Most leukoplakia patches are noncancerous (benign), though some show early signs of cancer. Cancers on the bottom of the mouth can occur next to areas of leukoplakia and white areas mixed in with red areas (speckled leukoplakia) may indicate the potential for cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF LEUKOPLAKIA

Leukoplakia may appear:

• White or grayish patches.
• 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.
• Lumps or white, red or dark patches in mouth
• Persistent changes in the tissues of mouth
• Ear pain when swallowing
• Progressive reduction in the ability to open your jaw

CAUSES OF LEUKOPLAKIA

Causes of leukoplakia is unknown but it may be due to chronic irritation, such as from tobacco use, including smoking and chewing,habit of

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

RISK FACTORS

Tobacco use particularly smokeless tobacco, puts at high risk of leukoplakia and oral cancer. Long-term alcohol  and drinking alcohol combined with smoking increases the risk factor.

COMPLICATIONS OF LEUKOPLAKIA

Leukoplakia usually does not cause permanent damage to tissues in our mouth. However, leukoplakia increases 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.

PREVENTION OF LEUKOPLAKIA

Leukoplakia can be prevented by avoiding all tobacco products or alcohol use.Oral cancers are usually painless until fairly advanced, so quitting tobacco and alcohol is the best option to prevent leukoplakia.

DIAGNOSIS OF LEUKOPLAKIA

• Examining the patches in mouth
• Attempting to wipe off the white patches
• Discussing about medical history and risk factors
• Ruling out other possible causes

Testing for cancer

If one have leukoplakia,following test for early signs of cancer have to be done

• 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.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR LEUKOPLAKIA

Totality of symptoms of the patient including physical,mental,constitutional,aggravation,amelioration to complete the picture of patients so that complete case history is made and accordding to totality similimum medicine can be selected.Some of the indicated homeopathic medicine in this disease are

Antim Crude,Arsenic Album,Bismuth,Hyoscyamus,Etc.