White or Gray Patches in Your Mouth

Finding white or gray patches in your mouth is enough to make you lose your appetite. Medically known as LEUKOPLAKIA, they can grow anywhere in your mouth, including on your tongue and gums. These patches, which typically appear over weeks or month, are actually excess cell growths. They can be signs of poorly fitting dentures, chewing the inside of your cheek, or other irritations. Leukoplakia can also be a reaction to mouthwash or toothpaste containing sanguinarine, an antiseptic.

If these patches show up rather suddenly, it may be a sign of thrush. But more commonly, the sudden appearance of these patches is a telltale sign of too much smoking or drinking. Unfortunately, leukoplakia in smokers and heavy drinkers is often precancerous. In fact, any color changes in the mouth of a current or past smoker can literally be a "smoke signal," an early warning of skin cancer.

The following are signs of oral cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer:

•  A leathery, wrinkled, or bumpy patch or lump inside the mouth
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the tongue or jaw
• Gray, red, or white spots or patches in the mouth
• Irritation, tenderness, burning, or a mouth sore that does not heal
• Tenderness, numbness, or pain in the mouth or on the lips