Buccal Mucosa:

Buccal Mucosa:

Buccal refers to the cheeks and mucosa refers to the mucus membrane. Buccal mucosa is the inner mucus membrane of the cheek and the lips. Belonging to the oral mucosa, the buccal mucosa is the inner lining of the mouth floor, and cheeks. The oral cavity consists of teeth, gums, tongue, soft palate, hard palate, the lips, and the floor of the mouth, the buccal mucosa and the retromolar trigone. The function of the oral cavity is to protect, provide sensation, secrete saliva, and regulate temperature. The oral cavity does these functions with the help of the buccal mucosa. The mucosa in the oral cavity is both keratinized and non-keratinized. Buccal mucosa is non-keratinized and a lining mucosa that has a soft surface texture, can be stretched and compressed, and can act as a cushion. It contains elastic fibers and submucosa that assist people while chewing food and while speaking. Some common diseases of the oral mucosa and the buccal mucosa include viral diseases like herpes, chickenpox, warts, bacterial and fungal infections, candidiasis, lichen planus, ulcers, traumatic ulcers, and cancer of the mouth and buccal mucosa. Cancers of the mouth and the mucosa are generally caused due to smoking, chewing tobacco, and excessive consumption of alcohol. People with diabetes have numerous oral manifestations that come up in the form of recurrent infections, bleeding gums, gum diseases, periodontitis, and inflammation of the gums, dry mouth, and ulcers. High blood sugar levels are known to affect the soft tissues in the mouth leading to many conditions. Since the immune system of a person with diabetes is also compromised, the mucosa is also prone to numerous infections and disorders.