Mouth Disorders

Summary

Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. It has many different functions. It allows you to:

• Take in food and drink
• Breathe in air
• Start digestion, with your teeth chewing the food you eat and your salivary glands releasing saliva to help break down the food
• Speak and sing
• Show emotion, by smiling or pouting

Any problem that affects your mouth can make it hard to eat, drink, or even smile. Some common mouth problems include:

• Cold sores – painful sores on the lips and around the mouth, caused by a virus
• Canker sores – painful sores in the mouth, caused by bacteria or viruses
• Thrush – a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
• Leukoplakia – white patches of excess cell growth on the cheeks, gums or tongue, common in smokers
• Dry mouth – a lack of enough saliva, caused by some medicines and certain diseases
• Gum or tooth problems
• Bad breath

Treatment for mouth disorders varies, depending on the problem. If a mouth problem is caused by some other disease, treating that disease can help. It is also important to keep your mouth clean and healthy by brushing, flossing, and not using tobacco.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Images

• Actinic Cheilitis VisualDX
• Angular Cheilitis VisualDX
• Chapped Lips (Cheilitis) VisualDX
• Fordyce Spots VisualDX
• Oral Melanotic Macule VisualDX
• Oral Mucocele VisualDX
• Pemphigus Vulgaris VisualDX
• Perioral Dermatitis VisualDX
• Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) in Adults VisualDX
• Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) in Children VisualDX

Specifics

• Burning Mouth Syndrome National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Mouth Growths Merck & Co., Inc.
• Oral Hypersensitivity Reactions American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Oral Lichen Planus Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Oral Thrush Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mouth Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomatitis, Aphthous National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Drooling Medical Encyclopedia
• Gum biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Herpangina Medical Encyclopedia
• Leukoplakia Medical Encyclopedia
• Lichen planus Medical Encyclopedia
• Mouth sores Medical Encyclopedia
• Mouth ulcers Medical Encyclopedia
• Mucous cyst Medical Encyclopedia
• Perioral dermatitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Thrush – children and adults Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
• Find an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Related Issues

• HIV/AIDS and Oral Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Mouth Sores Caused by Cancer Treatment: How to Cope Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Oromandibular Dystonia Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
• Parry-Romberg Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Reference Desk

• Mouth and Teeth (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Living With

• Mouth Dryness or Thick Saliva American Cancer Society

Diagnosis and Tests

• Mouth Problems American Academy of Family Physicians

Start Here

• Mouth Problems in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians

Encyclopedia

• Oral mucositis – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Oropharynx lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Palatal myoclonus Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Oral Thrush (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Mouth disorders

Genetics

• White sponge nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine