Symptoms Of Leukoplakia To Watch Out For
In its most recognized form, leukoplakia is a gray or white patch that develops on an individual's tongue, the floor of their mouth, or the inside of their cheek. It occurs when the mouth reacts to chronic irritation of its mucous membranes. Leukoplakia has also been known to develop on female genitalia, but there is no known cause for this. Though leukoplakia patches might occur at any point, they're most commonly seen in seniors. Hairy leukoplakia is a non-standard leukoplakia form caused by the Epstein-Barr virus as well. This particular form of leukoplakia presents as white and fuzzy patches on the tongue, and occasionally other portions of the mouth. These are the main symptoms of leukoplakia to be on the lookout for.
White Or Grey Patches
Leukoplakia patients tend to present with white or gray patches on various areas of the mouth. The patch or patches tend to develop in a slow progression over weeks or months and also have a thick and slightly raised texture. Eventually, they might become rough and hardened. Usually, leukoplakia is painless, but you might experience increased sensitivity to spicy foods, heat, touch, and other irritants.
The first person who will suspect leukoplakia tends to be dentists. However, in most cases, they'll take a biopsy to rule out serious causes like oral cancer. It's important to consult your dentist if you notice patches in your mouth, to ensure you don't have a more severe disease. Biopsies are conducted by removing small portions of the tissue from the patch and examining them in a lab.
Continue reading to reveal more symptoms of leukoplakia now.
Red Spots
Red spots do occasionally occur in leukoplakia patients, but this symptom is exceedingly rare. If you have the aforementioned gray and white patches along with redness, it's important to contact a health professional as soon as possible, as red spots could be a sign of oral cancer. Patches with redness are a much greater cause for concern than patches without them.
Leukoplakia is most commonly seen in smokers, and the same is true of the redness. However, smokers are also more likely to develop cancer, so this shouldn't be considered a mild symptom if you smoke. You might even see redness if you're dealing with any inflammation or long-term alcohol use that causes irritation. Alternatively, frequent injuries to your mouth caused by biting your lips or cheek might present with redness.
Keep reading for more on the different symptoms of leukoplakia.
Hard And Raised Surface
Leukoplakia patches develop over time if the mouth is consistently exposed to an irritant. As they become larger and more defined, they will often develop a hard and raised surface, which looks like a slightly elevated disc within the mouth. You might find it on your gums, tongue, or cheeks.
Smoking and tobacco use are the most common mouth irritants that cause leukoplakia to develop this far, but other irritants might cause the raised surface as well. Your teeth might abrade the inside of your mouth, including your lips and cheeks. Rough crowns or fillings may need to be re-evaluated. Ill-fitting dentures are another common irritant in the elderly.
Discover another symptom now.
Hairy Patches
In almost all cases, hairy leukoplakia will be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). When you've been exposed to this virus, it will continue to remain inside your body for the rest of your life. In most cases, EBV is dormant, but it's still possible it will cause the development of hairy leukoplakia patches.
It's very common for individuals with hairy patches to have HIV, AIDS, or AIDS-related illness. This doesn't necessarily need to be AIDS, but generally involves another illness that compromises the immune system. Such a compromise of the immune system is what causes the Epstein-Barr virus to cease being dormant.
Keep reading for more information on the warning signs of leukoplakia now.
Location Of Patches
Leukoplakia will generally develop in a few key areas, so the location of patches is significant. It's most common for the patches to develop on the tongue, especially in smokers. However, patches might also appear on the gums, particularly in cases when individuals chew tobacco. The insides of your cheeks may also develop patches if they're frequently irritated by biting or ill-fitting fillings rubbing against them. The roof of your mouth may become irritated thanks to badly-fitting dentures or crowns.
Leukoplakia will generally develop wherever the irritant is most firmly concentrated. In smokers, this is the tongue; in tobacco chewers, it's the gums; and in cheek biters, it's the cheeks. Think of leukoplakia as your mouth's form of a callus. Regardless, patients should have any patches looked at by a dentist or doctor to make sure they're not a sign of something more serious.