FAQ - leukoplakia
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just quit chewing tobacco and drinking. 25 yrs old. leukoplakia?


i don't have insurance, so i don't go to the doctors much. i have used snuff for a total of 2 and a half years. i used it for a year once, then quit, then fell off the horse and started using again for about a year and a half. i went into a heavy drinking phase too. anyway. i have vowed to quit after learning about the white patch in my mouth. it isn't big, but it's enough for me to get concerned. haven't used either one in over 48 hours. the drinking won't be a problem, but the chewing has gotten pretty hard to stop. i am constantly thinking about it.

my question is, if i quit both cold turkey, and i don't go to a professional to have it checked out? are my chances good for not getting cancer?

i always told myself i'd quit soon, never expected to have this problem from doing it from such a short time. my step brother dipped and was an alcoholic for 15-20 years and his health is fine (now that he goes to aa but he still chews.) go figure. lesson learned
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Canker sores, also known as mouth ulcers, apthous stomatitis and ulcerative stomatitis, are small painful ulcerations that have yellow-gray centers and a red border.

Usually 1-2mm wide, they occur on non-keratinized mucosa inside the mouth: the inner side of the lips, the tongue, the back and floor of the mouth and the wall of the cheeks. They do not occur on the lips, the gums or the hard roof of the mouth. Ulcers can be single or can occur in clusters.

The cause of canker sores is uncertain, however, associations with human herpesvirus 6, food sensitivities, stress, and nutrient deficiencies have been suggested. They generally take 1-2 weeks to heal and may recur monthly or several times per year.

Canker sores must be differentiated from drug allergies, herpes simplex infection, Behcet's syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Therapeutic Considerations

1) Avoid toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an irritant detergent commonly found in toothpaste. People with recurrent canker sores may benefit by switching to a brand of toothpaste that does not contain SLS, which is believed to abrade the protective mucus layer in the mouth and increase the likelihood of developing canker sores.

Research studies have found a decreased incidence of recurrent canker sores after two months of avoiding SLS, however, one double-blind study did not support this finding.

2) Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL)
DGL is the herb licorice that has had the glycyrrhizic acid removed, the portion that can increase blood pressure. In one research study, DGL was found to promote the healing of canker sores, with a 50-75% improvement in one day. This study used a mouthwash made of powdered DGL mixed with water.

Alternately, DGL tablets can be chewed with water, swished in the mouth and swallowed.

3) Identify and eliminate food sensitivities with an elimination and challenge diet
Food sensitivities, especially to gluten-containing foods (wheat, rye, barley, oats), have been found clinically to be associated with recurrent canker sores.

The microscopic appearance of the sores and the increased antibodies to certain food antigens in some people with recurrent canker sores support this theory. Double-blind studies, however, have yet to confirm this.

4) Decrease dietary intake of nitrites
Cured and processed meats, such as bacon, sausage and ham, are high in nitrites. One study found that the risk of esophageal cancer was seven times greater in individuals with a history of canker sores. The authors report that canker sores may be an indicator of a high conversion of nitrites to carcinogenic nitrosamines.

5) Vitamin C
Vitamin C works directly against viruses and has been found to inhibit the herpes virus in vitro. In addition, it inhibits the formation of nitrosamines from dietary nitrites, found in bacon, ham, sausages and other processed meats, and from dietary nitrates, found in vegetables and other foods.

6) Nutrient Deficiency
Thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of canker sores. Other nutrients that have been found to be low in people with recurrent canker sores include riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and iron. A health practitioner can assess nutrient status.

References

1. Lininger S, Gaby A, Austin S, Brown DJ, Wright JV, Duncan A. The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition. Prima Health and Healthnotes, Inc., 1999.
2. Murray M. Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up. New York, New York. Random House, Inc.; 2000
3. Murray MT, Pizzorno JE. Textbook of Natural Medicine, Vol 1 and 2. Churchill Livingstone. Edinburgh, 1999
4. Rogers MA, Vaughan TL, Davis S, Thomas DB. Consumption of nitrate, nitrite, and nitrosodimethylamine and the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prev 1995 Jan-Feb; 4(1):29-36.
5. Tannenbaum SR, Wishnok JS, Leaf CD. Inhibition of nitrosamine formation by ascorbic acid. Am J Clin Nutrition 1991 Jan;53(1 Suppl): 247S-250S.
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Sore is from germs I think.
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Mouth ulcer
A mouth ulcer or canker sore is a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. The condition is also called aphthous stomatitis.
Symptoms
A mouth ulcer appears as a yellow or grey oval, on average about 3 mm across, with an inflamed red border. The grey, white, or yellow colored area within the red boundary is due to the formation of layers of fibrin. The ulcer, which itself is often extremely painful when agitated, may be accompanied by a painful swelling of the lymph nodes below the jaw, which can be mistaken for toothache.
Causes
The immediate cause of mouth ulcers is unknown, but factors that appear to provoke them include stress and illness, damage from rough teeth, and deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folic acid.
A common urban myth is that mouth ulcers are directly connected to the onset of the Herpes simplex virus, but in reality ulcers associated with herpes are of an entirely different nature from mouth ulcers. It is also said that excessive consumption of sweets is a cause of mouth ulcers - this is believed to be an old wives' tale. Other disorders can cause mouth ulcers, including oral thrush, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis and oral lichen planus. Mouth ulcers are also associated with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, coeliac disease (gluten sensitivity) and Behcet's disease. The treatment depends on the cause.

Home Treatment
Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The best start is to make sure you have good oral hygiene and avoid spicy/acidic/salty foods and drinks. In addition, one can treat the pain with several pain-relieving gels like Anbesol or Campho-Phenique available in drugstores. Some people claim that such gels also accelerate the healing of their sores.
Other home remedies vary in efficacy. Certain techiniques heal sores for some people, but there are no treatments with widespread medical support. Most seem to be based on an antiseptic (mild antibiotic), an antacid, or both. Antiseptic techniques suggested include the following:

Swab the sores with hydrogen peroxide
Rinse the mouth with Listerine
Rinse the mouth with salt water—1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water (aka. a saline solution)
Antacid techniques suggested include the following:

Swab the sores with milk of magnesia
Apply powdered alum directly to the sores—available in the spice aisle at your grocery store
Make a paste of baking soda and water—apply directly to the sores
Make a paste of crushed Tums and water—apply directly to the sores
Rinse the mouth with a baking soda-Water mix—1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water
Rinse the mouth with warm milk
Combination therapies tell you to use the antiseptic first, and then the antacid. ie. Swab sores with hydrogen peroxide and then swab them with milk of magnesia.

Treatment for severe cases
Treatments based on antibiotics and steroids are reserved for severe cases, and should be used only under medical supervision. Also, if the ulcer does not heal within a week, a doctor or dentists may cauterize it using a silver-nitrate applicator or laser. This procedure immediately burns off the sore, causing it to completely disappear within a few hours or two to three days.
Some dentists recommend a sulfuric acid solution for treating mouth ulcers, such as debacterol.

The miracle cures that are advertised should be viewed with skepticism.

