Leukoplakia is a reaction to a chronic irritation, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, is usually painless, and can’t be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth. Mild leukoplakia is usually harmless and generally goes away on its own. More serious cases may be linked to oral cancer.

Symptoms of Leukoplakia:-

This condition is marked by unusual looking patches inside the mouth. These patches can vary in appearance. Generally, patches resulting from leukoplakia have the following features:

• white or grey color
• thick, hard, and raised surface
• hairy (hairy leukoplakia only)

Rarely, the patches have red spots. Redness may be a sign of cancer.                           Leukoplakia most often occurs on the tongue. However, cheeks and gums are also vulnerable. The patches may take several weeks to develop, but they are rarely painful.      Causes:­-Smoking is the most common cause. Chewing tobacco can also cause leukoplakia. Biting the cheek, rough uneven teeth  and dentures (especially if improperly fitted).   

What Causes Leukoplakia?

• Irritation from rough teeth, fillings, or crowns, or ill-fitting dentures that rub against your cheek or gum
• Chronic smoking, pipe smoking, or other tobacco use
• Sun exposure to the lips
• Oral cancer (although rare)
• HIV or AIDS

What Are the Symptoms of Leukoplakia?

The presence of white or gray colored patches on your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, or the inside of the cheeks of your mouth may be a sign of leukoplakia. The patch may have developed slowly over weeks to months and be thick, slightly raised, and may eventually take on a hardened and rough texture. It usually is painless, but may be sensitive to touch, heat, spicy foods, or other irritation.

How Is Leukoplakia Diagnosed?

Your dentist may suspect leukoplakia upon examination; however, a biopsy will likely be taken to rule out other causes, such as oral cancer. During the biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the lesion will be removed to be examined in a lab. A numbing agent will be used so that you will not feel any pain.

Treatment for Leukoplakia?

Treatment for leukoplakia, if needed, involves removing the source of irritation.

For example, if leukoplakia is caused by a rough tooth or an irregular surface on a denture or a filling, the tooth will be smoothed and dental appliances repaired.

If leukoplakia is caused by smoking, you will be asked to minimize or stop smoking or using other tobacco products.

A Dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line that allows your dentist to mount replacement teeth.

A Dental bridge is a false tooth that is held in place by the adjacent teeth on either side of the gap. Although artificial tooth  can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.

Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth.There are two main types of dentures: full and partial.

Infant care

• Use a washout or small amount of gauze to gently wipe your child’s gums even before his or her teeth begin to come in.
• Ensure your child only eats healthy foods.
• Give your child lots of milk and water to drink, avoid juice and other sugary drinks.
• Do not use fluoride tooth paste, until after age 2.
• Finds a pediatric dentist and schedule your child’s first appointment as soon as his or her first tooth emerges no later than his or her first birthday.
• Continue to schedule regular dental checkups.
• Limit snacks.
• Switch from bottles to cups after your child’s first birthday unless bottles are medically necessary.
• A frozen teething ring or a cool spoon can help alleviate teething pain.

Toddler care

• Toddlers usually begin to brush their own teeth around age 2 but may need assistance up to age 5.
• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing toddler’s teeth.
• Don’t allow your child to swallow tooth paste.
• Choose a child sized toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Brush inside surfaces of the child’s teeth first, angling bristles toward the gum line.
• Next, clean outside surfaces of your child’s teeth brushing gently the entire time.
• Finally, brush the chewing surface of the teeth.
• Start a brushing routine well bedtime so your child won’t be too tired to brush.

School-age child care

• Continue to encourage your child to brush and floss regularly.
• Routine checkups remain important as your child gets older.
• If your child participates in sports make sure he or she wears a properly fitted mouth guard to protect teeth.
• Promote healthy eating by preparing healthy lunches than don’t include soft drinks or sugary foods.

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. Do not use straw.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a cotton pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or hard food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. The prescribed medication should be taken as directed by your dentist. Do not take medication without consulting your doctor.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed by your dentist to prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed mouthwash before bed. The day after surgery, the mouthwash should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery.

Methamphetamine (meth) is a dangerously addictive drug that can have severe health consequences, including stroke and permanent brain damage. It’s also devastating to your dental health.

“Meth mouth” is characterized by severe tooth decay and gum disease, which often causes teeth to break or fall out. An examination of the mouths of 571 methamphetamine users showed:

• 96% had cavities
• 58% had untreated tooth decay
• 31% had six or more missing teeth

The teeth of people addicted to methamphetamines are characterized by being blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling and falling apart. Often, the teeth cannot be salvaged and must be removed. The extensive tooth decay is likely caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in dry mouth and long periods of poor oral hygiene. Methamphetamine itself is also acidic.

Meth – also known as speed, ice, glass and crystal – can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken in pill form and is highly addictive. The high (which causes the brain to feel intense pleasure) can last up to 12 hours. This can lead to long periods of poor dental hygiene. While high, users often crave high-calorie, carbonated, sugary beverages. In addition, they may grind or clench their teeth, all of which can harm teeth.

In the short term, meth can cause shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, hyper activity, decreased appetite, tremors and trouble breathing. Over time, meth can cause irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, stroke, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations and delusions. It can also negatively affect ability to learn long-term.

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