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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Do Bilateral Lesions On The Gums Indicate?

Hi I have bilateral lesions on my gums on one side, they are too far to touch and on the other it is a patch that does not bleed but has white material on it which I can occasionally scrape off but there is always a base. They are found on my upper outer gum line. It does not change aside from the material I can scrape off come back. I smoke 4 to 5 cigarettes a day and have hypothyroid on synthroid .150mcgs. I have had this for 15 years meds are adjusted every so often. I know smoking is bad but could the meds or hypothyroid be causing this it was thought to be hashimotos at one time. Also, another symptom is dry mouth. Thanks
Thu, 4 May 2017
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Dentist,  's  Response
Hi..
Thanks for the query..

It looks like Hyperkeratosis that is due to excessive production of keratin over the surface of mucosa and it occurs to protect the mucosa form injury and in your case smoking can be a culprit..
Other cause can be fungal infection or oral thrush..
Dry mouth can be due to smoking as well as if you have thrush it can also cause dry mouth..
So you should first of all consult an Oral Physician and get evaluated so that he can do a clinical examination and also do a microscopy of scraping from the white areas so that the exact cause can be ruled out.,
You should also try to reduce smoking and for this you can try nicotine gums and nicotine skin patches..
Also start doing warm saline gargles and gargle with 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water..
For dry mouth chew sugar free chewing gums and suck lemon drops..

Hope this helps..

Regards.
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What Do Bilateral Lesions On The Gums Indicate?

Hi.. Thanks for the query.. It looks like Hyperkeratosis that is due to excessive production of keratin over the surface of mucosa and it occurs to protect the mucosa form injury and in your case smoking can be a culprit.. Other cause can be fungal infection or oral thrush.. Dry mouth can be due to smoking as well as if you have thrush it can also cause dry mouth.. So you should first of all consult an Oral Physician and get evaluated so that he can do a clinical examination and also do a microscopy of scraping from the white areas so that the exact cause can be ruled out., You should also try to reduce smoking and for this you can try nicotine gums and nicotine skin patches.. Also start doing warm saline gargles and gargle with 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water.. For dry mouth chew sugar free chewing gums and suck lemon drops.. Hope this helps.. Regards.