If that’s the case, it’s called oral psoriasis. It’s not a serious medical problem, but it may be uncomfortable. And it can be a struggle to get the right diagnosis. Why? It’s so rare that most doctors have never seen it before, and some aren’t sure it even exists.
What Are the Symptoms?
It can be hard to tell if you have oral psoriasis. The symptoms are often mild and come and go quickly. And doctors don’t even agree on what all the symptoms are.
But in general, experts think that while signs can appear in different spots in your mouth, they’re most common on the inside of your cheeks. You might notice:
Patches of red skin with yellow or white edges
- Sores
- Peeling skin on the gums
- Blisters with pus (pustules)
- Pain or burning, especially when eating spicy foods
- Changes in how things taste
- Fissured tongue: grooves or trenches on your tongue
- Geographic tongue: red patches on your tongue that look like islands on a map
- Swollen or infected gums