Women & HIV/AIDS

Mouth Problems

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Mouth problems are common in people with HIV. Although they usually are minor compared to other HIV-related health problems, they can be painful, annoying, and cause embarrassment. Mouth problems also can make eating hard. Here are some mouth problems that commonly affect people with HIV:

• Canker sores and ulcers — red sores on roof of mouth, tongue, inside cheeks and lips, or outside the lips.
• Hairy leukoplakia (loo-koh-PLAY-kee-uh) — white, hairlike growth that usually appear on the side of the tongue or sometimes inside the cheeks and lower lip.
• Thrush — white, creamy or bumpy patches appearing anywhere in the mouth.
• Warts — small bumps that look like cauliflower that appear on the inside lips or other parts of the mouth.

The most common mouth problems linked with HIV can be treated. So talk to your doctor if you notice any symptoms. With treatment, your mouth can feel better.

Additional Resources:

Publications

1.   Canker Sores — The National Library of Medicine provides this fact sheet about canker sores and treatment options if they are severe.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000998.htm

2.   Herpes Labialis — This infection caused by the herpes simplex virus can lead to fever blisters and cold sores inside or outside of the mouth. This publication discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatment of fever blisters and cold sores and when to see a doctor.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000606.htm

3.   Leukoplakia — Leukoplakia is an oral health condition that can be caused by HIV. This publication discusses leukoplakia, including the signs, symptoms, testing and treatments.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001046.htm

4.   Mouth Problems and HIV — People who are infected with HIV can also have problems with their oral health. This publication, written by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, discusses oral problems common among people with HIV and how they can be treated.

   http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/HIV/MouthProblemsHIV/default.htm

5. Oral Thrush (Copyright © Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) — Oral thrush, a fungal infection in the mouth, is common in people with HIV. This publication shows a picture oral thrush and also includes symptoms and other risk factors for oral thrush.

   http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/oral-thrush/DS00408/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

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Content last updated March 4, 2009.