Ulcers of the mouth, also called aphtous ulcers, are painful lesions that appear in the mouth.

Causes:

The exact cause of most ulcers is not known. We do however know factors that can be directly or indirectly linked with the formation of ulcers.

  • Stress or direct irritation.
  • Acidic foods, such as soft drinks.
  • Sometimes, anti-inflammatory medications.
  • New orthodontic appliances or dental prosthetics (dentures and partials) can sometimes cause ulcers.
  • Nutritional deficiency in iron, folic acid, or vitamin B 12.
  • Certain diseases of the digestive system, like Crohn’s Disease.

Symptoms:

  • Burning feeling, especially when eating spicy or acidic foods.
  • Presence of white lesion with a red border that forms inside the lips or the cheeks.

Treatments:

  • The pain from an ulcer usually diminishes after a few days and completely heals after one to two weeks.
  • If the ulcers are big and very painful, an antimicrobial mouthwash or a local analgesic cream can be used (for example Amosan from Oral-B).

Prevention:

  • Avoiding acidic foods that can irritate the mouth, among which are soft drinks.
  • Using a soft bristled toothbrush to avoid causing injury to the gum and lips.

When is it recommended to consult a dentist?

  • An ulcer is larger than normal.
  • An ulcer does not disappear after three weeks.
  • Pain is intolerable.
  • Difficulty of ingesting enough fluids.
  • There is fever at the same time as the ulcer.

References

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).
WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).

The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.

The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.

Category dental problems