All About Mouth Ulcers

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All About Mouth Ulcers

Dentistry is not limited only to the care of the teeth, but the entire oral cavity. As such, those seeking dental supplies in Australia may also include doctors, oral hygienists, and oral surgeons.

Mouth ulcers are a common complaint amongst people of all ages, and when a mouth ulcer arises, a dentist can be the patient’s first port of call.

What are Mouth Ulcers?

Mouth ulcers occur when the soft, delicate tissue (mucous membrane) lining the mouth becomes eroded or lost. It is, for most people, a quite harmless condition, though it can be very painful.

Symptoms of mouth ulcers include:

    • A painful sore/sores on the skin inside the cheeks, inside the lips, beside or under the tongue, on the palate (especially behind the front teeth), or the gums. The skin surrounding these may be swollen and red, while the ulcer itself will often look paler than the normal mucous membrane.
    • Chewing and brushing are uncomfortable or painful. You may experience a loss of appetite. 
    • Spicy, sour, and salty foods further irritate the sore.


Causes:

The vast majority of mouth ulcers occur due to an injury, such as accidentally biting the inside of the cheek while eating. They can also result from toothbrush injury, rubbing against a broken, chipped, or misaligned tooth, or rubbing against orthodontic braces or dentures. Oral burns from hot food can also cause ulcers.

 As many as 20% of people may experience “aphthous” ulcers. These are recurring ulcers with no known cause, though a deficiency in iron, folate, or Vitamin B, as well as stress and a diminished immune response may play a role in their development. They are usually small (less than 5mm in diameter) and can occur anywhere inside the mouth. There may be several of these present at a time.

 Other causes of mouth ulcers include:

      • Irritation from harsh mouthwashes
      • Viruses – e.g. cold sores (Herpes Simplex Virus)
      • Bacterial infections
      • Fungal infections
      • Skin rashes in the mouth – e.g. lichen planus
      • Some medicines
      • Some medical conditions – including autoimmune diseases including Coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease
      • Oral cancer – a large percentage of oral (mouth) cancers are linked to infection by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which also causes an array of cancers including cervical cancer in women. Young people are now commonly vaccinated against this infection. Other common contributors to oral cancer are smoking, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption, poor dietary nutrition, and poor oral hygiene.

Stress, fatigue, or illness can all make a person more vulnerable to developing a mouth ulcer.

 
How to Manage Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers will usually recover over 10-14 days, and most don’t need treatment. To minimize the discomfort of the ulcer and to promote healing:

      • Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic!)
      • Maintain oral hygiene – keep your mouth clean – rinse several times a day with warm, slightly salted water.
      • Use an antiseptic gel directly on the ulcer.
      • Use an alcohol-free medicated mouthwash twice daily. This should contain chlorhexidine gluconate.
      • Your dentist may prescribe a topical ointment, antibiotics, or steroid treatment.

There are some signs that a mouth ulcer (or any other oral sore) needs to be seen by a dentist or doctor promptly:

      • If you get ulcers frequently.
      • If an ulcer is interfering with your daily life.
      • If an ulcer or other mouth sore (whether it hurts or not) does not completely resolve within 2 weeks.
      • If an ulcer is extremely painful or bleeding.

You must never ignore recurring ulcers or those that don’t completely resolve after 2 weeks. This is even more important if you smoke, vape, or drink alcohol regularly. While most mouth ulcers are ultimately benign, in rare cases they may signify oral cancer. (Oral cancer screening is an intrinsic part of every preventative dental visit).

One way to stay on top of issues like mouth ulcers is to maintain consistent oral care and dental checkups.

Prevent Mouth Ulcers by eating a nutritious, balanced diet, brushing gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush, and managing stress and underlying health conditions.

Adam Dental Supplies is Australia’s leading wholesale distributor of dental equipment, instrument, and other essential supplies. These include oral hygiene products (mouth rinses, etc) and other preventative dental products.

Shop with us today for all your dental supplies in Australia.