White Patches in Mouth

The inside of your mouth has a predominantly pinkish in appearance. Presence of a white patch or spot is hard to ignore. Once you find white patches, your next action should be to call your doctor and fix an appointment. Though white patches in mouth are most of the time not alarming, they need to be diagnosed well. This will determine the presence of any serious underlying disorder. In cases, some sort of medical complication is there, the timely diagnosis will prove to be of great assistance in its treatment.

Causes of White Patches in Mouth

One of the prominent causes of white patches in mouth is lichen planus. It is an autoimmune disorder that involves the formation of lacy white patches on the gums, tongue, palate, and other parts of the mouth. In severe cases, it may spread to the throat and the esophagus. Leukoplakia shows the appearance of white patches as one of its characteristic symptoms. It occurs due to excessive growth of the cells in the mouth. Smoking and chewing tobacco increase the risk of developing leukoplakia. It should be treated well on time or else it may trigger the onset of cancer.

Candidiasis is a common disease condition that leads to white patches. It is a fungal infection caused by yeast Candida albicans. The white patches formed in the mouth are cottage cheese-like in appearance and consistency.

Syphilis can also cause white patches in throat and mouth. Frictional keratosis is another condition that can lead to white patches. It occurs due to regular friction from teeth and dentures. It mostly appears as a white line anywhere in the mouth, more commonly on the gum or cheek.

The cause behind the appearance of white patches on the roof of the mouth in a tile-like pattern with small red spots is smoking. This occurs as the ingredients of cigarette smoke induce inflammatory reactive changes in the uppermost layer of skin that lines the mouth. These white patches in mouth from smoking usually turn red after 3-4 weeks.

How to Get Rid of White Patches in Mouth

• Avoid eating foodstuffs that irritate your mouth. It will help a lot in curing lichen planus.
• Take an aspirin tablet with water. It will prevent a possible burn to your mouth bearing white patches.
• Place a moist wet tea bag on the white patches to reduce discomforts like pain and irritation.
• In order to cure candidiasis, eat a cup of yogurt with live cultures.
• Make a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water in equal ratio and dab directly on the rough white patches.
• Prepare a solution of milk of magnesia and Benadryl lotion in equal amounts. Swish it for 2 minutes and spit out.
• Stay away from tobacco and smoke to treat white patches from chewing tobacco.
• Take non-prescription anti viral medication for leukoplakia.
• Avoid eating spicy and abrasive foods.
• Stay away from alcohol.
• Remove the source of irritation to treat frictional keratosis.

Seeking medical intervention becomes even more if the white patches last for more than 3 weeks. Trying out the above home remedies will help in coping with the discomfort while you undergo medical treatment for white patches in mouth.