Heres my story would be great too get some advice and help. Im a nervous wreck for some reason About one full yeah ago I had pain on the side of my tongue. Went too the doctor and the diagonsis was a canker sore. With me panicking already that it still might be oral cancer. I took peroxide straight witha toothbrush and started scubbing the hell out of it along with that I would take salt and put it on what I was told a canker sore and leave it there for as long as it dissolved and continue scrubbing.I did both of these things like 3-5 times. All of a sudden the area turned extrememly white the size of a pencil head eraser. I went back too the doctor told him what I did and the diagonisis was now leukoplakia. Wait n see , heres the catch both my doctors believe the leukoplakia was caused by the peroxide and salt excess scrubbing. I am a smoker however. Anyhow how the growth was white and movable would gradually get smaller but than get back too its original size. it seem very movable and elastic-like I would have a habit of bitting the area and touching it and it got really sensitive and a bit painfull at times. So my oral surgeon decided too cut it out via scapel. Its been a year and it hasnt grown back. But I do notice I do get canker sores near the area on the side of my tongue still. they go away quickly using ora 5. but re-curr. I have this feeling I am biting my tongue while Im sleeping however I am soon too try a mouth guard. Its been a year and it hasnt grown back. What does a mild atypia biopsy mean exactly? I still get the area checked every 6 months or so.Everytime I get a canker sore I panic! And could the doctors be right that this lesion was caused by scubbing a canker sore with peroxide and salt somewhat obssevisely. And if so why would it even come back mild atypia? My doctor said this could make cells turn abnormal...and peroxide can burn a friggin hole in a wooden floor.yet on websites home remedies thay actually encourage doing this scubbing peroxide n salt on canker sores???? Can anybody relate. Mild Atypia am I having panic attacks for nothing? what is the progonisis for mild atypia anyway, scared:(

any advice will help, Carl, thanx a bunch and good luck all!

Carl,

I am sure someone will reply soon. I never heard anything about useing Peroxide & salt before?

You were smart to have oral surgeon check it out for you. Keep up on the check ups. Most of us do panic if we feel or see anything in the mouth. I too am going through another sore & waiting to see if it is something or not?

There is a lot of good information here and I am sure someone will be able to answer your questions more direct.

I am sure you will be fine, but I am not a DR.
take care.
Diane

Thanx a bunch, either way I need too quit smoking. I know thanx for the reply!


Carl

Peroxides in high concentrations and various forumulations have been shown in studies to be mutanogenic. I know you don't want to hear this, but I can't imagine what possesed you to take this course of action. The mucous membranes of the mouth are some of the most delicate tissues of the body, and you are scrubbing them like they are a tile floor...

Herpes Simplex I lesions (canker sores) are caused by a virus. There right now is no such thing as a viracide that would kill it, and they run their course in about 10 days with or without treatment. They are for life and you will continue to get them from now until forever, so don't panic everytime one shows up. If it hangs around for more than a few weeks, get it checked out, because HS one mimics your worst fear - oral cancer. But don't let your mind or imagniation go there till it's been around three weeks. And then seek the opiion of a profesional rather than using some unproven home remedy.

Also as to the mildly atypical cells... well what would you expect of a cell that had been exposed to harsh chemicals? I would expect it, at the least, to become mildly atyplical from normal after that treatment.

Not everything on the web is fact based or eveidence based and home remedies and old wives tales can be found in every corner of the web. Just because it is out here in cyberspace doesn't mean you can trust it. Check that any site that you visit is willing to back up their information with a group of doctors and professionals that have established reputations from major medical or dental entities. Go to government sites like the NCI or NIDCR to get good solid information. Anyone can put up a web site and say what ever they want. It's the reputation of who puts it up that matters.

Just when you thought that you have heard it all!

Here's a link to the Quackwatch information on peroxide: http://www.quackwatch.org/search/webglimpse.cgi?ID=1&query=peroxide

From the FDA:

High-strength Hydrogen Peroxide can cause death from ingestion FDA Warns Against High-Strength Hydrogen Peroxide for Medicinal Use; products can cause death if ingested - 8/1/06
Many consumers are familiar with hydrogen peroxide, a solution of which is sold over-the-counter to disinfect minor cuts. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers not to purchase several High-Strength Hydrogen Peroxide products being marketed on the Internet for medicinal purposes because the products can cause serious injury or death if ingested.

According to the FDA, distributors of one product marketed on the Internet as

Medline Plus (from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health) has this on its page about canker sores:

The easiest home remedy is to apply hydrogen peroxide (1 part hydrogen peroxide and one part water with a cotton swab) to the canker sore. Then dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on the canker 3-4 times a day. This is not only soothing, but appears to help healing. (This won't get rid of the underlying virus that causes canker sores, though.)

It also says that gargling with a mild salt-water rinse "may help" -- but doesn't say ANYthing about scrubbing with salt. That sounds extremely painful. There is that old expression about rubbing salt in a wound ....

I'm sure the Medline site is talking about the hydrogen peroxide you get on the grocery store shelf (and note that even it is diluted in this case), not the high-test stuff Gary is talking about. Stay away from that!

And note this, also from Medline:

Oral cancer is not a complication of canker sores -- so stop panicking every time you find one in your mouth! If it lasts more than two or three weeks without starting to heal, though, get it checked out.

In any case, Carl -- quit smoking and scrubbing!

All the best,

Leslie

The extememly high concentrations of this that I was referring to are bleaching compounds (currently being explored for harmful effects) as they continue to be used as tooth bleaching agents. So far the only people that I have found who have developed a dysplasia related to this particular use were using it at many times the manufacturer's recommendation.

Hey thanx alot people, You've been of great help. I realize this letter is a bit odd. But since so many people get canker sores and don't know what too do. Now at least they certainly know what not too do. Just too be cautious, I do drink lots of green tea now and its liquid extract. And ocourse when I do get a canker sore. I certainly learned dont even fool around with peroxide nor salt. I do suffer from OCD Im sure that didnt help the matter. I probably read about peroxide and salt and figured Id scub like hell out of the area. Well that the last time. My leukoplakia was quite painfull. Good luck too us all! And hope all stays well.


Carl