Possible Causes Of Mouth And Tongue Ulcers
So what causes tongue ulcers? Besides canker sores, there are a number of different possible triggers that can make a mouth ulcer appear.
- Oral thrush: This is a condition caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans within the mouth. The fungus creates white, creamy-colored cuts along the inner cheek and tongue that can develop into ulcers if not treated. Aside from the white lesions, oral thrush also presents with cracking at the corners of the mouth, loss of taste, and cottonmouth.
- Injury: Minor injuries can sometimes develop into canker sores or mouth ulcers. Over-eager brushing, dental work, biting your cheek or tongue, or sporting accidents are all possible causes.
- Food sensitivities: For obvious reasons, the surface of your mouth reacts to the food you eat. In some people, foods like chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese, and spicy or acidic food can provoke enough irritation to form a sore.
- Allergies: Your mouth is home to lots of bacteria, and sometimes your body wants them out. The ulcer that forms is a result of tissue getting caught in the way.
- Bacteria and viruses: Various illnesses can cause mouth ulcers to appear. The most common candidate is called Helicobacter pylori, the same culprit behind peptic ulcers and herpes. Strictly speaking, herpes causes cold sores, which, while not related to canker sores, can develop into more persistent wounds like a mouth ulcer if left unaddressed.
Other Causes Of Mouth Ulcers
Damage to the oral mucosa can also indicate serious diseases that require qualified help from specialists. So, mouth ulcers can appear when:
- Celiac disease a pathological disorder of the intestines, in which gluten intolerance is observed
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Read Also: Food Not Good For Stomach Ulcer
Best For Vitamin C: Dentek Mouth Ulcer Pain Relief Medicine
For a low asking price, Dentek mouth ulcer pain relief medicine has managed to overwhelm their customers by packing as many features as they could. The Dentek mouth ulcer pain relief medicine is super effective and it speeds up healing. The manufacturer says: Preserve and protect your natural teeth for a lifetime with our innovative dental care products. Further, this is best for customer service and it adheres well.
Most importantly, the Dentek Mouth Ulcer Pain Relief Medicine gets really sticky, stays on while eating and it has to follow the directions.
Most buyers found that the medicines are nice because they would stay on for about three hours. In addition, they strongly agree that the medicines are $14.99 instead of the $7.00 they are presently listed for on amazon. And, they also found that the relief does sting at first, but that quickly dissipates.
Top Customer Quotes:
- This is made with natural menthol.
- This protects sore while healing so it can heal faster.
- This offers instant relief and faster healing.
- These are easier to find in local stores.
Also Check: How Can Pressure Ulcers Be Prevented
Home Remedies For Mouth Ulcers
1) Saltwater rinsing
The most basic form of treatment is by rinsing your mouth with saltwater or baking soda. That is, to a half a cup of warm water add one teaspoon of salt or baking soda.
One should be aware that in some cases saltwater might further sting when touches the ulcer.
2) Using milk of magnesia
Take a small amount of milk of magnesia as recommended by your doctor and dab it on the ulcer.
Here, milk of magnesia has an osmotic activity that draws out water and pus from the swollen ulcer thus, suppressing the pain likewise the inflammation. This helps the ulcers to heal faster.
3) Ice cubes
Gliding a piece of ice on an ulcer is always effective as it gives temporary relief to the pain and inflammation.
Never forget, always wrap the ice cube in a piece of cloth and then use it. Dont ever use ice cubes directly on the infected ulcers as they might irritate your skin.
4) Baking soda
Here, when ulcers are formed, there is a fluctuation in the skin pH which is caused due to the acids released by the residing bacteria or fungi, or viruses in the infected region.
Thus, using baking soda gives an instant fix in case of mild ulcers.
You can either rinse your mouth with baking soda water or make a paste out of it and apply on the ulcers.
In doing this, the baking soda restores the original pH of the skin thereby, reducing inflammation by which it treats ulcers.
Is Treatment Always Necessary
If the symptoms are bearable, then treatment isn’t needed. This is most likely the case for the more common minor canker sores: 85 out of 100 people who have canker sores have this type, which is the mildest. Minor canker sores are only a few millimeters wide, are painful for three to five days, and go away completely after about two weeks.
You May Like: Medications Used For Ulcerative Colitis
How To Prevent Cold Sores
img source: thehealthy.com
Prevention of cold sores largely depends on how an individual cares for themselves by observing and also keeping measures to the required levels. These include self-care and cautionary steps such as
- Avoiding kissing with individuals diagnosed with herpes simplex on lips
- Keeping the sores clean with plain cool water
- If it is discovered that sunlight triggers recurrence you better stay away from sun when outdoors
- Avoid making skin contacts especially with one who has had HSV reactivated
- It will also be of help if you stopped sharing towels, lipstick and other lip cosmetic products
Sometimes antiviral medicines , when taken as per your doctors descriptions, will help avoid the recurrence of a cold sore on the lip in the future.
Treatment Of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth Ulcers do not need treatment as they go away with time. But if the ulcers are large and extremely painful please visit your dentist for treatment options:
- Rinse with salt water and baking soda
- Apply pain relief ointments like Orajel or Anbesol
- Apply ice to canker sores or use cold water
- Placing old tea bags on the sores
- Drink cool chamomile tea
- Milk of magnesia can also be a good option and is advised to place on Mouth Ulcers
Recommended Reading: Ulcerative Colitis When To Go To Er
Why Do Mouth Ulcers Occur
There is no definite cause for the appearance of mouth ulcers, however, there are a number of factors that can provoke mucosal damage. These include:
- Minor oral injuries from dental visits, harsh brushing, sports grass, or accidental bites
- Use of dental trauma or mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
- Sensitivity to foods with high acidity pineapples, strawberries, citrus fruits, as well as chocolate and coffee
- Deficiency of vitamins, especially such as B12, zinc, folic acid, and iron
- An allergic reaction to bacteria in the mouth
- wearing braces
- Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Cooking And Ulcer Care
In general, you canât go wrong with a healthy diet, but keep an eye on what aggravates your loved oneâs ulcer.
It used to be that doctors recommended the same diet for everyone with an ulcer: Avoid spicy foods and eat bland ones. But today doctors know that spicy foods do not cause an ulcer and bland diets do not necessarily help in ulcer treatment. So how do you prepare meals for a loved one with an ulcer?
While it is true that specific foods do not cause ulcers, they can make symptoms worse, says Carrie Folse, MD, a gastroenterologist at Saint Vincents Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. However, the exacerbation of foods is quite subjective, she says. Its hard to tell which food will aggravate symptoms in any one person.
So instead of past one diet fits all recommendations, doctors now offer more general guidelines. If your loved one notices a particular food causes a problem, just avoid that food and let the doctor know.
Cooking for the Ulcer Patient: Foods to Avoid
Sarah Boyd, RD, a registered dietitian in Richmond, Va., says that the following foods may cause discomfort for people with an ulcer:
- Meats with a high fat content
- High-fat condiments
- Spicy foods
- Chocolate
These items may or may not be problematic and are based on the individuals personal tolerances, Boyd notes.
Cooking for the Ulcer Patient: Foods to Choose
Although there is no strong evidence that any foods prevent or heal an ulcer, a healthy diet is the best policy. Pick from these wholesome choices:
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Stage 4 Pressure Ulcer
What Does A Mouth Ulcer Look Like
Mouth ulcers are usually round or oval sores that commonly appear inside the mouth on the:
- cheeks
- tongue
They can be white, red, yellow or grey in colour and swollen.
Its possible to have more than one mouth ulcer at a time and they may spread or grow.
Mouth ulcers shouldnt be confused with cold sores, which are small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth. Cold sores often begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation around your mouth.
A Pharmacist Can Help With Mouth Ulcers
A pharmacist can recommend a treatment to speed up healing, prevent infection or reduce pain, such as:
- antimicrobial mouthwash
- a painkilling tablet, mouthwash, gel or spray
- corticosteroid lozenges
- a salt mouthwash
You can buy these without a prescription, but they may not always work.
You May Like: Ulcerative Pancolitis With Rectal Bleeding
Prevention Of Mouth Ulcers
Like it is always said, prevention means to seal the cause. So, avoiding the cause will simultaneously prevent the infection and a few such methods are:-
- Avoid food that you are sensitive to.
- Healthy eating habits to keep up your immunity.
- Dont talk while chewing food as you may accidentally bite or hurt yourself.
- Meditate to get rid of your stress and depression.
- Maintain proper dental hygiene and good breath.
- Make sure that your brushes and dental floss are not very harsh on you.
- Sleep for at least 7 hours a day. This will improve your mental health as well as your physical health.
Eosinophilic Ulcer On Lips
Moving on, another kind of oral ulceration is eosinophilic. According to the DermNet New Zealand, this is another one with a distinct appearance and characteristic inflammatory cell studied under a microscope. The occurrence of this kind is uncommon but middle to grown-ups are affected at one point in their lifetime.
Dermatologists do not understand yet why or causes it. However, from the clinical feature, study and presentations, trauma due to teeth or poorly fitting dentures can possibly result to formation of these ulcers.
Areas affected include inside cheeks, mouth floor, lower lip and the gums including those behind molar tooth.
In terms of symptoms, eosinophilic is almost always a culprit for painful eating.
It may heal on its own, but optional treatments may comprise the following.
Pain relief for mouth sore
- Surgical excision
Recommended Reading: What To Eat With Stomach Ulcer
How To Prevent Mouth Ulcers
Preventing mouth ulcers depends on the contributing factors and chronic conditions that predispose a person to developing oral canker sores. In terms of measures that can be adopted for the mouth itself, it is important to identify any local irritants or conditions that may be the cause of the mouth ulcers.
- Repair chipped or jagged teeth that may be pinching or piercing the mouth lining. Monitor any dental implants, bridges and crowns that you may have to ensure that it is not irritating or injuring the mouth cavity.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, spicy or acidic foods and drinks that may be causing or aggravating oral canker sores.
- Identify any specific foods, drinks or substances that may be causing a mild allergic reaction in the mouth. This includes monitoring your oral hygiene products like the toothpaste or mouthwash that you may be using.
- Good dental hygiene is important and if you are experiencing recurring mouth sores, you may have to ensure that you are meticulous about your daily cleaning, brushing and flossing.
- A healthy eating plan and/or vitamin and mineral supplementation may be necessary in cases of mouth sores caused by nutritional deficiencies.
What Causes Canker Sores
No one knows exactly what causes canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers. Many factors are thought to put a person at risk for them. Diet may play a part. People whose diets are low in folic acid, vitamin B12, and iron seem to develop canker sores more often, as do people with food allergies.
Mouth injuries also seem to bring on canker sores. Sodium lauryl sulfate , an ingredient in many toothpastes and mouthwashes, has been linked to canker sores, and sometimes the sores can be a sign of an immune system problem.
Even emotional stress could be a factor. One study of college students showed that they had more canker sores during stressful periods, such as around exam time.
Read Also: Normal Colon Vs Ulcerative Colitis
Antiseptic And Antibiotic Treatment For Aphthous Ulcers
The use of an antiseptic mouthwash e.g. containing chlorhexidine, twice per day or as per your doctorâs recommendations can be part of a treatment regimen of aphthous ulcers. In rare cases a doctor may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline or minocycline, which can be effective in treating ulcers. They are typically administered in mouthwash form, with the antibiotic being dissolved in water, swilled around the mouth and spat out. This may be necessary several times per day for a number of days.
Good to know: Antibiotic mouthwashes containing tetracycline should be avoided in children younger than eight years of age or even older, depending on your doctorâs recommendations, as they can cause the teeth to become discolored.
How Are Canker Sores And Cold Sores Diagnosed
Your doctor will often be able to tell if you have a canker sore or a cold sore based on your medical history and a physical examination.
In order to confirm a diagnosis of cold sores, they may take a sample from the sore to be tested for HSV.
If you have canker sores that recur often, your doctor may also perform blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, or immune conditions.
Recommended Reading: Foods To Eat With Peptic Ulcer Disease
How Are Canker Sores Diagnosed
Just because canker sores are fairly common doesn’t mean they should be ignored.
If your child has canker sores that last longer than 2 weeks or can’t eat or drink because of the pain, call your doctor. Also call if the sores appear more than two or three times a year.
Usually, no tests are needed to diagnose canker sores, as doctors can identify them based on medicalhistory and physical exam alone.
If your child gets canker sores a lot or they’re severe, the doctor may want to do tests to look for possible nutritional deficiencies , immune system deficiencies, and food or other allergies.
How Long Does It Take To Recover
Both canker sores and cold sores should clear up on their own within a week or two. Some medications may help to speed up the recovery process.
If you have a mouth sore that doesnt go away after two weeks, you should see your doctor.
While the exact cause of canker sores is uncertain, you can help prevent them by doing things such as protecting your mouth from injury, eating a healthy diet, and reducing stress.
Most canker sores will go away on their own in a week or two.
Cold sores are caused by HSV infection. Once you have the infection, you have the virus for your lifetime. Some people with HSV will never have cold sores while others will experience periodic outbreaks.
Cold sores should clear up on their own in a few weeks, although antiviral medications may speed healing. You should be particularly conscious to avoid skin-to-skin contact or the sharing of personal items when you have a cold sore, as this could spread the virus to others.
Also Check: Can You Drink Coffee With Ulcerative Colitis
You May Like: Is Nausea A Symptom Of Ulcer
How Can I Prevent Mouth Ulcers
While you cant prevent mouth ulcers altogether, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. For example:
- Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily for optimal oral health.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid tissue irritation.
- Eat a healthy diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
If your healthcare provider determines that your mouth ulcers are connected to an underlying health issue, managing your condition can reduce the risk of ulcers returning.
Other Treatments For Aphthous Ulcers
Other treatments may include topical or, rarely, oral steroids, typically used when the ulcers are unresponsive to other treatment methods silver nitrate other local anaesthetics/numbing agents and nutritional supplements .
Home remedies for aphthous ulcers
There are a number of popular home remedies for aphthous ulcers, including:
- Rinsing the mouth with salt water
- Rinsing the mouth with a solution of baking soda/sodium bicarbonate and water
- Application of milk of magnesia to the ulcer after rinsing
- Application of ice chips or cubes to the affected area to reduce swelling
- Teething ointments containing local anaesthetic to manage pain and discomfort
- Reducing stress
- Avoiding hard foods or foods that may scratch the interior of the mouth
Nutritional supplements such as Vitamin B-12 capsules, Vitamin D capsules, folate tablets, or zinc tablets can also reduce the risk of developing canker sores.
You May Like: Diabetic Foot Ulcer Icd 10
Check If You Have A Mouth Ulcer
You may have more than 1 ulcer at a time and they can change in size.
Mouth ulcers are not contagious and should not be confused with cold sores.
Cold sores appear on the lips or around the mouth and often begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation.
If you have several mouth ulcers, this can be a symptom of:
- hand, foot and mouth disease, which also causes a rash on the hands and feet
- oral lichen planus, which causes a white, lacy pattern inside the cheeks
- Crohn’s and coelic disease
- a weakened immune system from having a condition like HIV or lupus