Could this be leukoplakia? i've noticed a small white patch on the left side of my tongue. it doesn't hurt at all, but it kind of has me worried.

I : I would recommend first exam by your general dentist. Usually if the white lesion stays for more than a week e general dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon or oral medicine specialist for a biopsy. You might be biting your tongue and the dentist might smooth the sharp cusps to check if that helps.In any case see you dentist asap first.

By : By definition, what you describe is leukoplakia. This is a generic term meaning "white patch". There are many causes of intraoral white patches: trauma, infections, immunologic conditions, benign tumors, and yes, malignant tumors. The only way to diagnose the reason for the white patch is to obtain a sample for histologic analysis. Occasionally, a sort period of observation may be warranted. Procedures that use swabbing techniques are inadequate to diagnose the nature of the lesion. This is usually done by board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Have your general dentist recommend one in your area.