25 Common Oral Diseases and Conditions (With Pictures)

Oral diseases affect nearly half the world’s population.¹ The most common types are tooth decay and gum disease, and one of the most serious is oral cancer. Most are preventable and easier to treat when caught early.

We’ve listed 25 common oral diseases below, grouped by location. Each has a brief description, a picture when available and a link to its full guide.

Types of Oral Diseases at a Glance

Here are the 25 oral diseases broken down into the 5 main locations where they occur.

Tooth Decay and Other Tooth Problems

Most tooth problems are caused by acid, bacteria or force attacking the enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth. The dentin inside is much softer.

1. Cavities (Tooth Decay)

About 90% of people aged 20-64 in the US have had tooth decay.² A cavity is a hole in the tooth, caused by bacteria in plaque (the sticky film on your teeth) that turn sugar into acid.

Tooth decay first appears as a chalky white spot, which fluoride and saliva can still stop or reverse. Once a hole forms, the damage is permanent and needs a filling or other treatment.

2. Tooth Sensitivity

Sharp pain in a tooth from cold, hot or sweet food means you have sensitive teeth. It happens when dentin is exposed, usually by worn enamel, receding gums, cavities or cracks.

3. Dental Erosion

Tooth erosion is enamel wearing away from acid, not bacteria. Common causes are soda, sports drinks, citrus fruits and acid reflux. Dental erosion makes teeth yellow and sensitive, and lost enamel cannot regrow.

4. Cracked Tooth Syndrome

If your tooth hurts when you bite down or release your bite, you may have Cracked Tooth Syndrome. Teeth can crack from injury, wear and tear or grinding and clenching, and cracks cannot heal themselves.

If you chip or crack a tooth, you may be left with a sharp edge that irritates your tongue. A dentist can smooth it.

5. Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus at the root of a tooth or on the gum. It’s caused by a bacterial infection and won’t go away on its own. Look out for:

• Severe, throbbing tooth pain
• Swelling in your face or jaw
• Fever
• A bad taste in your mouth

Gum Disease and Other Gum Problems

Gum disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding your teeth. Plaque is the main cause, but smoking, diabetes, genes and some medicines raise the risk.

6. Gingivitis

The first sign of gum disease is red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush. This stage is called gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. Brushing, flossing and a professional cleaning can reverse it.

7. Periodontitis (Periodontal Disease)

If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that destroys the bone holding your teeth. 42% of people 30 and older in the US have periodontitis.⁶ Treatment starts with a deep cleaning to remove tartar (hardened plaque) below the gumline.

8. Gum Recession

If your teeth look longer or feel sensitive near the gumline, you may have receding gums. Periodontitis, brushing too hard and tobacco can all cause it.

Gums cannot grow back, but mild cases can be managed. Significant recession may need a gum graft to cover the exposed roots.

9. Gingival Hyperplasia

Gingival hyperplasia means your gums grow too much and cover part of your teeth. Plaque can cause it, and so can some seizure drugs, calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and cyclosporine, which suppresses the immune system.

Start by removing plaque and asking your doctor about your medicines. If that doesn’t help, surgery can remove the extra tissue.

10. Eruption Cysts

If your child has a fluid-filled bluish bump on their gums over an emerging tooth, it’s most likely a harmless eruption cyst. It usually goes away on its own once the tooth comes in. Call your child’s dentist if it hurts, bleeds or looks infected.

Mouth Sores and Patches

Most sores go away on their own, but see your dentist about any mouth sore or patch that lasts longer than 2 weeks. Many fall under stomatitis, inflammation of the mouth’s lining.

11. Canker Sores

Canker sores are pesky little ulcers. They’re painful, with a white or yellow center surrounded by red. They’re not contagious and go away on their own.

Don’t attempt to pop a canker sore. It’s already an open sore with nothing inside.

12. Cold Sores (Oral Herpes)

Unlike canker sores, cold sores appear on or around your lips as clusters of tiny blisters. They’re caused by the herpes simplex virus and spread through close contact. The virus stays in your system for life, so cold sores tend to recur.

13. Oral Thrush

Oral thrush, a yeast infection, appears as creamy white patches on your tongue, inner cheeks or the roof of your mouth. The patches usually wipe off and leave sore, red tissue, but they can be hard to remove, especially in babies. It’s common in babies and more likely if you:

• Have recently taken antibiotics
• Use a steroid inhaler
• Wear dentures
• Have diabetes or dry mouth
• Smoke
• Have a weakened immune system

14. Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia appears as a thick white or gray patch that cannot be wiped off. It’s closely tied to tobacco use, and while most patches don’t turn into cancer, some can. Have your dentist check any patch that doesn’t go away, since you may need a biopsy and follow-up visits.

