You Could Have Leukoplakia and Don’t Know It! Learn to Identify!

You Could Have Leukoplakia and Don’t Know It! Learn How to Identify! In addition, at first, it appears as a whitish plaque (to the layman it may look like a stain) that does not give in to scraping, its surface can be rough, leathery or smooth.

Mild leukoplakia  is harmless and usually goes away on its own. The most serious cases may be linked to oral cancer. Plaques must be treated immediately. Its diagnosis is made after excluding other pathological changes such as lichen planus, candidiasis , lichenoid reaction, etc.

For this, it is necessary to perform a biopsy of the lesion, aiming to exclude the possibility of squamous cell carcinoma. Leukoplakia occurs mainly in adult smokers, being classified as homogeneous and non-homogeneous.

Leukoplakia is not usually dangerous, but sometimes it can be serious. Although most leukoplakia plaques are benign, a small percentage show early signs of cancer and many mouth cancers occur near areas of leukoplakia . For this reason, it is best to see your dentist if you have unusual and persistent changes in your mouth.

Other Causes:  The exact cause of Leukoplakia is unknown. However, it is mainly associated with the habit of smoking, with smoking being its most common cause. Chewing tobacco can also cause Leukoplakia . According to clinicians, three out of four tobacco users develop Leukoplakia at some point in their lives:

  • Leukoplakia is a white or gray patch;
  • Erythroplakia is a patch with red and white areas;
  • Erythroleukoplakia is a patch with red and white areas;
  • cheek biting;
  • Irritation from uneven teeth, fillings, or crowns, or ill-fitting dentures that rub against your face or gum;
  • Chronic smoking, pipe smoking, or tobacco or other use;
  • Sun exposure for the lips;
  • Oral cancer, although rare;
  • HIV or AIDS ;
  • Rough or uneven teeth;
  • Dentures (especially if they are not properly fitted).

Symptoms:  The presence of white or gray colored patches on your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, or the inside of the cheeks of your mouth could be a sign of Leukoplakia . The patch may have developed slowly over weeks to months and be thick, slightly raised, and may eventually take on a hardened, rough texture.

It is usually painless, but it can be sensitive to touch, heat, spicy foods, or other irritation. This disease is characterized by unusual-looking plaques inside the mouth. These spots can vary in appearance. In general, the spots resulting from leukoplakia have the following characteristics:

  • White or gray color;
  • Thick, hard and protruding surface;
  • Hair (hairy leukoplakia only);
  • In rare cases, the plaques have red spots. Redness can be a sign of Cancer .

Leukoplakia is most common on the tongue, but the cheeks and gums can also be affected. Plaques can take several weeks to develop, but they are rarely painful. Some women develop leukoplakia on the outside of the genitals, in the vulva area.

Treatment:  Most plaques get better on their own. However, if the result of a biopsy is positive for oral cancer, the plaque must be removed immediately. This can help prevent its spread.

Small plaques can be removed by a more extensive biopsy done with laser therapy or a scalpel. Large Leukoplakia plaques require oral surgery. Most cases of Leukoplakia do not turn into Cancer . However, a biopsy is the only way to know for sure whether an area of ​​leukoplakia or erythroplakia contains cancer cells.

Erythroplakia and erythroleukoplakia are less common but are usually more severe. Most of these red lesions can be a cancer precursor lesion , the biopsy will confirm the suspicion once the lesion is identified.

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