Tongue ulcer is characterized by white colored lesions or ulcers on tongue. This white color lesion tongue ulcers are not severe type, but when the same white patches on the tongue changes into blood red then it is a severe tongue ulcer bleeding is also possible in this case. Tongue ulcers are also called as aphthous ulcer.
Leukoplakia (white patches) is a precancerous lesion that develops on the tongue or the inside of the cheek in response to chronic irritation.
Causes of leukoplakia are considered to be smoking, tobacco betel chewing, and alcohol, chronic irritants like sharp edges of teeth, irregular denture surface, or fillings.
Erythroplakia is a flat red patch or lesion in the mouth. Erythroplakia frequently is associated with dysplasia, and is thus a pre-cancerous lesion.
It is commonly associated with smoking. It appears as a red macular plaque with well-demarcated borders. The texture is characterized as soft and velvety.
Laser Treatment
Treatment involves biopsy of the lesion to identify extent of dysplasia. Complete excision of the lesion is sometimes advised depending on the histopathology found in the biopsy. Even in these cases, recurrence of these lesions is common and, thus, long-term monitoring is needed