15. Oral Cancer

While not as common as the mouth sores above, oral cancer is one of the most serious, and it’s much more treatable if you catch it early. Tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption and HPV (human papillomavirus) infection increase your risk. Tell your dentist if you notice:

• A sore, lump, or thick patch that doesn’t go away
• Red or white patches
• Numbness in your mouth or tongue
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue

Tongue and Throat Conditions

Most tongue changes are nothing to worry about. The large bumps on the back of your tongue are papillae, the nubs that hold your taste buds.

16. Inflamed Taste Buds (Lie Bumps)

Small red or white bumps on your tongue that sting or burn are probably swollen or inflamed taste buds (also called lie bumps). Biting your tongue, spicy foods and stress can trigger them, and they go away on their own.

17. Black Hairy Tongue

Don’t let the scary name fool you: black hairy tongue is harmless. It happens when papillae grow too long and trap stains and bacteria, giving your tongue a dark, hairy look. Smoking and coffee can cause it, and brushing your tongue can remove it.

18. Geographic Tongue

Geographic tongue causes smooth red patches with white or yellow borders that look like a map and move around the tongue. It’s harmless and not contagious.

19. Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones are little white or yellow lumps that form when food, mucus and bacteria get trapped in the pockets of your tonsils, causing bad breath.

They’re not contagious and often come out on their own or with a saltwater gargle.

Jaw Disorders and Other Common Conditions

These six conditions affect your jaw movement, mouth moisture, and mouth odor and feel.

20. Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

TMD affects about 5% of US adults, though estimates vary by study.¹⁰ Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect the jaw joints or chewing muscles and can cause pain, painful clicking or trouble opening your mouth wide. Clicking on its own, without pain, is common and usually needs no treatment.

Treatment starts with simple steps, such as soft foods, heat or cold, gentle jaw exercises and over-the-counter pain relievers. Don’t try treatments that permanently change your bite.

21. Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Many people grind or clench their teeth at night without knowing it, a condition called bruxism. It can cause morning headaches, a sore jaw and worn or chipped teeth. Your dentist can make you a custom-fit guard to wear at night.

22. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth happens when you don’t make enough saliva, which can make your mouth feel sticky and swallowing harder. Causes include:

• Many medicines
• Radiation for head and neck cancers
• Immune system diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome
• Tobacco or alcohol use

Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging, but older people take more medicines that cause it.

23. Mouth Breathing

Breathing through your mouth, especially at night, can dry it out and lead to cavities. Mouth breathing is usually caused by a stuffy nose, allergies or large tonsils. If you also snore loudly, ask your doctor about sleep apnea.

24. Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath usually starts in the mouth, from bacteria on your tongue, gum disease, dry mouth, strong foods or tobacco. If brushing, flossing and cleaning your tongue don’t help, see your dentist.

25. Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome causes a burning feeling on your tongue, lips or roof of your mouth with no visible cause. It seems to happen more often in women after menopause. If your doctor finds a cause, like dry mouth or acid reflux, treating it may help.

When to See a Dentist

See a dentist for any sore, lump or patch in your mouth that hasn’t healed in two weeks.⁹ A dentist is the first stop for most conditions on this list.

See a doctor first for mouth sores that come with a fever and a rash, or white patches in a baby’s mouth.

Call 911 or Go to the ER

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have any of these signs, even with little or no tooth pain:

• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling that spreads fast or toward your eye or down your neck
• Trouble opening your mouth along with facial swelling
• A swollen or painful eye, vision changes or a lot of swelling inside your mouth

These signs can mean an infection has spread beyond the tooth and needs hospital care right away.⁵ Call 911 if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow.

Get Same-Day Care If You Have

• Severe or throbbing tooth pain
• Swelling in your face, cheek or jaw
• A fever along with tooth pain or swelling
• A bad taste or fluid draining near a sore tooth

If you can’t see a dentist the same day, call an emergency dental service or your doctor for advice. Go to the emergency room if you have a fever and swelling in your face.

Book a Dental Visit If You Notice

• A sore, lump, or red or white patch that lasts more than two weeks
• A white patch that doesn’t wipe away
• Gums that bleed, swell or pull back
• A loose adult tooth or a change in your bite
• Pain when you bite down or let go
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that keeps coming back
• Jaw pain, painful clicking or a jaw that locks or won’t open fully
• Dry mouth, a burning feeling or bad breath that won’t go away