Leukoplakia is a condition in which thickened, white patches form on gums, on the inside of cheeks and sometimes on Tongue usually as a result of chronic irritation. Tobacco, either smoked or chewed, is the main culprit, but irritation can also come from ill-fitting dentures and long-term alcohol use. Although anyone can develop leukoplakia, it's most common in older men. People with compromised immune systems sometimes develop an unusual form of the disorder called hairy leukoplakia.

Digestive system

Leukoplakia is always caused by irritation of the tissues in the Mouth. The irritation may be from rough Teeth; fillings, crowns, dentures and so on, or it may be as a result of smoking or other tobacco use. This is known as smoker’s keratosis. Smoking a pipe or chewing tobacco in forms such as paan masala or gutkha give a high risk of developing leukoplakia. Excessive alcohol consumption or persistent cheek chewing may also cause leukoplakia.

Leukoplakia first appears as flat, grey sores usually on gums or on the insides of cheeks and sometimes on Tongue. Over weeks or months, leukoplakic sores develop into patches with the following characteristics: The primary symptom of leukoplakia is a Skin lesion with the following characteristics: Location:

Usually on the Tongue May be on the inside of the cheeks In females, occasionally on the genitals

Colour:

Usually white or grey May be red (called erythroplakia)

Texture:

Thick Slightly raised Hardened surface

A type of leukoplakia called hairy leukoplakia primarily affects people whose immune systems have been weakened by medications or disease, especially HIV or AIDS. Hairy leukoplakia causes fuzzy, white patches that resemble folds or ridges on the sides of Tongue. It's often mistaken for oral thrush an infection marked by creamy white patches on the Pharynx and the insides of the cheeks that's also common in people with HIV/AIDS.

Most often, dentist diagnoses leukoplakia by examining the patches in Mouth and ruling out other possible causes for symptoms. To help ensure that no early signs of cancer exist, dentist may perform an oral brush biopsy removing some cells from the leukoplakic patches with a small brush. The test takes just minutes and requires no anaesthesia. The scrapings are then analyzed in a laboratory using a highly specialized imaging system that allows a pathologist to detect a single abnormal Cell among hundreds of thousands of healthy cells. A negative report means no abnormal cells are present. If the report is positive, dentist is likely to perform another biopsy by removing a small tissue sample and sending it to a laboratory for analysis.

Leukoplakia is usually treated by removing the source of the irritation. For most people, stopping smoking or correcting dental problems clears the condition. When this isn't effective or if the lesions show early signs of cancer, dentist may choose to remove leukoplakic patches using a scalpel, laser or cryoprobe, an extremely Cold probe that freezes and destroys cancer cells. Researchers are investigating the effects of retinoids derivatives of vitamin A that are used to treat severe Acne and other Skin conditions on leukoplakia. Although they appear effective against leukoplakia, retinoids may cause side effects, even when used topically. Beta-carotene, an antioxidant that's converted to vitamin A in body, may also completely or partially reduce leukoplakic patches. If you need treatment, several options are available:

Most often, you can prevent leukoplakia by following these suggestions:

Stop using tobacco products: Avoiding all tobacco products is one of the best steps you can take for overall health as well as one of the main ways to prevent leukoplakia. Talk to doctor about methods that can help you quit. And if friends or family members continue to smoke or use spit tobacco, encourage them to have dental checkups at least two or three times a year. Oral cancers are usually painless until fairly advanced. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a factor in both leukoplakia and Oral cancer. Combining alcohol and smoking greatly increases risk of both diseases because alcohol makes it easier for the harmful chemicals in tobacco to penetrate the tissues in Mouth. Get needed dental treatment: See your dentist regularly. Smoothing rough edges on your Teeth and realigning badly fitting dentures can help prevent leukoplakia. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables: These are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, which reduce the risk of leukoplakia by deactivating harmful oxygen molecules before they can damage tissues. Rich food sources of beta-carotene include dark yellow, orange and green fruits and vegetables, including carrots, pumpkin, squash, cantaloupe and spinach.

Leukoplakia is usually harmless, and lesions usually clear in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed. Approximately 3% of leukoplakia lesions develop cancerous changes. Hairy leukoplakia is often a sign of HIV infection and an increased likelihood of developing AIDS.

Leukoplakia usually doesn't cause permanent damage to tissues in your Mouth and frequently goes away once you remove the irritating factors. Some sores may become infected, however, or cause ongoing discomfort. Oral cancer is the most serious complication of leukoplakia. A majority of oral cancers form in the vicinity of leukoplakic patches, and the patches themselves may show cancerous changes. Hairy leukoplakia, on the other hand, isn't painful and isn't likely to lead to cancer. But it may indicate the presence of HIV infection or AIDS.