How is leukoplakia diagnosed?

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.

What is the best treatment for leukoplakia?

Leukoplakia can be treated by two types of medications: systemic and topical. If your dentist recommends a systemic medication, they will prescribe an antiviral medication like Valtrex or Famvir. While the virus that causes leukoplakia never leaves the body, its spread can be halted.

What is leukoplakia caused by?

Although the cause of leukoplakia is unknown, chronic irritation, such as from tobacco use, including smoking and chewing, appears to be responsible for most cases. Often, regular users of smokeless tobacco products eventually develop leukoplakia where they hold the tobacco against their cheeks.

Can vitamin cure leukoplakia?

Vitamin A has been shown to be effective against leukoplakia. Beta-carotene is the most widely used supplement in the treatment of leukoplakia.

Can leukoplakia heal itself?

In most cases, leukoplakia will go away on its own and doesn’t require treatment. Just make sure to avoid any triggers, such as smoking. If the biopsy came positive for oral cancer, then the doctors will remove the patches immediately to stop the cancer from spreading.

Is Vitamin C good for leukoplakia?

In one trial, administration of 50,000 IU of beta-carotene, 1 gram of vitamin C, and 800 IU of vitamin E per day for nine months led to improvement in 56% of people with leukoplakia, with stronger effects in those who also stopped using tobacco and alcohol.

Is tea good for leukoplakia?

A University of Texas study found that patients with a pre-malignant condition (oral leukoplakia) were able to reverse the condition with doses of green tea extract.

What is leukoplakia a sign of?

It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer. With leukoplakia (loo-koh-PLAY-key-uh), thickened, white patches form on your gums, the insides of your cheeks, the bottom of your mouth and, sometimes, your tongue.

What increases my risk of leukoplakia?

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

How is leukoplakia tested for cancer?

Cancer testing for those with leukoplakia may include: 1 Oral brush biopsy: This is the removal of cells (to be tested for cancer) from the outer surface of the lesions using a… 2 Excisional biopsy: This is the surgical removal of tissue from the patch of leukoplakia (or in some instances the entire… More