukoplakia is a raised lesion on the side of the tongue with a thick and/or hairy appearance. It happens most often in people with weak immune systems.HIV often causes this condition, so it’s important to discuss any worrying symptoms with your doctor as soon as you can.
White or grey color Oral thrush also produces white or grey patches in the mouth, though these can usually be scraped away, while leukoplakia patches cannot.
Thick, hard, raised surface Some cases of leukoplakia will begin flat in appearance, but gradually become thicker and harder as time goes on.
Red patches Speak to your doctor as soon as you can if you notice raised, red patches of leukoplakia inside the mouth, as these lesions are more likely to indicate precancerous changes.
What are causes of Leukoplakia?
While the cause of leukoplakia is unclear, there are several associated risk factors.
Smoking or chewing tobacco products People who regularly use tobacco products are six times more likely to develop oral leukoplakia.
Alcohol Consumption Heavy alcohol consumption is the next most common risk factor associated with leukoplakia, with heavy drinkers being eight times more likely to develop the condition compared to non-drinkers.
Oral Cancer If left untreated, some cases of leukoplakia can lead to oral cancer. Around 5% of people living with leukoplakia have signs of cancerous or precancerous changes. Syphilitic leukoplakia is another rare variation of the condition that is linked to oral cancer and is caused by syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease.
Poor Oral Hygiene Failure to brush your teeth or use toothpaste heightens the risk of developing oral leukoplakia, and when combined with tobacco use, this risk is even higher.
Irritation inside the mouth Poorly fitting denture, misaligned teeth, or habitual biting of the inside the cheek can irritate the oral mucosa and heighten the risk of leukoplakia.
Leukoplakia Treatment
For most people, effective leukoplakia treatment involves removing the source of irritation on the mucosa. Treatment options for leukoplakia includes:
Stop Smoking Leukoplakia can gradually fade and disappear just six weeks after stopping smoking in healthy young adults, though for older people, this can take between 8 – 12 months.
Removal of leukoplakia patches Red and speckled leukoplakia or other precancerous/cancerous forms of the condition must be removed. This could be through a cryoprobe (freezing the patches), removing with a scalpel, or laser therapy.
Eliminate the source of irritation in mouth Getting new dentures that fit correctly or having some teeth adjusted by your dentist can reduce or eliminate the irritation within the mouth causing leukoplakia.
Antiviral medication Hairy leukoplakia caused by HIV can be treated with prescribed antiviral medication.
Topical ointment Podophyllum resin solution or a retinoic acid might be prescribed by your dentist or doctor and can be self-applied, though failure to continue treatment may result in the symptoms returning.
While most cases of leukoplakia aren’t severe and may even go away on their own, discovering leukoplakia on your tongue or in other areas of the mouth can feel distressing. Speak to your dentist for treatment options for leukoplakia if the symptoms persist.
Leukoplakia Prevention
Healthy diet - antioxidant rich food If you want to prevent leukoplakia from occurring, try eating more fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. This is because antioxidants reduce the chance of tissue damage that causes leukoplakia and other ailments. High levels of antioxidants are found in blueberries, broccoli, carrots, and even potatoes!
Quit smoking Removing tobacco use from your lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your oral and overall health, as well as reducing the risk of leukoplakia.
Limit alcohol Heavy drinking is usually classified as consuming 4+ alcoholic drinks daily, and this can increase the risk of leukoplakia.
Maintaining good oral hygiene Regularly brushing your teeth with toothpaste is one of the ways you can prevent leukoplakia, as well as bad breath, cavities and a range of oral health conditions.
FAQ:
How to treat leukoplakia at home? To treat leukoplakia at home, you can avoid using tobacco and alcohol, which are two main risk factors of the condition.
How serious is leukoplakia? While most cases of leukoplakia are mild and can go away on its own, severe cases may lead to cancer or be linked to serious health concerns.
What is hairy leukoplakia?
Oral hairy leukoplakia is a raised lesion on the side of the tongue with a thick and/or hairy appearance that is associated with weak immune system such as HIV.
Sources:
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oral-leukoplakia/
https://www.healthline.com/health/leukoplakia
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-leukoplakia
