Question

Does leukoplakia is curable is this danger can any one tell me my tongue is burning and I show to ENT doctor he said to check blood test once vitamin b12 nd B I am worrying about this problem my tongue side curves getting white lightly and burning sensation when my tongue touches teeth it irritates me what is this can any one will tell what it is Please suggest for that..

Dr.Isha Malhotra · Accepted Answer

Symptoms
Leukoplakia usually occurs on your gums, the insides of your cheeks, the bottom of your mouth — beneath the tongue — and, sometimes, your tongue. It isn't usually painful and may go unnoticed for a while.
Leukoplakia may appear:
White or grayish in patches that can't be wiped away
Irregular or flat-textured
Thickened or hardened in areas
Along with raised, red lesions (speckled leukoplakia or erythroplakia), which are more likely to show precancerous changes
Hairy leukoplakia
Hairy leukoplakia causes fuzzy, white patches that resemble folds or ridges, usually on the sides of your tongue. It's often mistaken for oral thrush, an infection marked by creamy white patches that can be wiped away, which is also common in people with a weakened immune system.
When to see a doctor
Even though leukoplakia doesn't usually cause discomfort, sometimes it can indicate a more serious condition.
See your dentist or primary care professional if you have any of the following:
White plaques or sores in your mouth that don't heal on their own within two weeks
Lumps or white, red or dark patches in your mouth
Persistent changes in the tissues of your mouth
Ear pain when swallowing
Progressive reduction in the ability to open your jaw
Causes
Although the cause of leukoplakia is unknown, chronic irritation, such as from tobacco use, including smoking and chewing, appears to be responsible for most cases. Often, regular users of smokeless tobacco products eventually develop leukoplakia where they hold the tobacco against their cheeks.
Other causes may include chronic irritation from:
Jagged, broken or sharp teeth rubbing on tongue surfaces
Broken or ill-fitting dentures
Long-term alcohol use
Your dentist can talk with you about what may be causing leukoplakia in your case.
Hairy leukoplakia
Hairy leukoplakia results from infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Once you've been infected with EBV, the virus remains in your body for life. Normally, the virus is dormant, but if your immune system is weakened, especially from HIV/AIDS, the virus can become reactivated, leading to conditions such as hairy leukoplakia.
Risk factors
Tobacco use, particularly smokeless tobacco, puts you at high risk of leukoplakia and oral cancer. Long-term alcohol use increases your risk, and drinking alcohol combined with smoking increases your risk even more.
Hairy leukoplakia
People with HIV/AIDS are especially likely to develop hairy leukoplakia. Although the use of antiretroviral drugs has reduced the number of cases, hairy leukoplakia still affects a number of HIV-positive people, and it may be one of the first signs of HIV infection.
Complications
Leukoplakia usually doesn't cause permanent damage to tissues in your mouth. However, leukoplakia increases your risk of oral cancer. Oral cancers often form near leukoplakia patches, and the patches themselves may show cancerous changes. Even after leukoplakia patches are removed, the risk of oral cancer remains.
Hairy leukoplakia
Hairy leukoplakia isn't likely to lead to cancer. But it may indicate HIV/AIDS.
Prevention
You may be able to prevent leukoplakia if you avoid all tobacco products or alcohol use. Talk to your doctor about methods to help you quit. If you continue to smoke or chew tobacco or drink alcohol, have frequent dental checkups. Oral cancers are usually painless until fairly advanced, so quitting tobacco and alcohol is a better prevention strategy.
Hairy leukoplakia
If you have a weakened immune system, you may not be able to prevent hairy leukoplakia, but identifying it early can help you receive appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis
Most often, your doctor diagnoses leukoplakia by:
Examining the patches in your mouth
Attempting to wipe off the white patches
Discussing your medical history and risk factors
Ruling out other possible causes
Testing for cancer
If you have leukoplakia, your doctor will likely test for early signs of cancer by:
Oral brush biopsy. This involves removing cells from the surface of the lesion with a small, spinning brush. This is a non-invasive procedure, but does not always result in a definitive diagnosis.
Excisional biopsy. This involves surgically removing tissue from the leukoplakia patch or removing the entire patch if it's small. An excision biopsy is more comprehensive and usually results in a definitive diagnosis.
If the biopsy is positive for cancer and your doctor performed an excisional biopsy that removed the entire leukoplakia patch, you may not need further treatment. If the patch is large, you may be referred to an oral surgeon or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for treatment.
Hairy leukoplakia
If you have hairy leukoplakia, you'll likely be evaluated for conditions that may contribute to a weakened immune system.
Treatment
Leukoplakia treatment is most successful when a lesion is found and treated early, when it's small. Regular checkups are important, as is routinely inspecting your mouth for areas that don't look normal.
For most people, removing the source of irritation ― such as stopping tobacco or alcohol ― clears the condition.
When this isn't effective or if the lesions show early signs of cancer, the treatment plan may involve:
Removal of leukoplakia patches. Patches may be removed using a scalpel, a laser or an extremely cold probe that freezes and destroys cancer cells (cryoprobe).
Follow-up visits to check the area. Once you've had leukoplakia, recurrences are common.
Treating hairy leukoplakia
Usually, you don't need treatment for hairy leukoplakia. The condition often causes no symptoms and isn't likely to lead to mouth cancer.
If your doctor recommends treatment, it may include:
Medication. You may take a pill that affects your whole system (systemic medication), such as antiviral medications. These medications can suppress the Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of hairy leukoplakia. Topical treatment may also be used.
Follow-up visits. Once you stop treatment, the white patches of hairy leukoplakia may return. Your doctor may recommend regular follow-up visits to monitor changes to your mouth or ongoing therapy to prevent leukoplakia patches from returning.

Leukoplakia Questions

I am suffering from osmf with leukoplakia 3finger mouth opening. Too much band in my buccal mucosa .with lots of pain and burning sensation. I tried sm fibro ,acteheal, oro t, bcosule.plzz tell is intra lissnal injections can heal my fibrosis band?

My father age is 44. He had leukoplakia patches from 2 or 3 years he can check up by ENT doctor he also give medicine course for 1 month but do not changes in white patches. He had white patches inside of right side cheek. So please sir tell me better medicine for him.

Hi, Recently quit 10 years of pain-masala/tobacco addiction (quit 40-50 days back). It is a blanket ban post quitting. Indulging on sauf/cloves thereon, have some concerns that do cloves inhibit the jaw/mouth movement (same effect as of tobacco), or encourage leukoplakia?

My wife has been diagnosed with leukoplakia since 11 months back but now she is feeling pain in her jaw also on a filled up tooth. The pain extends to her ear and neck. I am from assam and plan to visit an oncologist in mumbai. Will it serve my purpose?

Red blood spots and red lines behind uvula in upper throat and tonsil .i was diagnosed with osmf and leukoplakia 4 months ago. Left all habits 4 months ago. I do ice cream stick exercise daily for mouth opening.