About all

Why is the skin in my mouth peeling: Dentists in Yorktown, VA | Levy Dental Group

Tongue Peeling: Causes and Treatment Options

Tongue Peeling: Causes and Treatment Options

  • Health Conditions
    • Featured
      • Breast Cancer
      • IBD
      • Migraine
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis
      • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Articles
      • Acid Reflux
      • ADHD
      • Allergies
      • Alzheimer’s & Dementia
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Cancer
      • Crohn’s Disease
      • Chronic Pain
      • Cold & Flu
      • COPD
      • Depression
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Heart Disease
      • High Cholesterol
      • HIV
      • Hypertension
      • IPF
      • Osteoarthritis
      • Psoriasis
      • Skin Disorders and Care
      • STDs
  • Discover
    • Wellness Topics
      • Nutrition
      • Fitness
      • Skin Care
      • Sexual Health
      • Women’s Health
      • Mental Well-Being
      • Sleep
    • Product Reviews
      • Vitamins & Supplements
      • Sleep
      • Mental Health
      • Nutrition
      • At-Home Testing
      • CBD
      • Men’s Health
    • Original Series
      • Fresh Food Fast
      • Diagnosis Diaries
      • You’re Not Alone
      • Present Tense
    • Video Series
      • Youth in Focus
      • Healthy Harvest
      • No More Silence
      • Future of Health
  • Plan
    • Health Challenges
      • Mindful Eating
      • Sugar Savvy
      • Move Your Body
      • Gut Health
      • Mood Foods
      • Align Your Spine
    • Find Care
      • Primary Care
      • Mental Health
      • OB-GYN
      • Dermatologists
      • Neurologists
      • Cardiologists
      • Orthopedists
    • Lifestyle Quizzes
      • Weight Management
      • Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
      • Are You a Workaholic?
      • How Well Do You Sleep?
    • Tools & Resources
      • Health News
      • Find a Diet
      • Find Healthy Snacks
      • Drugs A-Z
      • Health A-Z
  • Connect
      • Breast Cancer
      • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Migraine
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Psoriasis

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Scott Frothingham on December 5, 2018

Your tongue is a unique muscle because it’s only attached to bone on one (not both) ends. Its surface has papillae (small bumps). Between the papillae are taste buds.

Your tongue has many uses, it:

  • helps you chew and swallow, by moving the food in your mouth
  • allows you to taste salty, sweet, sour, and bitter flavors
  • assists you in word formation and speech

If your tongue is peeling, make an appointment to see your doctor or dentist. A peeling tongue could indicate one of a number of different conditions such as:

  • physical damage
  • thrush
  • canker sores
  • geographic tongue

If you’ve damaged the surface of your tongue, your body might be defensively getting rid of the damaged top layer — similar to your skin peeling after a damaging sunburn. Since the cells underneath aren’t accustomed to being exposed, your tongue might be more sensitive.

There are a number of ways to damage the top layer of your tongue, including:

  • drinking or eating something at a high enough temperature to burn
  • drinking or eating highly acidic food or drink
  • drinking or eating spicy food or drink
  • rubbing your tongue against a tooth with a sharp surface or a decayed tooth with sharp edges

Oral thrush — also known as oropharyngeal candidiasis or oral candidiasis — is a yeast infection of the inside of the mouth and tongue. Oral thrush is characterized by white lesions that might give the appearance of peeling.

To treat oral thrush, your doctor might recommend antifungal medication, such as nystatin.

Aphthous ulcers — also known as canker sores or aphthous stomatitis — are painful ulcers that appear in patterns. They’re classified as follows:

  • Minor. Typically 2 to 8 millimeters in size, minor ulcers commonly heal themselves in a couple of weeks.
  • Major. These ulcers are larger than 1 centimeter and may leave scars.
  • Herpetiform. These multiple, pinpoint-size ulcers may grow together into a single, larger ulcer.

Minor canker sores usually go away on their own. For larger ones, treatment options include:

  • Mouth rinses. Your doctor might recommend a mouth rinse with lidocaine or dexamethasone.
  • Topical treatment. Your doctor might recommend a paste, gel, or liquid such as hydrogen peroxide (Orajel), benzocaine (Anbesol), or fluocinonide (Lidex)
  • Oral medications. If your canker sores don’t respond to rinses and topical treatments, your doctor might recommend sucralfate (Carafate) or a steroid medication.

