There are many oral or mouth diseases, however some are more common than others. Oral diseases or diseases of the mouth can be diagnosed by many different doctors including otolaryngologists, family practice physicians and in some instances even dentists. Oral diseases or diseases of the mouth can include virtually anything from diseases associated with smoking to diseases associated with inflammation. In some cases mouth or oral diseases require a biopsy to insure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Some types of mouth diseases include:
Leukoplakia is an oral disease that can in some instances resemble thrush, leukoplakia can be associated to weakened immune systems or smoking and some forms of leukoplakia can even be precancerous. Leukoplakia usually appears on the gums, bottom of mouth, tongue or in some instances the insides of a person’s cheeks. The disease often manifests as white patches that won’t go away, are flat or irregular in texture and can be hard or thickened in nature on the affected area. Hairy leukoplakia is seen as fuzzy patches on the sides of your tongue and hairy leukoplakia is often seen in people with weakened immune systems such as people who suffer from HIV or AIDS.
Thrush is a very common oral yeast disease in which a fungus accumulates in the lining of a person’s mouth. Thrush appears as creamy white lesions on the tongue or inside the cheeks. Thrush can be painful and may at times even bleed especially when scraped. Thrush may also develop on the back of your throat, tonsils and even the roof a person’s mouth. Thrush is more likely to affect older people with dentures or babies who have immune system problems. Thrush can be a minor problem or can become a chronic problem for people who can seem to completely combat the fungal condition. Many people with thrush especially those who wear dentures can’t seem to get rid of the condition since it can reside on the dentures themselves. If you get thrush however it is extremely important to not only treat your mouth but clean your dentures properly as much as possible until the condition is resolved.
Geographic tongue is a benign or harmless mouth disease that makes the tongue have a map like appearance. The tongue will have irregular smooth red patches that appear like a rash and parts will present as having missing papillae. Geographic tongue is usually not painful but it can cause the tongue in some instances to be highly sensitive.
Glossitis is another oral disease that is characterized by the tongue being swollen or inflamed. The tongue can actually appear smooth with this condition. Glossitis is a type of inflammation of the tongue that can be associated to many different causes including oral herpes simplex, tongue irritations such as with improperly fitting dentures, tobacco and in some cases allergic reactions.
Canker sores are shallow ulcers that commonly appear in a person’s mouth which often make eating or talking difficult. Simple canker sores appear ever so often and usually occur in young people and are thought to be a result of stress or injury to the affected tissue area. However more complex canker ulcers occur in people who have already had them previously and are usually caused by an underlying medical issue such as nutritional deficiencies or weakened immune systems.
Oral cancer often appears as ulcers or lesions of the oral mucous membranes. The lesions may be deep in the tissue, cause the area to be discolored and be in most associated with most any part of the mouth. Oral cancer often goes unnoticed for a long time because at first it is usually not associated with discomfort, however some people do develop overtime a burning or painful sensation especially once the lesions are well established and more noticeable. The mouth sores can sometimes cause swallowing problems or eating challenges, along with tongue issues and in some cases abnormal tastes in the mouth.
If you think you have some type of infection or inflammatory process going on in your mouth you should see a physician immediately to be properly diagnosed and treated. In some cases simple dental infections can develop into sepsis and become fatal if left untreated.
References for this article include: www.medicinenet.com/leukoplakia/article.htmwww.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/OralCancer/AfricanAmericanMen/CausesSymptoms.htm
ttp://www.webmd.com/oral-health/mouth-problems-slideshow
www.womenshealth.gov/faq/oral-health.cfm