Prevention
In some cases, switching toothpastes can prevent mouth ulcers from occurring, with some being able to reduce the occurrence of ulcers by approximately 80%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (sometimes referred to as sodium lauryl sulfate or simply SLS), a detergent found in most toothpastes, is thought to increase the likeliness of an occurrence of mouth ulcers. Using toothpaste free of this compound has been found to help many people by reducing the amount and size of ulcers and in some cases, completely stopping them. A few individuals have noticed that switching to a toothpaste with Baking Soda prevented reoccurance of mouth ulcers.
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I don't really know what causes them..but I've noticed if I drink a lot of soda or eat a lot of chocolate i'll get one like..later that day! I get them ALL the time and the best thing to get rid of them quickly (within a day or two) is taking "Lysine" pills. You can buy them at Walmart or CVS probably and they're pretty cheap..anbesol or chloroseptic usually numbs them good til the Lysine kicks in to get rid of them. Gargling w/ salt water is supposedly good for them too although I never bother with it :-) I've never had them spread..Untreated it takes about 5 days to go away. They are not lethal, lol. The holes..i have no idea but that indicates that they'll hurt like mthr f'rs. The worst thing you can do to it is bite it.OW.or eat something w/ ketchup..that stings them. Ok..i'm done.
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Amazingly, the cause of canker sores isn't really known. Although, you can somewhat determine what triggers them for you. Some people are prone to getting sores when they're under stress. Sores can also appear after trauma to the mouth, from like a break in the skin caused by a dental procedure or by biting the tongue or cheek. There's some evidence that food allergies, viral infections, and dietary deficiencies (in particular, iron, folic acid, or B12) can also trigger canker sores. They also tend to run in families, so they appear to have a genetic link.

By the way, canker sores and cold sores (or fever blisters) are NOT the same thing. Canker sores are not contagious, and they appear in the soft tissues of the mouth, while cold sores are contagious and generally appear on the outside of the lips.

My boyfriend's family suffers from cold sores and depending on how bad your own outbreak is, I've seen them last over two weeks! Also, the larger ones do tend to leave scars.

If you suffer from canker sores, try talking to your dentist about medicines. It really does work for the pain. Also, I think over the counter you can get stuff for teething to help with the pain but canker sores almost always go away on their own. Try not to eat any hot or spicy foods, and try and drink through a straw (may be less irritating than drinking from a cup). Cold or frozen foods such as ice pops may help numb the area too.

For a home remedy, combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part water. Dab (gently!) on the canker sore with a cotton swab. Follow by dabbing on a little milk of magnesia. Do this three or four times a day to soothe the area and help it heal.

Swishing a sip of warm salt water in your mouth and then spit it out, that can also help soothe the pain. (Add about half a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water.)

I'm not sure if this helps or why you need the info. but good luck!  (+ info)

Can anyone tell me what the white patches on my gums are?


About a month or two ago i noticed I have some white patches on my upper gums. They are painless and feel a little rough. They also go away when I brush my teeth, but return later on. I'm a 17 y/o male
I do dip on occasion, have been known to smoke, and i drink often. It seems like leukoplakia, but some of the symptoms don't fit
also i always dip on the bottom part of my mouth, but these patches are on the top
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what can b the reason for white thick snail like lesions on the tongue dorsum n lateral side?


asymptomatyic,patient aged 15 male,he is not bothered bt as a dentisit i want to fiollow the case,neither leukoplakia,candidiasis nor indentation marks,please enlight me bout it.
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Auto immune condition  (+ info)

can i have cancer from using chewing tobacco for about 7 to 8 months?


I used chewing tobacco for 7 to 8 months and now im off it. i chose to quit because i am deathly afraid to obtaining oral cancer. i have never seen leukoplakia in my mouth but i still freak out.
I dipped probably an average of twice a day also
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very very unlikley . chewing tobbaco contains additive that does freeze your gums , you dont have a thing to worry about . stay calm you definatly have zero to worry about . thank you  (+ info)

what on earth is on my tongue?


For the past two weeks i have noticed a section at the very back of my tongue is white, it brushes off very easily and is not sore at all but comes back after i have eaten, it is only at the very back of my tongue and its not oral thrush or leukoplakia, so what do you think it could be? Thanks.
I have hepatitis B, i dont know whether that changes anything?
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my dad has been reffered to the hospital by the dentist?


he has a lumpy white patch under his tongue with like a hole type thing in the center of it although it isnt a hole now i understand white patches are leukoplakia ( i used to be a qualified dental nurse and have seen oral cancer) but i have not been a dental nurse for 6 years now ... does this white patch mean it is oral cancer ? it ia about 1 -2 cm in diameter. he does not smoke or drink .. could it be anything else apart from oral cancer
please advice as i am soo worried for him
many thanks
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Hon, there is no way to know for sure until they do a biopsy. But I am assuming that they've referred him to the hospital because they think it is cancerous. He should go immediately. The faster they get it out of his mouth, the better his chances of recovery.
Best wishes.  (+ info)

I've been having some weird problems inside my mouth and really need some help.?


