Mouth Ulcers: Origins, Causes, How to Prevent and Treat

All of us are familiar with mouth sores or aphthous ulcers on the tongue, those white and painful wounds that appear inside the mouth and that, in addition to causing pain, hamper our chewing process.

However, there are numerous types of aphthous in the mouth, lips and tongue, from irritations, lesions and bumps. The most common pathologies are:

1. canker sores
2. herpes
3. leukoplakia
4. candidiasis.

About one-third of the population has or has had mouth lesions at some point in their life. These mouth lesions can be painful and can interfere with chewing and speech.
Any injury that has been in the mouth for more than two weeks should be examined by your dentist. And, ultimately, a biopsy may be needed to determine the cause!

What is a Mouth Ulcer?

Today we speak of aphthous that are small wounds or lesions that arise in the mouth, namely in the oral mucosa, gum, tongue or lips. They can appear alone or grouped, are flattened, round or oval and can have several colors (white, red or yellowish).

Thrush causes pain, discomfort, and difficulty in eating, drinking, and even talking.

These small whitish oral ulcers are benign and harmless lesions despite causing pain.

The Phases of the Mouth Ulcer:

1. It starts with a burning sensation and a reddish area appears in the gum or tongue;

2. About 4 days later, a wound appears covered by a white-yellow membrane, with a red circle around;

3. The wound breaks the dermis and hits the connective tissue, which is irrigated by nervous vessels, causing the pain.

Mouth Ulcers: Causes

The origin of aphthous reveals that our immune system is down and this can be caused by different factors, including food and stress.

Sometimes, it’s not possible to know what gave rise the aphtha, although we may be wary of some of the following causes:

• Immune system failure: The body in trying to fight bacteria ends up destroying part of the normal tissue, causing thrush;
• Stress: lowers immunity, dries the mouth and defenses diminish;
• Intraoral trauma: accidental bites on the tongue or the inside of the cheek;
• Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle: premenstrual tension also causes cold sore;
• Nutritional Deficiency / Diet: lack of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 can cause thrush;
• Genetic Factors / Inheritance: some people are more likely to present oral mucosa with less protection;
• Changes in oral pH: ingestion of acidic foods, such as pineapple, decrease protection of the oral mucosa.

Aphthous Ulcers: Treatment and Duration

Treatment is mainly symptomatic because canker sores heal spontaneously within one to two weeks, even without treatment.
Some products or drugs may be used to help alleviate symptoms and prevent possible infections.

The treatment may include:
– Antiseptic and antibacterial solutions (mouthwashes, gels or drops) – Local analgesics and anti-inflammatories – Oral mucosal protective gel.

How long does a mouth ulcer last?

Aphthous last on average 1 week after healed mucosa. If it takes longer than this, it is recommended to seek a dentist and investigate the cause.

How to Prevent Aphthous Ulcers?

It is believed that there is a direct connection between aphthous and vitamin deficiency, so eating well and taking a multivitamin are good choices if you are predisposed to have aphthous in your mouth.

Probiotics are also considered useful. To conclude, I emphasize that aphthous are not contagious because they do not have agents such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
Aphthous are not herpes. This one is contagious. In the case of herpes, the lesions appear mainly on the lips or around the mouth and give different symptoms, such as stinging or burning sensation.

Check your appointment and treat your oral diseases, here with me and my team!

Want to know more about Aphthous? See more at G1 Portal Article.