The primary symptom of geographic tongue is the appearance of discolored patches. The patches are typically painless and benign. They often reappear in different areas, which could give the impression that the tongue is peeling.

If your tongue problems are unexplained, severe, or don’t improve in a few days, have your doctor take a look. They can make a full diagnosis and recommend treatment options.

Other symptoms that should trigger a doctor’s appointment include:

  • high fever
  • extreme difficulty drinking or eating
  • appearance of new, larger sores
  • persistent recurring sores
  • persistent recurring pain
  • swelling of the tongue or trouble breathing
  • tongue pain that doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain (OTC) medications or self-care measures

If your tongue is peeling, it could be the result of damage to your tongue’s surface. It also might indicate an underlying condition such as oral thrush or geographic tongue. It could also be canker sores.

Although some of these causes can be handled with time and self-care, visit your doctor or dentist for a proper diagnosis. They can recommend a treatment option that will get you the best, safest, fastest results.

Last medically reviewed on December 5, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  • Cleveland Clinic. (2015). What your tongue can tell you about your health.
    health.clevelandclinic.org/what-your-tongue-can-tell-you-about-your-health/
  • Examination of the tongue. (n.d.).  
    stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/tongue.html
  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Canker sore.
    mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/canker-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370620
  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Oral thrush.
    mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20353533
  • McBride DR. (2000). Management of benign aphthous ulcers.
    aafp.org/afp/2000/0701/p149.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Scott Frothingham on December 5, 2018

Read this next

  • Geographic Tongue: What to Know

    Find information about geographic tongue, including symptoms, causes, complications, and when to call your doctor.

    READ MORE

  • Is It a Skin Tag on Your Tongue or Something Else?

    Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN

    See something that looks like a skin tag on your tongue? It’s likely something else, such as a cyst or an extra layer of tissue. Skin tags only grow…

    READ MORE

  • What Causes a Hairy Tongue and How to Treat It

    Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. D., MPH

    READ MORE

  • Tongue Problems

    Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP

    Learn about the types, causes, and diagnosis of tongue problems.

    READ MORE

  • 5 Reasons to Scrape Your Tongue and How to Do It

    Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP

    Tongue scraping is a fast way to remove extra particles — including the ones that cause bad breath — from the top of the tongue. Here’s how it works…

    READ MORE

  • What Are Those Bumps on My Tongue?

    Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O.

    A tongue bump or sore can be caused by various conditions, ranging from enlarged papillae to mouth cancer. Learn about potential causes and treatments.

    READ MORE

  • What Causes a Bitter Taste in the Mouth?

    Do you have an unexplained bitter taste in your mouth? Here’s what may be causing it.

    READ MORE

  • Why Is My Tongue Yellow?

    Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. O.

    Learn more about the different causes of a yellow tongue, various symptoms and concerns, and what you can do to treat it.

    READ MORE

  • Why Is My Tongue Black?

    Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS

    A black tongue usually isn’t as serious as it looks. We’ll explain why it can sometimes look hairy, too. You’ll also learn about the types of things…

    READ MORE

Why Are My Lips Always Dry And Peeling?

From having to deal with constant discomfort in your lips to feeling pain every time you eat something, dry, chapped lips can drive anyone mad, especially if they start peeling or cracking.

And what’s worse: sometimes it is completely out of your control, since one of the most common reasons for dry lips is cold or dry weather. And sadly, we can’t just change the weather at the snap of our fingers.

But not all hope is lost.

There are certain products and habits that can help you deal with dry lips, both reducing the likelihood of it happening, as well as dealing with lips that are already dry and peeling.

But before we get into how you can deal with chapped lips, we must first explore why it happens. As always, if you have severe symptoms or are experiencing severely cracked skin, we recommend you seek advice from a board-certified dermatologist.

See Related: What Is A Good Night Time Skin Care Routine? A List Of Do’s And Dont’s

WHY DO LIPS GET DRY AND PEEL?

Lips don’t have sebaceous glands, also known as oil glands, like other skin parts. Because of this, they can dry, peel, or crack, much easier than other parts of your body (but at least they don’t get pimples since they don’t have oil glands).

But that’s not all. There’s a part of the lips that don’t have what is called a “stratum corneum”, which is the top layer of skin.

These factors result in lips being particularly susceptible to dryness and eventually peeling.

In fact, most people experience chapped lips, so don’t freak out thinking you may have an illness.

But these aren’t the only reasons that lips get dry. This post will not only cover how to treat chapped lips but also help you learn how to prevent chapped lips as well.