Lately I've been getting these lumpy swollen areas under my tongue on my gum. It is kind of painful and today I noticed that there are some white marks on the gum area. I am frightened that it is leukoplakia. I think this might be from me starting smoking. Has anyone out there who smokes got the same thing?
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It can be several symptoms, one is herpes, two it can be gingivitas. I would recommend seeing the dentist, you don't want that infection to spread.  (+ info)

What is wrong with my tongue?


In March, I developed a white cut or sore on the right side of my tongue. This has happened before, and I assumed it would simply go away after a few days. Instead, the sore remained, and I developed white ridges on both sides of my tongue. My tongue was sore and sort of stiff. I waited, but it didn't go away for several days. I called a nurse hotline twice, but they could only guess (incorrectly) what it might be. (It's clearly not oral thrush.) Of course, I researched this condition extensively on the Internet, but the thing that sounds closest to it is "hairy leukoplakia". It can't be that, however, because I don't have the associated health care issues. The symptoms declined and almost disappeared as recently as April 20th, but now they're returning again! It's very uncomfortable and makes tasting, eating and drinking difficult. Not surprisingly citrus, coffee and wine seem to make the condition worse, but abstaining from these doesn't make it disappear. Any ideas?
Oh yeah, to all of you geniuses who keep saying "Why don't you just go see a doctor?" -- I don't have health insurance at the moment. So either answer the question I asked -- if you can -- or spare me the ignorant advice. Besides that, based on previous experience, there seems to be little value in spending half the day at an HMO to see a doctor who also won't really know what the problem is without actually researching it. I'm looking for someone who actually has knowleadge that they can share. Thanks!
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I had a very similar problem recently. I don't remember any "stiffness," but the rest of the description sounds the same. I found I was allergic, or at least sensitive to, a common ingredient in toothpastes: sodium lauryl sulfate. It's in almost all toothpastes, but drugstores carry a little larger variety -- and there are some available. Sensodyne Gel is what I found I had to use and it took care of the problem. I'm personally switching to tooth soap, but my order hasn't arrived yet so I can't comment on that.  (+ info)

is hemangioma a locally invasive lesion?


satellite lesion with locally invasive property is seen in one of the following lesions
chronic hypertrophic candidiasis
leukoplakia
dental ulcers
hemangioma?
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there is a white spot on my tongue about .5cm in diameter. what could it be doc?


it does not hurt or burn, its been there for over 2 weeks i believe. i noticed it last week but i am sure its there longer than that. i try to scrap it off but its not going to come off. its surounding one of the pink taste buds to the left center of the tongue. the area seems to be smooth and whitish. its .5 cm in size round. seems to be shinier than the normal tongue area. and there seems to be no raise taste buds in the whitish spot. what could it be? can it be a pre cancer, or leukoplakia, i have be doing some research on what this white dot could be. can it be lichen planus? or could it be just some harmless being and it will go away? i am very worried. if you have any knowlege of what it can be i am all ears...
a little more info. i am 23, non smoker and i dont drink, could it be just as a simple inflamed taste bud. though that is usually red but i am not sure of the white that is sort of surounding it. there is no pain or anything at all. now that i look at it, the white stuff seems to be surrounding the pink raised taste bud, i have many of these pink taste bud at the tip of my tongue and they are normal and always there. leukoplakia is a vague term, its basically anything that white in your mouth and the doc's dont know what it is they call it leukoplakia.
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It sounds like what you have is condition called leukoplakia it is
nothing serious and it will go away on its own  (+ info)

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