Leukoplakia – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!
Leukoplakia – What is it, symptoms and treatments of this condition. In addition, Leukoplakia is a condition where white, thick patches form on the tongue and lining of the mouth . Smoking is the most common cause. But other annoying problems can also result in this condition.
Mild leukoplakia is usually harmless and often goes away on its own. More serious cases may be related to oral cancer. These must be dealt with promptly. Regular dental care can help prevent recurrences.
Leukoplakia is usually harmless and often resolves on its own. Sometimes it is a sign of something more serious. You can identify this condition by the appearance of white or gray patches in the mouth . If you are female, it can also appear on your genitals . If your doctor suspects that your spots could be a sign of something more serious, they may do tests, such as a biopsy.
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Causes: The exact cause is unknown. It is mainly linked to tobacco use . Smoking is the most common cause. But chewing tobacco can also cause Leukoplakia .
Other Causes Include:
- Injury on the inside of your cheek, such as biting;
- irregular teeth;
- Prosthetics, especially if improperly installed;
- Inflammatory conditions of the body.
Research suggests that there may be a link between leukoplakia and the human papilloma virus .
Hairy Leukoplakia: The Epstein -Barr virus (EBV) is the main cause of Hairy Leukoplakia . Once you get this virus , it stays in your body permanently, which can cause hairy leukoplakia patches todevelop at any time. Outbreaks are more common in people with HIV or other immune problems.
Symptoms: It is marked byunusual spots in your mouth . These spots can vary in appearance and may have the following features:
- White or gray color;
- Thick, hard and raised surface;
- Hairy ( hairy leukoplakia only );
- Red spots (rare).
Redness can be a sign of cancer. See your doctor right away if you have red spots . Leukoplakia most often occurs on your tongue . It can also appear inside the cheeks and on the gums.
Patches can take several weeks to develop and are rarely painful. Some women may develop leukoplakia on the outside of their genitals in the vulva area.
Diagnoses: It is usually diagnosed with an oral examination. During a physical exam, your dentist or primary care physician can confirm that the patches are from leukoplakia . You can mistake the condition for oral thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth . The patches they cause are usually milderthan Leukoplakia patches . They can bleed more easily.
Your dentist or doctor may need to do other tests to confirm the cause of your stitches. This helps them suggest a treatment that can prevent future blemishes from developing.
If a spot looks suspicious, your dentist or doctor will do a biopsy. To do a biopsy, they remove a small piece of tissue from one or more of your stitches. They then send that tissue sample to a pathologist for diagnosis. The goal is to look for signs of oral cancer.
Treatments: Most patches improve on their own and do not require any treatment. It is important to avoid any triggers that may have caused your Leukoplakia , such as tobacco use . If it is related to irritation from a dental problem, your dentist will be able to address this.
If a biopsy comes back positive for oral cancer, the patch must be removed immediately. This can help prevent the cancer from spreading. Small patches can be removed by a more extensive biopsy using laser therapy or a scalpel. Large patches of leukoplakia require oral surgery.
Hairy leukoplakia may not require removal. Your dentist or doctor may prescribe antiviral medications to help stop the patches from growing. Topical ointments that contain retinoic acid can also be used to reduce the size of the patch.
Prevention: Many cases can be prevented with lifestyle changes:
- Stop smoking or chewing tobacco .
- Reduce your alcohol consumption.
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants like spinach and carrots. Antioxidants can help deactivate the irritating problems that cause blemishes .
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Contact your dentist or doctor right away if you suspect leukoplakia . This can help prevent the patches from getting worse. Follow-up appointments are crucial. Once you develop leukoplakia , you are at an increased risk of developing it again in the future.