Leukoplakia is a condition in which thickened, white patches form on your gums, on the inside of your cheeks and sometimes on your 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.
In general, leukoplakia isn't painful, but the patches may be sensitive when you touch them or eat spicy foods. And though the disorder usually isn't dangerous, it can be serious. A small percentage of leukoplakic patches show early signs of cancer, and many cancers of the mouth (oral cancers) occur next to areas of leukoplakia. For that reason, it's best to see your dentist if you have unusual changes in your mouth lasting longer than a week.
Signs and symptoms
Leukoplakia first appears as flat, gray sores — usually on your gums or on the insides of your cheeks and sometimes on your tongue. Over weeks or months, leukoplakic sores develop into patches with the following characteristics:
* White color
* Thick, rough texture
* Hardened surface
Sometimes you may also have raised red lesions (erythroplakia), which are more likely to show precancerous changes.
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 your 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.