Here’s a list of 11 reasons why your lips may be dry and peeling:

1. BODY DEHYDRATION

As mentioned previously, lips don’t have oil glands. This means that they lose moisture much easier, and are much more vulnerable to getting dry.

The solution is easy: drink more water.

If you’re feeling thirsty until you drink water, you’re making a mistake. The feeling of thirst comes after dehydration, not before it. It is a late symptom.

The recommended amount for an adult woman is a minimum of 2.2 liters or 74 fluid ounces, which equals about 9 cups. 

2. THE WEATHER

HOT WEATHER will increase your chance of dehydration. And since hot weathers are generally sunny, the increased exposure to sunlight will also make it even harder on your lips.

And remember, your lips don’t have the outermost layer present in most skin, making it particularly vulnerable to the sun and sun damage, and sunburns can cause inflammations that complicate the issue even further. Chronic sun exposure will also contribute to chronic chapped lips. If your job requires you to spend significant amounts of time outdoors, applying lip balm or a water-based lip moisturizer on a regular basis will prevent cracked lips.

COLD WEATHER, on the other hand, is harsher on your lips because the air becomes drier during cold weather than in hot weather, and is a bigger risk for dry lips than being in hot weather.

This means that you should be extra careful of dry lips during cold weather and winter.

On top of that, dry air, in general, is a problem. If you live in an area with low humidity, or you’re undergoing a season with low humidity, you’re a lot more likely to have dry lips since the lack of moisture in the air will make things difficult for your lips.

And although you cannot control the air, you can get a humidifier and put it in the room you stay in the most. Humidifiers are created to increase the moisture in the air around them. During winter months, when the air tends to be the driest, a humidifier could be your best friend.

3. LICKING YOUR LIPS

You feel that stingy feeling on your lips when they’re dry, and immediately you respond in the most natural way possible: you lick your lips.

Makes sense right? Lip licking feels satisfying on your dry lips when you do it, and since the lips are dry, saliva should help moisturize them, right?

WRONG.

Saliva isn’t just water. It is made to help break down macronutrients (sugars, protein, and fat).

Guess what your lips are made out of? Yep, those same things. So, by frequently licking your lips, you only cause further irritation and damage them further.

4. TOOTHPASTE INGREDIENTS THAT CAUSE DRY LIPS

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an ingredient that can remove oils from the surface of your skin, making it even dryer. Sodium lauryl sulfate is usually found in some types of toothpaste, and if yours also contains it, you might want to get a toothpaste that doesn’t. SLS is also a skin irritant that’ll make your peeling lips hurt even more.

Some kinds of toothpaste also have guaiazulene, which can cause allergy or irritation.

5. BREATHING THROUGH YOUR MOUTH

Opening your mouth to breathe means that your lips will interact more with the air, resulting in more dryness.

The hard part comes when you have a disease or condition that forces you to breathe through your mouth. Make sure to consult your doctor as to what solutions to mouth-breathing are feasible for your case.

Another useful preventive method is to get a scarf! By putting one around your neck and shoulders, you can prevent the incoming dry wind into your mouth, while simultaneously warming yourself up on cold days.

6. ALLERGIES

Certain allergic reactions, like allergies to cobalt or nickel, will cause dry lips on top of any other complications they may generate.

And sometimes, you might be getting an allergic reaction from your skincare products or even food.

Cinnamic acid and cinnamate ingredients are often used for perfumes, and cinnamic acid is sometimes used as a flavoring ingredient in sweets, like gum.

7. MEDICATIONS

Certain medications will cause dry lips as a side effect.

They’re particularly common for medicine related to acne since they typically deal with acne by reducing oil production from your glands. And although your lips do not produce oil, areas around them still do and can help keep your lips moisturized.

But acne medication is only one of the many types of meds that can dry your lips. Chemotherapy medication, antidepressants, antibiotics, allergy meds, and pain meds are just a few of the many ones that can cause dry lips.

If you think that your medication is a cause of dry lips, consult your doctor for confirmation on which med(s) could be causing it, and if there are any alternatives that don’t cause dry lips.

8. YEAST OVERGROWTH IN YOUR MOUTH

A weak immune system, salivary gland dysfunction, and dentures are just a few of the many risks that lead to yeast infection in your mouth. 

And a yeast infection can lead to dry skin around the mouth, increasing the likelihood of dry lips.

