Mucosa (Oral)

The oral mucosa is the soft, moist lining of the mouth made up of an outer epithelial layer and an underlying connective tissue layer called the lamina propria. Different areas of the mouth have different types of mucosa — for example, keratinized mucosa covers the gums and hard palate to resist chewing forces, while non-keratinized mucosa lines the cheeks, floor of the mouth and inner lips to allow flexibility — and the mucosa plays roles in protection, sensation, lubrication and immune defence.

Common issues affecting the oral mucosa include traumatic ulcers, aphthous (canker) sores, fungal infections like oral thrush, inflammatory conditions, and potentially premalignant patches such as leukoplakia or erythroplakia. You should seek dental assessment for persistent pain, bleeding, lumps, or patches that do not heal within two weeks or for any notable changes in colour or texture of the mucosa so that the cause can be identified and appropriate management started.