TONGUE, MOUTH & GUM Flashcards
What is glossitis?
An inflamed tongue
It’s red, sore, swollen, smooth in appearance due to papillae atrophy
What can cause glossitis?
IDA
B12 or folate deficiency
Coeliac disease
Injury or irritant exposure
Allergies
What is angioedema?
Fluid accumulating in tissues causing swelling - affects tongue, limbs, face, lips
Causes of angioedema?
Allergic reactions
ACEi
hereditary angioedema (C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency)
What is oral thrush?
An overgrowth of candida causing white spots or patches that coat the surface of the tongue and palate
What can predispose to oral thrush?
Inhaled corticosteroids - esp bad technique
Antibiotics
Diabetes
Immunodeficiency
Smoking
Treatment options for oral thrush?
Miconazole gel
Nystatin suspension
Fluconazole tablets in severe/recurrent cases
What is geographic tongue?
An inflammatory condition where patches of the tongue surface lose epithelium and papillae - this forms irregular shapes on the tongue resembling a map
This tends to relapse and remit with episodes of abnormal tongue lasting days-weeks
Its a harmless condition that doesnt require Tx
What can cause geographic tongue?
Unknown
Thought to be related to stress & mental illness, psoriasis, atrophy and diabetes
What are the 2 key causes of strawberry tongue?
Scarlet fever
Kawasaki disease
What is strawberry tongue?
Tongue becomes swollen and red with enlarged white papillae
What is black hairy tongue?
A common condition resulting from defective desquamation of the filiform papillae giving the appearance of black hair on the tongue
May also cause sticky saliva and a metalic taste
Predisposing factors for black hairy tongue?
poor oral hygiene
Dehydration
Smoking
antibiotics
head and neck radiation
HIV
intravenous drug use
Management of black hairy tongue?
Swab to exclude candida
Tongue scraping, stopping smoking, adequate hydration, good oral hygiene
What is leukoplakia?
A pre malignant condition to SCC characterised by white, hard spots on the mucous membrane of the mouth
How do we tell the difference between candidiasis + lichen planus and leukoplakia?
Candidiasis and lichen planus lesions can be ‘rubbed off’