Roof of mouth normal??

[rfish]

I also posted this in the ENT section but will put here too

I recently noticed that the roof of my mouth (hard part) is sort of whitish, and so is the skin on the gums above my upper molars. I have never really looked up there before with any good light so I am not sure how long it was like that or it is just normal. It does not hurt and I have no sores up there or anything like that, just the colour bothers me. Should I worry about it or can this be considered normal.

[patricia54]

I myself found a similar problem last year and my dentist reffered me to the dental hospital. They assured me it was not the C word I was terriefied. However, they took a swab and I have to have a biopsy, they have given me a spray because I constantly get a dry mouth and a gel also - they said it is either the medication or arthritis and not to worry as much as I thought the worse. You should get it checked out. I still have it but at least the worry has gone away....good luck

[rfish]

Actually I did get it looked at, it was due to smoking. I quit again recently and it is slowly going away. My dentist explained that it was not cancerous however if left alone it has a possibility someday of becoming cancerous. It is known as keratosis