If you have a yeast infection, make sure to contact a licensed doctor for the safest course of action.

9. ACTINIC CHEILITIS (SOLAR CHEILITIS)

Cheilitis is lip inflammation. Actinic cheilitis is lip inflammation caused by heavy sunlight exposure. It’s basically a lip burn.

This is a much worse version of dry lips, and yet they can often feel the same – with dry lips, cracking, or peeling lips.

It is usually only present in the lower lip, however, since the lower lip undergoes much more sun exposure than the upper lip.

10. VITAMIN DEFICIENCY

B vitamins have a significant role in the upkeep of your body, and their deficiency may be causing you dry lips.

The vitamin deficiency most likely to cause dry lips and peeling is vitamin B12, which impacts cell metabolism, including healing and growth. They can even cause mouth ulcers. 

Deficiency in vitamin C can technically also cause dry lips, but its deficiency is very rare.

An easy solution is taking supplements, or eating foods that contain the necessary nutrients. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, broccoli, and strawberries.

Foods rich in B12 include most meats, such as chicken breasts, beef, salmon, and others.

11. PUTTING METAL ITEMS ON YOUR LIPS OR MOUTH

Putting metal items on your lips can irritate them. Jewelry, paperclips, and other accessories shouldn’t be put on your lips if possible.

Not only that, but the cause of your dry or peeling lips may be because you have dental implants or bracers that cause friction with your lips, scratch them, or even get stuck on your lips.

Bonus: How Do Chemical Exfoliants Work?

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO DIMINISH DRY LIPS AND PEELING?

Besides the already mentioned tips, like drinking water to prevent dehydration and getting a humidifier for dry air, there are a couple of other proactive choices you can take to prevent this annoying issue.

Starting with the most important one…

1. APPLY A LIP SCRUB

When used regularly, a lip scrub will buff away dead skin on your lips as well as gently exfoliate the flaky skin barrier, introducing soft, healthy skin on your lips.

You’ll want to use a natural, exfoliating lip scrub such as sugar, aloe vera, and coconut which will help heal chapped lips. Be sure to use lip products that are cruelty-free, contain safe ingredients, and will contribute to more moisture overall especially if you have delicate skin.

2 FOLLOW UP WITH A GOOD LIP BALM

Simple, but incredibly important.

A good lip balm will help moisturize your lips and keep them from peeling.

But make sure to use it enough!

It can be easy as we go through our day-to-day to forget certain small simple habits we must do, but don’t let it stop you from applying lip balms throughout the day. Both day and night.

Make sure to use it as needed during the day. And when you go to sleep, make sure to always apply some of it on your lips.

Applying it before sleep is extra important because it’s very common for people to have their mouths open during their sleep. And as we’ve mentioned previously, opening your mouth allows the passage of air, drying it even more.

And a common habit that can severely damage your lips, making them peel and dry out, is biting your own lips. This is particularly common if you’re feeling particularly stressed or anxious.

If you have this habit, a good solution is to remind yourself to apply your lip balm whenever you feel the urge to bite your lips and make sure you’re carrying one at all times to deal with the problem whenever it arises.

And if you’re ever in doubt about using TOO much lip balm or TOO little, it’s always better to apply too much.

Not all lip balms are made the same, however, and some will be much more effective and healthy than others based on their ingredients.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), some of the following ingredients are particularly good for lip balms:

  • CASTOR SEED OIL: this is an oil derived from castor beans and has been applied in medicine and medical products for many decades.
  • PETROLEUM JELLY OR PETROLATUM: used for centuries for skin-care products, petroleum jelly helps entrap moisture, keeping your lips moist for longer.
  • SHEA & COCOA BUTTER: shea butter comes from the African shea tree, while cocoa comes from cocoa beans, as their names imply, and are 100% natural and healthy fat sources to use on lip balms.
  • TITANIUM OXIDE AND ZINC OXIDE: as we’ve noted before, too much sunlight will damage your lips and dry them out. Titanium oxide and zinc oxide help with just that, by blocking UV rays, they provide similar protection to sunscreens. They’ll also help diminish the chance of actinic cheilitis and skin cancer in your mouth. You should have a product with titanium/zinc oxide in them particularly before going outdoors.
  • OTHER BENEFICIAL MOISTURIZING INGREDIENTS include hemp seed oil, mineral oil, coconut oil, and ceramides.

