Mouth Ulcers??? want to know why it occurs and how to take care of it???.....Here you go->....

Oral ulcer are quite common irritating and painful .These painful ulcer are white in color surrounded by an inflammed red border,clearly defined round or oval sore in the mouth.

Common sites involved

- cheek

- lip

- under the tongue

- floor of the mouth

most ulcer don't require specific treatment,as they wil usually heal on their own within 10-14 days

However, treatment may be necessary if your ulcers are severe, painful , occurs repeatedly in time interval or interfere with your daily activities (such as eating). you may need to be referred to a dentist so the condition can be treated.

CAUSES

• accidental biting of the cheek
• injury from a toothbrush
• constant rubbing against malaligned or sharp teeth
• constant rubbing against a denture or braces
• poor oral hygiene
• burns from eating hot food
• reaction to certain drugs such as chemotherapeutic agents
• nutrition deficiency: vitamin B12 ,vitamin c ,zinc, folic acid ,iron deficiency
• bacterial,viral,fungal infection
• associated with skin disease
• cancer of lip
• certain disease including AIDS,diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease
• idiopathic:without any reason

Minor ulcers: These are around 2-8mm in diameter and usually clear up in 10 days to 2 weeks.

Major ulcers: These are bigger and deeper, often with a raised or irregular border. This type of ulcer can take several weeks to heal and may leave a scar in the mouth.

Herpetiform ulcers: This type of ulcer is a cluster of dozens of smaller sores the size of pinheads.

DIAGNOSIS:

In case of repeated occurance of ulcer between time intervals or severe non healing ulcers for long period of time requires certain investigations

• Blood test - check for sign of infection
• Skin biopsy - a small tag of tissue from ulcer is taken and examined in a laboratory  

SELF HELP TIPS:

If you have a mild mouth ulcer, there are some steps you can take yourself to help your ulcer heal more quickly,

• Use a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth
• Avoid sharp, spicy and acidic foods and drinks until the ulcer heals ,stick to soft foods that are easier to chew
• Drink plenty of water
• Regularly rinse your mouth out with warm,slightly salted water
• Reduce your stress levels by doing an activity that you find reaxing,such as yoga,meditation or exercise
• Keep your mouth clean
• Intake of vitamin supplements
• Take pain killer medication such as paracetamol

CONSULT DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANY MEDICATION

• Apply antiseptic gel if its a minor ulcer,apply steroid gel if its a major or herpitiform ulcer( 4 to 5 times daily until ulcer heals).apply this gel 15min before eating so that you wil not have any irritation during eating .
• Use a medicated mouthwash
• Treat viral infection with antiviral drug and fungal infection with antifungal drugs
• Immunosuppressant drugs are sometimes required
• If you suspect that a sharp tooth or filling has caused an ulcer, visit your dentist so that they can repair it.
• Severe multipe ulcers can be treated with soft tissue LASERS which will help to kill the germs locally and help in faster healing.

PREVENTION

1. Brush your teeth atleast twice a day.brush your teeth very genty,taking care not to slip with the brush
2. Floss regulaly
3. Visit dentist regularly
4. Eat a wel balanced and nutritious diet
5. Make sure that underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease are managed regularly

COMPLICATION
Untreated mouth ulcer can occasionally lead to complications

• Bacterial infection 
• Inflammation of the mouth(cellulitis)
•  Tooth abscess
• Oral cancer

when to contact a medical professional

1. A mouth ulcer does not go away after 3 weeks
2. You have mouth ulcar return often or if new symptom develop

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