Mouth Ulcers – What they are, Causes, Types and Treatments

Mouth Ulcers – What they are, Causes, Types and Suitable Treatments for this condition. Also, mouth ulcers are sores that appear in the mouth, often on the inside of the cheeks. Mouth Ulcers , also known as aphthous ulcers, can be painful when eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth. Occasional Mouth Ulcers are usually harmless and clear up on their own. Seek medical advice if they last longer than 3 weeks or keep coming back.

Mouth Ulcers cannot be caught by someone else. Up to 1 in 5 people suffer from  recurrent mouth ulcers . So, check out more about Mouth Ulcers – What they are, Causes, Types and Treatments:

Types of Mouth Ulcers:  The main types of Mouth Ulcers are:

Minor Ulcers: These are around 2-8mm in diameter and usually take anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks.
Major Ulcers: These Mouth Ulcers  are larger and deeper, often with a raised or irregular edge. These types of mouth ulcers can take several weeks to heal and can leave a scar in the mouth.
Herpetiform Ulcers:  This type of Mouth Ulcer  is a collection of dozens of small, pin-sized sores.

Causes of Mouth Ulcers:  The exact cause of most mouth ulcers is unknown. Stress or tissue damage is believed to be the cause ofsimple mouth ulcers . Certain foods, including citrus fruits or fruit and vegetable acids (such as lemons , oranges , pineapples , apples , figs , tomatoes ,  and strawberries ), can trigger a mouth ulcer  or make the problem worse.

Sometimes a sharp toothed surface or dental braces such as braces or proper dentures can also trigger Mouth Ulcers . Some cases of complex mouth ulcers are caused by an underlying health condition, such as:

• Immune system impaired;
• Nutritional issues such as Vitamin B12 , Zinc , Folic Acid , or iron deficiency ;
• Disease of the gastrointestinal tract, such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease ;
• When you first stop smoking, you may develop more mouth ulcers than usual, but this is temporary.

Some medications including common pain relievers, beta blockers and some chest pain meds can cause a reaction that leads to Mouth Ulcers .

Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers:  You may have a Mouth Ulcer  if you have:

• Pain or sores inside your mouth, on your tongue, soft palate (the back of the roof of your mouth) or inside your cheeks
• Sores in your mouth that are round, white, or gray in color, with a red rim or rim.

In severe mouth ulcer attacks, you may also experience:

• fever ;
• Physical tear;
• Swollen lymph nodes.

Treatments For Mouth Ulcers:  The pain of mouth ulcers usually subsides in a few days and the sores usually heal without treatment in about a week or two.

If the sores are large, painful, or persistent, your dentist may prescribe an antimicrobial mouth rinse, corticosteroid ointment, or a prescription or over-the-counter solution to reduce pain and irritation.

Prevention of Mouth Ulcers:  While there is no cure for mouth ulcers and they often recur, you can reduce their frequency with good dental hygiene and:

• Avoid foods that irritate your mouth, including acidic or spicy foods;
• Avoid chewing irritation;
• Brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush after meals and flossing daily will keep your mouth free of foods that can cause a sore.

Seek medical advice about Mouth Ulcers if you have:

• Ulcers rarely large;
• Wounds that spread;
• Wounds that last three weeks or more;
• Intolerable pain despite avoiding trigger foods and taking pain medication
• Difficulty drinking enough fluids;
• A high fever with the appearance of  Mouth Ulcers .