White lesions are frequently found during the examination of the oral cavity. Although some benign physiologic entities may present as white lesions, systemic conditions, infections, and malignancies may also present as white oral lesions. An appreciation of the many clinical entities that white lesions may represent is necessary if a differential diagnosis of white lesions is to be elucidated. The appreciation of subtle clinical findings associated with white lesions of the oral cavity permits clinicians to better care for their patients.