BLUISH, REDDISH AND BLUISH/REDDISH CHANGES IN
ORAL MUCOSA
Bluish, reddish and bluish/reddish changes of the mucous
membranes can be manifestations of both local and/or sys-
temic diseases. Some changes are due to relatively harmless
conditions such as petechiae, varices or “strawberry marks”,
while other changes of the oral mucosa are the first clinical
signs of serious malignant diseases, e.g. leukaemia or lym-
phoma. Some reddish changes are due to infection with for
example yeast, while others may be due to allergies or drug
reactions. Increased vascularity or increased blood flow, such
as vascular malformations, give reddish/bluish colour chang-
es, whereas a reduced oxygen saturation, for example in iron
deficiency anaemia, gives the mucous membranes a pale ap-
pearance. Lymphatic malformations can give the oral mucosa
a characteristic wart-like and bluish appearance, especially in
connection with infection. In some cases, the changes are idi-
opathic, such as erythroplakia, and a biopsy will be necessary
to make a correct diagnosis. This article reviews some of the
oral mucosal diseases and systemic diseases that appear as
reddish and bluish oral mucosal changes, which are essential
for the dentist to know in a differential diagnostic context.