Do you know the symptoms in your mouth when you have 'leukoplakia'?

 

A condition in which the mucous membrane of the mouth thickens and appears white as a result is called 'leukoplakia'. It is a lesion that is mainly seen on the buccal mucosa, tongue, and gums. It is not necessarily painful, and it may be painful when food is hit, or you may notice it through a dental check-up without even realizing it. What is worrisome is when it is treated as a lesion that corresponds to a pre-cancerous stage. This time, we will introduce the symptoms, causes, examination and treatment methods of vitiligo.

What is leukoplakia?

What kind of disease is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a white lesion that can be seen in the oral mucosa, tongue, and gums. The mouth is covered with mucous membrane, but for some reason, the outermost epithelium of the mucous membrane is thickened and swollen.

It is relatively common and is known to have the potential to become malignant if it occurs on the tongue. Leukoplakia is also known as a potentially malignant oral disease, and it is a well-known disease among tongue cancer lesions.

Symptoms of leukoplakia

What are the symptoms of vitiligo?

It is characterized by the appearance of white or grayish-white spots on the mucous membrane of the mouth and does not peel off even when rubbed. They range in size from small to spread throughout the oral cavity, and are not specifically defined. Surfaces are also varied, such as smooth, raised, and grooved in ridges.

Most people feel little pain and are known to be asymptomatic. If erythema is seen on the surrounding mucous membrane or if grains or ulcers are present inside the lesion, the contact passage or food may be sore.

Symptoms not to worry about

What are the symptoms you should not worry about?

Symptoms are temporary and do not progress. There is no need to worry if the lesion is cured just by removing the cause, just as the symptoms have improved after dental treatment. The same is true for cases where it is cured by administering drugs according to the doctor's instructions. There are many other diseases that make the mouth white, so if the white part comes out when rubbed, it may not be leukoplakia.

Symptoms worth paying attention to

Are there any symptoms to watch out for?

Yes, there is. Vitiligo is one of the tongue cancer lesions. Please be careful if you see erythema, grain, lump or tumor, severe swing, or if there is thickness or bump on the white part. It is thought that the symptoms are progressing and there is a possibility of becoming malignant.

Causes of leukoplakia

What could be the cause of vitiligo?

The exact cause is not clear, but chronic irritation of the mouth may be considered as an inducer. Examples include smoking habits and bad prostheses (covers that don't fit teeth). It is also known that there is a relationship between aging and constitution.

Smoking habits cause

What causes smoking habit?

Cigarette smoking habit is an inducement. Smokers have a high morbidity of periodontal disease and cause immune dysfunction in the oral cavity due to harmful substances such as periodontal pathogenic bacteria and nicotine. As vitiligo is a lesion of tongue cancer, it is not limited to oral problems, so you can be instructed to quit smoking.

Caused by a bad prosthesis (cover that doesn't fit the teeth)

What causes a bad prosthesis?

Vitiligo is also caused by chronic mechanical irritation caused by defective prostheses such as dentures or coverings that do not fit the size of the teeth. Vitiligo is sometimes pointed out during dental treatment.

age and body constitution

If you are old or your constitution is the cause, what can you do?

With aging and constitution, the oral environment deteriorates, and it is difficult to heal wounds due to reduced immunity, creating a situation where lesions are easy to occur on the mucous membrane. This makes it easier to develop leukoplakia.

leukoplakia examination subject

If vitiligo is suspected, which department should I see?

First of all, you should see a dentist or oral surgeon. If the lesion does not improve or if a condition such as a tongue cancer lesion is suspected, you may be referred to a specialized medical institution.

It is difficult to determine the cause of any symptoms by self-judgment, so it is important to seek medical attention when hesitating.

Tests done for leukoplakia

What tests are done for vitiligo?

A biopsy is usually done. Even if the symptoms are mild, tests may be done to determine the details of the symptoms and whether there is a possibility of cancer. It is also important to perform a biopsy (biopsy) immediately before starting treatment to select a treatment method.

What kind of test is a biopsy?

The cells are cut and the tissue is precisely examined. A biopsy can reveal detailed symptoms and distinguish it from similar diseases. In leukoplakia, a biopsy is required to determine if the type of cancer is progressing to a malignant tumor, and the diagnosis is accurately made to determine whether the person is likely to develop cancer.

Is vitiligo a sex difference or an age difference?

Tobacco can also be a cause, and it tends to be more men than women. It is also known that there is a tendency for the elderly to be the most common age.

How to treat leukoplakia

What are the treatment options for leukoplakia?

If there is an irritant cause, first eliminate the cause. In the case of surgical treatment, drugs are administered before surgery, and if there is no response to drug administration, treatment is performed after taking the stage of surgical treatment.

remove the cause of irritation

How do I eliminate the cause of irritation?

If dentures or filling materials that have been treated in the past come into contact with the mucous membrane and irritate the mucous membrane, the cause is removed. The goal is to relieve symptoms and consequently improve them by eliminating the cause of the irritation. Smoking is one of the triggers for the development of leukoplakia, and people who smoke are encouraged to quit.

administration of drugs

What is the treatment by drug administration?

For drug administration, administration of vitamin A is effective. Observe whether they respond to vitamin A administration. If there is no response or progress to drug therapy, the lesion is surgically excised.

surgical treatment

How is surgical treatment done?

If there is no response to drug therapy, or if the white part is thickly raised, grains or ulcers may become malignant in the future, a treatment that excises the lesion is selected. Those accompanied by lumps and ulcers are not the end of resection because it is suspected that the disease progresses and there is early cancer. A tissue of interest is taken and a biopsy is done.

Because leukoplakia is known to have many recurrences, long-term follow-up is required even after resection. It may take a long time to become malignant, and if cancerous formation appears, cancer treatment is also performed.

organize

I found out that leukoplakia, a white lesion that occurs in the mouth, is a terrifying disease that can cause cancer. The point is to detect and treat it as soon as possible. Because there is no pain, let's do our best to take care of our oral hygiene so that we do not delay in realizing it. If you have a white lesion, or even if you do not have a lesion, if you have any symptoms of concern, please seek treatment at a dental clinic or a medical institution that has an oral surgery department. It is important to find out the cause of vitiligo. Finding your doctor will likely lead to early detection.