Mouth Ulcers

What Are Mouth Ulcers?

Mouth Ulcers are also called canker sores. Lesions are formed in the mouth or at the base of the gums. You can even get them on your inside cheeks or lips.
In scientific terms, the mouth loses its tissue lining. Mouth ulcers are not contagious, so you don’t have to worry about passing them on.
Ulcers will usually disappear naturally in around a week or two. If your ulcer hasn’t gone after 2 weeks or if they hurt, you should get it checked by a dentist.
In severe cases, the pain can make eating, talking, and drinking difficult and uncomfortable.

Causes Of Mouth Ulcers

Women, children, and people with a family history of ulcers are most prone to developing this painful condition. Though the exact cause of mouth ulcers is not known, several factors are commonly attributed:

Physical trauma is caused by serious injury from excessive brushing, sports injuries, past dental work, or accidents.
Bacterial or fungal infections
Stress (most common in teenagers)
Consumption of acidic food or drinks
Hormonal changes in the body.
Mouth rinse solutions that contain sodium lauryl sulfate
Non-consumption of certain vitamins like zinc and folate.

Treatment Of Mouth Ulcers

Here are some home remedies you can try. If the pain is still there or severe, please simply visit your dentist:

Rinsing with saline water and baking soda.
Drinking cooled chamomile tea.
Apply over-the-counter pain relief ointments.
Application of ice to sores. You may also use cold water.
Old tea bags or Milk of Magnesia.

How To Avoid Mouth Ulcers?

Healthy and balanced diet
Avoiding extra spicy (or acidic) foods and beverages
Practicing gentle brushing.
Drink lots of water
Minimize stress in day to day life(also good advice in general)
Establish a proper sleep pattern.

Types Of Mouth Ulcers

These uncomfortable and painful sores come are of various types. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

Canker Sores

These are small white patches with red borders. Being non-contagious the reason or cause is unknown but usually, trauma is the most common reason. They heal on their own with the time that might take a week and a half. Spicy, acidic, and citrus food should be avoided.

Cold Sores

These appear in a cluster of red, raised blisters outside the mouth especially the lips. These are filled with fluid that can break making fluid leak. Though they are highly contagious, yet they heal on their own in about a week.

Candidiasis

It is a yeast infection that appears inside the mouth on soft and moist tissue. It appears as a white patch with a red base. The cause of developing such sore is fungus and people with a weak immune system or people with poor health or diabetic patients are more prone to these sores. If the case of sore is candidiasis, then one should seek advice from Dental Professional.

Leukoplakia

These are tough white patches that appear anywhere in the mouth. Though these are not painful or contagious but can have more serious concerns. Therefore, it is advised to visit a Dental Professional in this case.