Understanding Mouth Ulcers: Causes and Symptoms

While mouth ulcers are pretty common, they might get pretty painful and cause a great amount of discomfort at the same time. Small, superficial sores inside your mouth can create eating and speaking with much discomfort. Knowing the causes and symptoms of mouth ulcers is related to management and prevention.

Causes of Mouth Ulcers

The different causes instigating the development of these mouth ulcers range from the

• Mild Trauma:Accidental biting of the cheek or tongue or abrasive dental procedures may be provocative factors for ulcers.
• Stress: Emotional trauma or anxiety which tends to lower the immunity level makes one prone to ulcers.
• Some Food Articles: Too spicy or too acidic foods, citrus foods and their products like orange juice, lemon juice and nuts develop ulcers in some sensitive individual.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiency of vitamin B12, iron and folic acid leads to the development of mouth ulcers.
• Underlying Medical Conditions: Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and other such diseases, along with immunity disorders, can be the root cause behind ulcers.

Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers

Identifying mouth ulcers so that proper and timely treatment could be availed is equally important. Watch out for these signs:

• Painful Sores: Firm, small, rounded sores may appear in the red region of the lesion inside the oral cavity.
• Discomfort While Eating or Drinking: A person will feel some pain while eating or drinking anything if he has some type of ulcers.
• Difficulty in Speaking: One may not be able to speak due to ulcers in the mouth.
• Swollen Lymph Nodes: The lymph nodes may show a tendency to swell with the presence of mouth ulcers.

Treatment and Prevention

Although mouth ulcers heal within a week or two weeks on their own, there are some measures that can be taken to reduce this pain and actually hasten the healing process:

• Over-the-counter Medications: Antiseptic mouthwash oral gels or topical treatments soothe the pain and hasten the healing process.
• Avoid attractive foods: Be careful and avoid all those mouthwatering edibles or products for ulcers.
• Oral care: Gently brush, with a soft-bristled toothbrush and good oral care for avoiding infection.
• Stress Management: Practice what is called the technique of relieving stress, like meditation or yoga for staying on the safer side from ulcers.

In case of persistence of mouth ulcers, then frequent recurrences, big in size, or very painful, seek a health professional.

Now, equipped with knowledge about causes and symptoms, one can go a long way in management and prevention of nagging mouth ulcers. A few changes in lifestyle and proper treatment sought at the right time are sure to get rid of the discomfort and promote quick healing.

You just need to get in touch withnearest Clove Dental clinicfor any information or advice that you may require!

Informed by staying healthy!
Written By- Dr. Nayanika Batra