Oral leukoplakia

For a lay person:

Oral leukoplakia is a white patch inside the mouth that cannot be wiped off. It is often linked to smoking and some patches can become cancerous, so they need to be checked.

For a trained medical person:

A potentially malignant oral disorder; biopsy assesses dysplasia. Management is risk-factor removal (tobacco, alcohol), surveillance and excision of dysplastic lesions.

In Chinese medicine:

Flaws and Sionneau's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency; Damp heat depression and binding; Qi and yin deficiency; Qi and Blood Stagnation. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Any white or red patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks should be checked by a dentist or doctor.