Oral leukoplakia is a dental condition, often suffered by adults, wherein some white, unusual plaque-type patches start to form at places on the inside of our mouth. They are normally apparent in the form of these thick, white-coloured and rough-textured legions on the gums, on the surface of the tongue, on the inside of the cheeks, on the roof, bottom and / or around the inner lining of the mouth. Although they may take a few days to several weeks to become noticeable, but once they do, they cannot be easily scrapped off. Otherwise painless, these may become sensitive and discomforting when being exposed to heat, touch, spicy food etc.

Why this ailment develops?

Of all the other reasons that may contribute to their appearance, a long history of smoking happens to be the most common factor. Smoking tends to increase the growth of bacteria in our mouth. Even chewing tobacco, for that matter, does a great deal of harm to our oral health. Besides, the constant contact of skin with irritants such as broken / jagged teeth or ill-fitting dentures, an over exposure of lips to direct sun, over-consumption of alcohol, lack of oral hygiene etc. could be other reasons behind this problem becoming prominent. Diabetes or an HIV infection may also contribute by reducing our natural defences and making us more vulnerable to oral infections.

The relief

Although most oral patches usually heal and go away on their own, it is always a good idea to visit a doctor and confirm if it is, in fact, leukoplakia. If it is so, make sure you take appropriate measures so as to address the problem and prevent the patches from spreading any further. While the minor ones may get cured by using antiviral medication, they can be very discomforting if they grow in size and might even require surgery of some sort. Also, these patches have a tendency to reoccur, and therefore, thorough generally treatment is a must. Please note that if ignored for long, oral leukoplakia may increase the risk of oral cancer. At the same time, leukoplakia may itself be one of the symptoms of an oral cancer.

Turmeric helps

Turmeric, as we all know, has long been known for its incredible culinary as well as curing properties, and the medical fraternity especially vouches for the benefits it delivers in the area of oral health as well as hygiene. This is mainly because it has high anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and antioxidant profile. Turmeric owes its therapeutic powers primarily to curcumin, an active compound found in the raw turmeric, which is what makes it universally suitable to treat mild oral infections and lesions.

How to use it

You could gently massage on the affected area using roasted, ground turmeric.

• Alternatively, do the same with a smooth paste prepared using turmeric powder, salt and mustard oil.
• Prepare an effective yet economical DIY mouthwash at home. Simply boil some 50 grams of ground turmeric along with two cloves and ground leaves of guava in about 200 grams of water. Allow this solution to cool, and use it to rinse your mouth on a regular basis.
• Turmeric can also be incorporated in our daily diet or consumed directly through various dietary supplements thronging the market.
• It can also be found as an important constituent of various OTC available herb based medications.

And while you are at it, make sure to follow these up with regular brushing of your teeth using your regular toothpaste, since the direct topical usage of turmeric tends to leave strong yellow stains on the white of our teeth!

Safety Profile

Turmeric is an extremely safe source of alternative and complementary medication, and exposes us to no major side effects as such. So, next time you witness any symptoms of oral leukoplakia or even any oral infection for that matter, instead of spending volumes on those expensive, oral health products, go natural and include some turmeric in your diet. Besides, if you happen to be suffering from this particular ailment, you need to quit smoking or alcohol immediately, and get into the habit of maintaining a good oral hygiene. Also, include more antioxidants in your diet, since they are known to inhibit the action of bacteria and other irritants in our mouth. Leukoplakia or not, be sure you visit your dentist on a regular basis so that he / she can examine any possibility of this disease well in time, and set you straight on the path to recovery.

Sanat Turmix Tablets

Turmix is a synergistic combination of Curcumin & Piperine for prevention and treatment of various chronic conditions including Pre-cancerous lesions (Sub-mucous fibrosis, Oral Leukoplakia, Lichen Planus), Cancer, Rheumatoid arthritis, Dermatitis and other inflammatory conditions. In various clinical studies, Curcumin has been found to be safe at very high doses (8g/day) with no dose limiting toxicity. The USFDA has approved Curcumin as "Generally regarded as safe (GRAS)". And therefore no known side effects have been reported with Tab. Turmix.

Dr. Sonica Krishan
drsonicakrishan.com/drsonica-blog

 

Author and Speaker
Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices.

Published Books
Herbal Healers I Home Remedies I Healing through Ayurveda I Healing through Ayurveda Herbs in your Kitchen Garden I Healthy Living through Dosha Healing (Ayurveda).
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