Oral Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Wounds or ulcers of the oral mucosa are lesions that appear on the lips or lower parts of the gums. They can also appear inside the cheeks, at the top of the mouth, and around the tonsils.

These lesions are often painful, so for example, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking, or talking can cause discomfort. Wounds in the oral mucosa are usually pale ovals surrounded by a reddish area.

Experts believe they will affect about 25 percent of the population. They are more common in women, adolescents, and those who, because of their genetic inheritance, tend to get this condition. Mouth ulcers are not contagious and are rarely dangerous to health.

Classification of oral mucosal ulcers

Oral ulcers can be classified in different ways. If they occur only occasionally, they are acute. When the ailment recurs frequently, they are considered chronic. Depending on their clinical manifestations, they can be divided into three different categories: major, minor, or herpetiform. Let’s take a closer look at each of these categories:

Large

The largest ulcers or ulcers are more than 10 millimeters in diameter and can occur as individuals or in clusters. These ulcers penetrate deep into the tissue and remain there for more than a week, some even months. As they heal, they can leave a scar and are most common on the lips, palate, tongue, throat, and inner surfaces of the cheeks.

Small

Small ulcers of the oral mucosa are less than 10 millimeters in diameter. Ulcers like this are the most common. They are shallow and occur on the edges of the tongue or on the mucous membranes of the lips and cheeks. They cause severe pain that radiates to adjacent areas. Most often, they disappear on their own in less than a week. It is typical that the ailment recurs at certain intervals.

Herpetiformis

These types of mouth ulcers form similar ulcers to herpes. Herpetiformis is not contagious, although they tend to reappear. They occur in groups of several small ulcers that are never larger than 3 millimeters. Sometimes they together form a larger ulcer.

Causes of oral mucosal ulcers

There are many reasons for the occurrence of ulcers in the oral mucosa. In most cases, they are due to the following factors:

• Brushing your teeth and gums at the wrong angle, broken teeth or biting your gums. Friction from dentures or braces can also cause problems.
• Excessive force brushing teeth and gums or using dental or oral hygiene products containing sodium lauryl sulphate.
• Extremely hot foods or beverages that cause burns or burns caused by smoking.
• Drug side effects or hormonal changes caused by menstruation.

• Stress and lack of sleep.

Sometimes mouth ulcers indicate a deficiency of vitamin B12, zinc, folic acid, or iron. They may also have an allergic reaction to an oral bacterial strain.

There are cases where these lesions of the oral mucosa are a sign of serious health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, HIV or AIDS, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases or oral cancer.

Treatment of oral mucosal ulcers

Most mouth ulcers are harmless and do not require treatment. They usually heal within 7-14 days. However, it is necessary to determine whether ulcers of the oral mucosa are caused by certain products, foods or medicines. In these cases, the products must be replaced with other products that do not cause problems.

If the ulcers of the oral mucosa are due to an injury or the cause is unknown, the treatment of the ulcers consists of changes in the daily routine and the alleviation of symptoms by natural means:

• Rinse your mouth with warm, slightly salty water  three times a day for four minutes. Gargle with cold water.
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid hot, spicy, citrus or very salty and spicy foods. Avoid smoking.
• You can take over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol.
• Exercising or relaxing exercises will help you manage your stress. They also distract from the feeling of discomfort.
• Use a soft-toothed toothbrush and see a dentist if your teeth are in poor condition.

We recommend seeing a doctor if your symptoms are very severe, home care does not help, or ulcers come back regularly. In cases like this, home care alone and changes in daily routines are not enough.

Possible complications

Possible complications include recurrence of oral mucosal ulcers frequently or if a person develops a superinfection caused by the ulcers. To prevent this, your doctor may prescribe topical antiseptics that contain chlorhexidine hydrochloride, hexetidine, povidone iodine, benzalkonium chloride, or sodium borate.

The doctor will instruct the patient on the use of the medication. In some cases, doctors may prescribe antibiotics, especially if the ulcers are large or recur frequently.

Prevention of ulcers of the oral mucosa

The best way to prevent ulcer outbreaks is to maintain proper hygiene habits. Teeth should be brushed three times a day. The use of dental floss and gentle mouthwash is recommended. You should see a dentist at least once a year.

A healthy and balanced diet prevents the formation of ulcers in the oral mucosa. If the ulcers recur frequently, it is recommended to avoid mouth-irritating foods such as acids, spices, or very hot foods. It is also important to be aware of possible allergies.

Regular exercise as well as the use of various relaxation techniques are effective tools for managing stress. Although mouth ulcers are usually harmless, in some cases they require medical attention. Below you will find symptoms to keep an eye on:

• If mouth ulcers begin to spread and gradually increase.
• If they cause severe pain or discomfort.
• If the ulcers do not heal in three weeks.
• If the ulcers look strange or form a stain in the mouth.

We recommend that you see a doctor if the pain is very severe or if the ulcers cause other symptoms such as fever. Sometimes these small measures are necessary to avoid big problems in the future.