Hidden white spots

1. What is oral leukoplakia?

If oral mucosal diseases were ranked, oral leukoplakia would undoubtedly be the well-deserved top spot. Although it has attracted widespread attention from oral mucosal specialists, it is very low-key hidden in the oral cavity, and many patients only discover it when pain and hyperplasia occur.

The word "leukoplakia" is derived from Greek, meaning "white patches". However, not all white patches in the mouth are leukoplakia. Some oral diseases can also show leukoplakia-like lesions, such as hyperkeratosis, oral lichen planus, fungal infections, etc., but their manifestations are still clearly different from oral leukoplakia. WHO defines it as white lesions on the oral mucosa that cannot be wiped off and cannot be diagnosed as any other disease by clinical and histopathological methods. Some leukoplakia can be transformed into cancer. The prevalence of oral leukoplakia in my country is about 10.47%, which is more common in men. The incidence rate is 13.5 times that of women, and the canceration rate is about 9%.

2. How are oral leukoplakia formed?

The oral mucosa epithelium undergoes local hyperplasia, with excessive keratinization on the surface, disordered epithelial structure, and atypical cell proliferation. As the degree of abnormal epithelial hyperplasia increases, its cancer potential also increases.

3. What factors are the accelerators of oral leukoplakia cancer?

Smoking, chewing betel nuts, drinking, eating hot or spicy food, local irritation such as sharp tooth edges and cusps, carious teeth, residual crowns and roots or poor restorations, dental tartar, etc.

**Four.** How to identify the danger signs of oral leukoplakia? Four things to look at

1) Look at the location

The white spots are located on the edge of the tongue, the bottom of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the corners of the mouth, and the risk of cancer in the dangerous triangle area increases.

2) Look at the shape

Rough, uneven, granular or wart-like growths have a high risk of cancer.

3) Look at the color

The leukoplakia is accompanied by red mucosal congestion, ulcers and erosions, and Candida albicans infection.

4) Size

White spot area exceeds 200mm2.

Oral leukoplakia carries the risk of canceration, so early detection and early intervention are extremely important, regardless of location, shape, color, or size. If you discover indelible white patches in your mouth, the most important thing is to see a specialist in oral mucosal diseases.

5. How to treat oral leukoplakia?

Depending on the type of oral leukoplakia and the degree of abnormal cell proliferation, doctors can use different treatment methods such as drug therapy, surgical resection, or physical therapy such as photodynamic therapy, laser, freezing, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, etc.

6. How to prevent leukoplakia of oral mucosa?

(1) Four abstentions in lifestyle

Live a healthy lifestyle, quit smoking, drinking, betel nut, and spicy food.

(2) Regular oral examination

Treat decayed teeth promptly, remove residual roots and crowns, poor restorations, and clean teeth regularly to maintain oral hygiene.

(3) Good emotional state

Negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and cancer fear can affect the health of the oral mucosa.