Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a white patch in the mouth. A white patch in your mouth that does not go away should be checked by a dentist or GP.

Check if you have leukoplakia

A tongue sticking out of the mouth with large white patches on it — Leukoplakia patches often appear on the tongue

A cheek being pulled out with a small white patch on the inside — You can also get them on the inside of your cheeks

A faint white patch on the gums, just below the teeth — Some people get patches on their gums

It's also possible to get patches on the floor or roof of your mouth.

The patches:

are not painful
are an irregular shape
are slightly raised
may be slightly red within the patch
cannot be rubbed or scraped away (patches that can be removed could be oral thrush)

There are also a number of other causes of white patches on the tongue.

Non-urgent advice: See a dentist or GP if you have:

a white patch in your mouth that has not gone away after 2 weeks
a white patch on your tongue and a weakened immune system – for example, you have HIV or have had an organ transplant

Mouth cancer risk

If you have leukoplakia, there's a small risk it could progress to mouth cancer over time.

This is why it's very important to see your dentist or GP if you have a white patch in your mouth.

What happens at your appointment

Your dentist or GP will examine the patch and be able to rule out other possible causes like a fungal infection of the mouth (oral thrush) or cheek biting.

You may be referred to a specialist for a biopsy. A small piece of tissue from the patch will be removed and checked for abnormal cells.

Treatments for leukoplakia

Treatment for leukoplakia is not always needed, but you'll have regular check-ups to make sure the patch is not getting bigger.

The patch may get smaller or go away if you:

stop smoking
reduce the amount of alcohol you drink

An operation is sometimes needed to remove the patch if there's a risk it could become cancerous.

This may be done while the area is numbed (local anaesthetic) or while you're asleep (general anaesthetic).

The patch can be removed in a number of ways, including using a laser or a surgical scalpel. Your mouth should heal quickly afterwards.

Preventing leukoplakia and mouth cancer

In the UK, leukoplakia is mostly caused by smoking. But sometimes the exact cause is not known.

There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting leukoplakia. These may also reduce your chances of getting mouth cancer.

Do

keep your mouth and teeth healthy by taking care of your teeth and gums
have regular dental check-ups
if you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly
eat a balanced diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

Don't

do not smoke
do not chew tobacco, paan or betel nuts
do not drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol

Hairy leukoplakia

Hairy leukoplakia is a type of leukoplakia caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.

It often affects people with a weakened immune system, particularly those with HIV and AIDS or who have had an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medication.

It causes fuzzy white patches, often on the sides of the tongue, that look folded or ridged. They are not painful and cannot be brushed or scraped away.

Antiviral medications, or treatments applied directly to the patch, may be prescribed to treat hairy leukoplakia.

Unlike other types of leukoplakia, hairy leukoplakia does not carry a risk of mouth cancer.

Page last reviewed: 5 January 2018
Next review due: 5 January 2021