My tongue seems to be cracked. Is it oral cancer? Free from shock! Doctors help you understand five common oral mucosal conditions.

"Doctor, I have something white in my mouth. Could it be oral cancer? Do you want to do a biopsy? " "Doctor, please help me check it. My tongue seems to be cracked! " "Doctor, please help me to see why there are some small yellow and white particles on both sides of my mouth and cheeks. Is this some kind of bacterial infection? " "Doctor, I found some bumps on my tongue. Can you help me see if a biopsy is necessary? In this era when the smell of "cancer" is fading, coupled with frequent contact with many medical information that is difficult to distinguish between true and false, people are often nervous and worried because of the unknown changes in oral mucosa.

In this paper, some common oral mucosal conditions in outpatient clinics of oral mucosal diseases are sorted out, which often confuse the audience and cause misunderstanding and panic among the people. I hope that the following sharing will help people to know more about our oral cavity, and also help people avoid the fear of unknown diseases and face and care for our oral health with a more positive attitude!

Description of common oral mucosa conditions

The clinical feature of white matter edema is that the buccal mucosa presents white to grayish white wrinkles (upper left), but when the mucosa is stretched, these wrinkles will disappear and then return to a wrinkled shape (upper right). (Photo/provided by Dr. Wu) White matter edema

The clinical feature of white matter edema is that the buccal mucosa presents white to grayish white wrinkles. When the mucosa is stretched, these wrinkles will disappear, and when it is released, it will return to the wrinkle shape. The cause of white edema is unknown, but it is common in smokers' mouths. Because white edema is a benign oral mucosal change, it generally does not need treatment, but if you have the habit of smoking, it is recommended to quit smoking!

Cracked tongue refers to the furrows with different depths on the back of the tongue, sometimes the furrows are shallow and not obvious. (Photo/provided by Dr. Wu) Cleft tongue

Cleft tongue refers to the furrows with different shades on the back of the tongue. At first glance, the tongue seems to be "cracked", but usually the patient will not feel any pain, only occasionally have a slight burning sensation and discomfort. The etiology of cleft lip is not clear, and it may be related to heredity. With the increase of age, the furrow lines will become more and more obvious, and the prevalence rate will increase with age. However, cleft lip itself will not harm oral function and does not need special treatment, but attention should be paid to maintaining good oral cleanliness. If accompanied by other oral and facial symptoms, further examination and evaluation are recommended.