Some ingredients to avoid include…

  • LANOLIN: although lanolin is effective at keeping your lips moisturized, lanolin allergy is fairly common, affecting somewhere between 1. 2% and 6.9% of the population, and their usage may cause inflammation and allergic reactions, only worsening the problem. 
  • FLAVORINGS: certain flavorings, like cinnamon and citrus, can irritate lips that are already dry and peeling. Opt for natural flavorings or better yet, go fragrance-free.
  • SALICYLIC ACID: this ingredient is a peeling agent that results in the outer layer of the skin being shed. If you apply it on an already dry, peeling, or damaged lip, it will only worsen the problem.

3. STAY AWAY FROM CERTAIN FOODS

Very acidic, salty, or spicy foods should be avoided to prevent pain when your lips are already dry and peeling.

You might also want to avoid very salty foods since salt drains the moisture out of your mouth. You can replace salt with different condiments and spices that do not hurt your lips and mouth.

And the same is true for dry foods, like crackers and toast, since they will suck out the moisture out of your mouth, making it even drier.

Dry and salty foods will also increase your thirst, resulting in you licking your lips even more than usual. And as we’ve mentioned previously, that’s a no-no.

SUMMARY

There you go!

A complete guide on why your lips are always dry and peeling.

From now on, when your lips feel dry, gently exfoliate with a natural scrub and immediately follow up with one of your favorite, natural lip ointments. Now you know that lips are an incredibly sensitive part of our bodies, how the weather and sun can impact them, the different conditions that can cause dry lips, and how to prevent it.

And most important of all, how to pick the right lip balm for dry lips!

Keep Reading: Where to Apply Liquid Foundation

For over 60 years, Viviane Woodard has represented “The Purity of Skincare”. We are the leading beauty brand for skin care products and promote the importance of good skin hydration. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for skin care tips, product discounts, and more.  

Diseases of the mouth and gums

The list of diseases of the oral cavity includes pathologies of the mucous membrane and gums.

The causes of diseases of the oral cavity are of a viral, infectious, fungal nature, develop as a result of inflammatory processes in the body and the appearance of malignant neoplasms.

Herpetic stomatitis

Herpetic stomatitis is an infectious disease caused by the herpes virus.

The acute form of herpetic stomatitis is accompanied by severe pain and burning in the localization of ulcers, which form at the site of burst blisters. In the chronic form, ulcers do not have time to heal and affect the extensive surface of the oral mucosa. Pathology may be accompanied by bleeding gums, mobility and loss of teeth, laryngitis.

Viral stomatitis

Viral stomatitis is an infectious disease of a viral nature.

The main symptom of viral stomatitis is blisters on the lips, palate, in advanced cases – on the tongue, mucous surface of the cheeks and throat. In place of bursting blisters, poorly healing ulcers form.

Running viral stomatitis is dangerous with complications such as herpetic conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes) and soft tissue necrosis.

Allergic stomatitis

Allergic stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa caused by an increased reaction of the immune system to an allergen that has entered the body.

Allergy is manifested mainly by swelling and itching of the oral mucosa, an increase in the size of the tongue. All this causes discomfort and pain when chewing food and swallowing.

Cheilit (Zayed)

Cheilitis – inflammation that violates the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes of the lips. This disease is also called “jamming” due to the similarity of symptoms: swelling, redness and peeling of the skin of the lips, the appearance of ulcers on the lips.

It is important to prevent the transition of cheilitis into a chronic form. Otherwise, its symptoms will occur constantly until they violate the integrity and elasticity of the skin of the lips, and with it the quality of life.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums.

In most cases, gums become inflamed due to bacteria that accumulate in plaque. Plaques form from plaque, they irritate the mucous membrane and form gum pockets. Bacteria are actively growing in them.

Gingivitis can also be caused by allergies and infections.

Lower lip retention cyst

Retention cyst (mucocele) is a benign neoplasm that occurs when secretion accumulates in the gland duct due to tissue damage: biting, burns, piercings.

The cyst grows rapidly and after 2-3 days after its appearance begins to cause discomfort. When the tumor is opened, its contents flow out, but over time it is formed again, and significantly increasing in volume.

The growth of the cyst will be stopped only by the surgical intervention of a specialist.

Diseases of the oral mucosa caused by smoking

Smoking is a risk factor for the development of various dental diseases. The mucous membrane of the oral cavity, tongue, and gums of a smoker is affected by several adverse factors: the action of high temperatures, irritating combustion products and toxic tars. Tobacco smoke contains about 200 harmful substances (43 carcinogenic), including carbon monoxide, soot, benzopyrene, hydrocyanic acid, arsenic, ammonia, radioactive elements, nicotine. Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, binds a protein – hemoglobin, resulting in the formation of carboxyhemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen, resulting in disruption of tissue respiration processes.
Unpleasant odor (halitosis) – due to the accumulation in saliva, on the surface of the root of the tongue and in soft plaque on the teeth of combustion gases and sulfurous waste products of special bacteria.
The accumulation of gaseous products on the organs and tissues of the oral cavity seriously alters the oral mucosa, increases the risk of developing pathological processes (autoimmune diseases, viral, malignant tumors).
Dryness in the oral cavity – due to the action of high temperatures, “drying” of the oral mucosa occurs, over time, due to the toxic effect of smoke, the rate of saliva secretion and the number of small salivary glands themselves decrease. Such changes become irreversible, and dentists diagnose – xerostomia, and patients experience symptoms of a burning sensation in the mouth and changes in taste.
Gingivitis and periodontitis in smokers. In smokers, diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis develop in a special way: in people who do not smoke, bleeding is a sign of the onset of gum problems – a signal of inflammation, and smokers, as a rule, are not worried about bleeding (due to the effect on tissue microcirculation periodontal), so they seek treatment when there is already a pronounced resorption (loss) of bone tissue and tooth mobility. Treatment of periodontitis in patients without smoking cessation is ineffective.
The list of diseases caused by tobacco would not be complete without such “occupational diseases” as leukoplakia, nicotine stomatitis, cancer of the oral mucosa, larynx.

Leukoplakia is a keratinization of the oral mucosa or the red border of the lips, accompanied by inflammation, which occurs, as a rule, in response to chronic exogenous irritation (smoking, hot food, sharp edges of tooth crowns that injure the mucous membrane, etc.). Under the influence of such irritants, the mucous membrane is replaced by keratinized epithelium. The lesion can be located anywhere in the oral cavity, up to an almost complete lesion. There is a feeling of tightness, roughness, sometimes burning in the mouth. Initially, a whitish, slightly opalescent hue of the color of the mucosa is characteristic. Then the lesions acquire a pearly color, in the flesh until coarsened leukoplakia plaques appear on the mucosa, rising above the level of the mucosa. The course of leukoplakia is slow, lasting for years. An increase in the area of ​​the lesion, a change in color or boundaries, the appearance of cracks and ulcerations should be regarded as signs of an unfavorable course. Leukoplakia is classified as a facultative precancer. In some cases, cavity cancer can be the next stage of this disease.

Leukoplakia in Tappeiner smokers. This disease is a type of leukoplakia of the buccal cavity of the mouth. It occurs on the mucous membrane of the hard palate, and only in smokers. The mucous membrane of the hard palate, and sometimes the soft palate adjacent to it, appears to be slightly keratinized, grayish-white, often folded. Against this background, red dots become clearly visible – the gaping mouths of the excretory ducts of small salivary glands. Unlike other forms of leukoplakia, this disease resolves quickly, within about 2 weeks after stopping smoking. Theoretically, malignancy of this form of leukoplakia is possible, however, as well as any process accompanied by epithelial dysplasia that occurs under the influence of smoking.

Warty cancer is a type of squamous cell carcinoma characterized by slow growth and no tendency to metastasize. It is often found in people who use chewing or snuff tobacco, in 30% of patients HPV is found in tumor tissues. It looks like dense growths of white and red color (reminiscent of cauliflower).

Prevention of oral cancer.
The main method of preventing the development of cancer is the rejection of bad habits and regular visits to the dentist (once a year). Oral cancer can present differently in different people. Among the symptoms suspicious of a malignant process, it is necessary to highlight:
long-term (more than 2 weeks) non-healing ulcer in the oral cavity;
tooth loss;
change in the shape of the face, neck, tongue;
the appearance of discomfort when wearing dentures.

These symptoms do not always mean the development of cancer, but they are the reason for contacting a specialist!

November 2019Oncological screening room was opened in SP GBUZ SP No. 19 of the Pushkinsky district.
Cabinet functions: prophylactic examination of patients who applied for the first time during the year to the clinic, for early detection of chronic, precancerous and neoplastic diseases of the oral mucosa.
Examination of the oral mucosa is carried out using the AFS LED device for autofluorescent stomatoscopy.