Oral leukoplakia

We often have unhygienic oral hygiene due to eating and other reasons. When the oral hygiene is unhygienic, bacteria often breed. These bacteria sometimes damage our oral cavity and even cause some oral diseases. Oral leukoplakia is one of them. In fact, oral leukoplakia can be caused not only by poor oral hygiene, but sometimes smoking can also cause the same symptoms.

When it comes to oral leukoplakia, everyone may feel unfamiliar with it. This is the fact. For people who are not pharmacologists, it will be relatively unfamiliar. But the unfamiliarity of the name does not mean that we will not get this disease. So, let’s take a detailed look at oral leukoplakia and its treatment methods.

Oral leukoplakia refers to plaque-like lesions of white or grayish white keratotic lesions that occur only on the oral mucosa. It is a common non-infectious chronic disease that can occur in any part of the oral mucosa, but is most common in the cheeks and tongue. In addition to white, the color of white spots can also appear as a mixture of red and white. The changes in tissue pathology are the characteristics of precancerous lesions - abnormal epithelial proliferation. The patients are mostly middle-aged and elderly men.

Local stimulation factors play a very important role in the onset of vitiligo. Smoking is a common cause. 80% to 90% of vitiligo patients have the habit of smoking, and the site of onset is often consistent with the site of smoke stimulation. Other stimuli such as chewing betel nut, alcohol, poor restorations, residual crowns and roots can also cause white spots. Among the systemic factors, Candida albicans infection, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, syphilis, radiation, xerostomia, etc. are closely related to leukoplakia.

Symptoms of oral leukoplakia include:

1. Plaque

White or grayish white homogeneous hard plaques appear on the oral mucosa, with a dense texture, varying lesion shapes and areas, and slight elevations or unevenness. It is worth noting that there is no parallel relationship between the size of the lesion and the possibility of cancer. Sometimes cancer can occur even when the lesion is only the size of a grain of rice.

2. Granular

Also known as granular-nodular leukoplakia, it is more common in the mucosa of the corners of the mouth. The lesions are often triangular in shape, with the base located at the corner of the mouth; the lesions are a mixture of red and white, with the red area being an atrophic erythema; the surface of the erythema is "dotted" with nodular or granular white spots. This type of leukoplakia can be found in most cases of Candida albicans infection.

3. Crumpled paper

It is often seen on the floor of the mouth and the tongue, and is also known as leukoplakia of the floor of the mouth and sublingual keratosis. This disease can occur on the floor of the mouth and the ventral tongue at the same time, or it can occur on the floor of the mouth or the ventral tongue alone, or cross-wise on the floor of the mouth and the ventral tongue. The area of ​​damage varies and may even involve the lingual gums. The surface is undulating like white crumpled paper, the base is soft, and crumpled-paper-like "peaks" are visible. Except for the rough and uncomfortable feeling, there are no obvious subjective symptoms at the beginning.

4. Verrucous

The lesions are raised, with an uneven surface, accompanied by papillary or burr-like protrusions, and are slightly hard to palpate. Except for those located on the gums or palate, there are no obvious nodules on the base, the affected area feels rough, and pain usually occurs due to ulcer formation.

Treatments for oral leukoplakia include:

1. The first measure is to remove the irritating factors, such as quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, eating less hot and spicy food, residual roots, residual crowns, poor restorations, etc. It is strictly forbidden to use harsh drugs such as phenols, silver nitrate, etc. to treat white spots.

2. For those who have corrected harmful habits such as smoking but the damage has not disappeared, drug treatment can be considered and further efforts can be made to identify the causative factors.

3. When taking vitamin A orally, you may experience headache and dizziness when you first take it. You can reduce the dosage as appropriate. Usually, you will get used to it after a few days. Common side effects include dry lips and hair loss. It is contraindicated for patients with coronary heart disease, abnormal liver and kidney function and hyperlipidemia. 0.2% retinoic acid solution is suitable for topical application, but not for lesions accompanied by congestion and erosion. When applying, wipe off the saliva first, dip a small amount of solution with the finest brush and apply it along the white area, being careful not to apply on the lipstick mucosa.

4. You can use cod liver oil to rub the white spots for a long time, 2 to 3 times a day, and a course of treatment is 1 to 2 months, but do not use too much force. You can also take cod liver oil or vitamin A orally. Close follow-up is required during conservative treatment.

5. For those who fail to heal for a long time or do not disappear after treatment, if cracks, ulcers, or hardening of the base and significant surface thickening are found in the white spot area, or if the lesions have been proven to have precancerous changes, surgical resection should be performed as soon as possible.

If we accidentally get oral leukoplakia, we must actively accept treatment and maintain an optimistic and cheerful attitude. The most important thing is not to be negative and fully cooperate with the doctor's arrangements. At the same time, we should do some necessary physical exercises. Only in this way can we get rid of the troubles of oral leukoplakia as soon as possible.