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Hi, I Have Seen A White Substance On The Side

Posted on Sat, 18 May 2019

Question: Hi,

I have seen a white substance on the side of my mouth next to the right lower teeth. I have attached a picture?

What could this whitish mucous-like substance be? It cannot be removed from the mouth easily and appears to be part of the side of the mouth. Could it be caused by gastric reflux?

Thanks,
Regards.

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Kindly answer these questions and upload a few more pictures

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for consulting Ask a doctor service.
This is Dr. Priyanka Tiwari answering your query.

I have read your query and gone through the picture you have attached. As far as I have observed it seems like frictional keratosis on cheek due to sharp cusps of posterior teeth or due to cheek biting.

I would like to ask a few questions kindly answer so that I can assist you specifically:

-Do you have a burning sensation on eating food?
-Do you have any habit of chewing tobacco or smoking?
-Do you have any other medical history like diabetes mellitus which you forget to mention?
-Kindly upload few more pictures of the cheek lesion if possible that will be helpful for me to review it better.

Awaiting these details...

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (22 hours later)

Thanks Dr. Tiwari,

I have attached additional pictures.

To answer questions,
I sometimes have pain on eating caused by GERD.
I do not have history of smoking or chewing tobacco.
My medical history possibly related includes high cholesterol, fatty liver, GERD and high blood sugar levels but not quite high enough to have pre-diabetes or diabetes but in the higher range.

Thankyou,
Regards.

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Frictional keratosis. Nothing to worry. Grinding of sharp cusps.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome.

Thanks for answers and uploading more pictures. As far as i have observed it looks like frictional keratosis or Linea XXXXXXX which can be due to sharp cusps of posterior teeth. It is not related to GERD OR Gastric reflux. Gastric reflux can cause erosion of teeths.
There is nothing to be worried so much. Treatment for this keratosis is to go for grinding of sharps cusps present on posterior teeth by consulting oral surgeon. You can apply ointment containing choline salicylate and lignocaine gel twice daily if there is any pain or burning sensation on cheeks.

Hope this will help you.
If you have further query i will be happy to help.

Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad