The reasons of mouth ulcer
20% of the population suffer from different kinds of mouth ulcers, painful sore in the mouth. They can be big or small. Some mouth ulcers pass without any treatment, other persist. It depends on the reason to cause them. The reasons of mouth ulcers are variable, including lack of vitamins, digestion disorders, food allergy, different infections, and traumas. Sometimes mouth ulcers may be a symptom of a specific pathology, such as tuberculosis, herpes, celiakia (intolerance to wheat protein), Crohn’s disease, anemia or leucosis.
Traumatic ulcers may be caused by chemicals, hot food or drink, electrical current, mechanical damage. The most common reason of traumatic ulcers is mechanical damage. The pressure exerted by bad bridgework upon the gum may lead to pressure mouth ulcer. Sharp edge of a broken tooth may constantly damage cheek or tongue. There can be a mouth ulcer after injection needle damage of oral mucosa. The reasons of such mouth ulcer can be easily found out after inspection the mouth and obtaining the history from the patient's family members. Traumatic ulcer usually passes in 2 weeks after eliminating the reason of the trauma. If it does not pass than biopsy or other diagnostic procedure may be necessary to look for other possible reason.
Small mouth ulcers (recurrent aphthous stomatitis) affect inner surface of lips and cheeks, palatine arch, tongue and soft palate). They seldom affect gums and hard palate. They are originally not so deep with oval shape, 3-5 mm in size, are covered by grayish-yellow fur and with red edge. They can persist for a long time causing pain and discomfort. Their reason is not clear but it is observed that they trend to affect people with poor health or under the stress. Lack of sleep, physical or mental stress, unhealthy food, lack of vitamins (C, B2 and B6 in particular), endocrine disorders, menstruation and antibiotics intake are the most common factors to provoke mouth ulcers. The proper balance among the microorganisms residing on the mouth may more probably disturbed in a distresses body and some of the microbes contribute to mouth ulcers development. Patients with AIDS are at increased risk of mouth ulcers.
Home treatment for mouth ulcer
- Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in a cup of warm water and wash your mouth twice a day. If the mouth ulcer is fresh it bites.
- Wash your mouth twice a day with cold tea or salvia tincture. The latter provides antibacterial, healing and astringent effect. Cooled wet teabag applied to mouth ulcers also helps.
- Mix five drops of tea tree oil, three drops of lemon oil and 2 drops of myrrh oils with 2.5 teaspoons of grape stones oil. Apply to your mouth ulcers each 2 - 3 hours.
- Add one drop of tea tree oil, geranium oil and lavender oil to half of cup of water. Wash your mouth four times a day.
- Add a few drops on any of the above mentioned oils to a cup of water. Wash your mouth three times a day.
Myrrh is one of the old remedies, especially for the cases when the ulcers are caused by Candida albicans fungi. You can also wet a cotton swab with myrrh oil and apply at mouth ulcers. It is slightly bites but helps. Or mix one of the above mentioned oils with vodka or brandy and apply to mouth ulcers. Dill, mandarin and mint oils help too.
High doses of vitamin C together with bioflavonoids may help in the case when you eat unhealthy food. If the ulcers persist it is recommended to switch to the food with high content of C and B vitamins and flavonoids.
Sometimes mouth ulcer is caused by specific food. So if mouth ulcers don’t pass despite all home remedies applied than make corresponding test to know what food you should avoid.
Go to see your doctor to find out whether you have any serious illness to cause mouth ulcers. If no illness than you may use one of the numerous over counter medications. Their effectiveness may vary so try which one is the best for you. In serious cases doctors may administer a stronger medication. It may be amlexanox, local application of glucocorticoids, coagulating or cauterizing preparation. You may need to make tests to find out deeper reasons of the mouth ulcers.
When should you see your doctor?
Go to see your doctor if:
- The ulcer in your mouth is for 2 weeks or gets bigger during a week.
- Mouth ulcers arise often.
- You feel that the reason is in your tooth or bridgework (see your dentist).
- You also have cough, diarrhea or recurrence of infection in other body part.
- You take a new medication.
Mouth ulcer prevention
Eat healthy food. Eat garlic, onion, other food rich in vitamin C and B2, B6. Do you eat enough milk, liver, kidneys, yeast, cheese, fish, eggs, beans, whole cereals? Do you consume vegetable food with bioflavonoids? Bioflavonoids are natural dyes: yellow, orange, purple. Plums, grapes, citrus and other colored fruit and vegetables contain them. Choose your favorite food that contain bioflavonoids and include into your daily meals.
Sometimes people cannot consume enough of natural nutrients with the food when having diet or by other reasons. If your vitamins, bioflavonoid and microelements consumption with food is low than take these important nutrients in pills, especially if you are under the stress.
When observing simple rules of healthy way of life: to avoid overstress, eating healthy food in reasonable quantities, exercise and train your immune system, your body trends to be strong enough to prevent numerous deceases that provoke mouth ulcers.