What is Leukoplakia | Red Rocks Family Dentistry

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What Is Leukoplakia?
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What Is Leukoplakia?
Its easy to feel confused or alarmed when you
notice a sudden change in your oral health. If
youve observed unusual white patches in your
mouth, chances are, youre experiencing
leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is a condition in which
white or gray patches appear in areas of your
mouth due to excessive cell growth. It usually
affects the tongue and inner cheeks, although you
may also observe the patches on your gums, lips,
and bottom or roof of your mouth.

Leukoplakia is mostly harmless. However, some
types of leukoplakia signal more serious
underlying conditions like oral cancer. Read on
to learn more about symptoms to look out for,
treatment options, and methods of preventing
leukoplakia.
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Symptoms of Leukoplakia
Since leukoplakia is painless, it can be
difficult to detect. However, by looking out for
specific signs of leukoplakia, you can seek
appropriate treatment as early as possible. The
most common symptom of leukoplakia is white or
grey patches on your tongue, lips, and inner
cheeks. If you wear dentures, you may also see
the patches under them. Leukoplakia may also
cause hair-like projections that accompany white
patches this is known as hairy leukoplakia.

If you have leukoplakia, the appearance of the
white patches may vary depending on where they
develop. In most cases, it can be difficult to
see the beginning and end of the patches, but
they may have clear borders. Other signs to watch
out for include irregular or textured areas in
your mouth, gray patches that wont come off when
you scrape at them, and red raised lesions
(erythroplakia).

Although it may be harmless, some types of
leukoplakia may signal cancer. Red lesions are
early signs of oral health issues and are often
pre-cancerous. Therefore, it is advisable to
contact your dentist immediately you notice the
symptoms.
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Leukoplakia Risk Factors
There is no single cause for leukoplakia.
However, smoking or using smokeless tobacco
products increases your risk. Other contributing
factors include injury to your inner cheeks or
tongue from chipped teeth or broken dentures,
inflammation, and prolonged alcohol use. Hairy
leukoplakia, a variation of the condition,
results from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that
becomes active due to immune system problems like
HIV.
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Leukoplakia Treatment Options
Leukoplakia generally resolves on its own in
about two weeks. If the patches linger for more
than two weeks, its a good idea to visit your
dentist so that they can assess your overall oral
health and find the underlying cause. Your
dentist will evaluate your entire mouth to rule
out any serious oral health concerns and may
recommend a biopsy to test patches of tissue
affected by leukoplakia.

The results of the biopsy will determine your
treatment plan. Leukoplakia treatment usually
focuses on preventing the lesions from becoming
cancerous. If you use tobacco or alcohol, your
treatment may include counseling to help you
limit or stop your use. Your dentist will also
provide medications to clear the patches and
prevent them from spreading. Persistent lesions
may require surgical removal.
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Tips for Preventing Leukoplakia
You can prevent leukoplakia by using the
following tips

Avoid tobacco
Minimize alcohol intake
Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fruits
and vegetables
Take Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements

Leukoplakia can affect anyone, although it is
more common in seniors. If you exhibit any of the
symptoms, it is advisable to consult your dentist
as soon as possible for better chances of
successful treatment.
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ukoplakia/