An oral wart is a raised bump that grows in the mouth, usually in the sides of the cheeks or under the tongue, but it can also appear on the throat tissues or lips. An oral wart appears lighter in color than the surrounding mucous membranes, usually appearing in photos as a light pink or whitish bump. Photos of oral warts show that they are usually different in appearance from other common mouth infections such as thrush (Candida), and canker sores (herpes simplex). Thrush is a rash like mouth infection featuring whitish patches with uneven borders, and canker sores appear as open sores with red, inflamed borders

The human papilloma virus is responsible for the occurrence of both oral and genital warts. A specific strain of HPV causes warts in the mucous membranes of the genitalia and the mouth. The most common method of transmission of the warts is through intimate oral contact with an infected person. Once HPV enters the body, it can lie dormant for years and become active outbreak of oral or genital warts at any time. The virus could possibly never produce symptoms in the host but still be transmitted to others.

Of the treatments for oral warts, the most effective is prevention. Limiting sexual partners and maintaining good oral hygiene are two ways to help prevent an oral HPV infection. Rinsing with mouthwash after oral contact with an infected person may help to kill the virus before it has time to infect the mouth tissues. There are several ways to treat oral warts, including cutting, freezing or burning them out. One method for burning out oral warts is the carbon dioxide laser. It is one of the most costly procedures, but is also very effective. Other types of treatments involve using topical creams or oral medications.

There has recently been renewed interest in the treatment of HPV in young women, as there has been a strong correlation between the occurrence of genital warts and the development of cervical cancers. Merck Enterprises has developed a vaccine called Gardasil which immunizes girls and women against oral/genital warts. Gardasil has not yet been clinically tested for prevention of genital warts in men over the age of 18. Treatment products for treating active oral and genital warts include bleomicine injections, oral spray applications such as Liddell`s Wart Free, recently approved alpha interferon lozenges and interferon injections into the warts.