A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of part of the soft tissue that lines the inside of the mouth, known as the mucous membrane, Some of the causes include canker sores, medications, chemicals, and infectious diseases.
The most common cause, however, is much less complicated – A simple injury to tissue, such as accidentally biting your cheek, or having your braces wear a hole.
In most cases, mouth ulcers are harmless and spontaneously cure themselves in a few days without the need for dental or medical treatment. However, in some cases they can be more complicated than that, or can be the sign of a dangerous underlying condition.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we want to share with you what they are, what they mean, and what their treatments are.
Do You Have a Mouth Ulcer?
Most likely, you’ve suffered through a mouth ulcer before, but at the time you might not have realized exactly what it was. Understanding what’s happening within your mouth can help you heal it faster. Mouth ulcers, sometimes known as canker sores, come in all shapes and sizes.
Depending on how advanced they are, mouth ulcers have varying degrees of depth into the tissue. Like most sores, mouth ulcers have a different texture from healthy gum tissue and are usually sensitive to the touch, heat, cold, and include other types of irritation. They might express a “tingling or burning sensation”, even before they become obvious.
Avoiding Mouth Ulcers
As mentioned above, the most common cause of a mouth ulcer is a trauma, but there are other suspects you should avoid if you are prone to mouth ulcers:
Highly acidic foods. While fruits such as oranges, lemons, or pineapples really can’t cause ulcers in completely healthy tissue, they can when there is already some stress on the tissues and the surfaces inside the mouth are prone to burn or react to the acidic nature of the fruits.
Smoking or tobacco use. Smoking cigarettes may not cause an ulcer, but smoking will definitely irritate it and may prolong healing. Chewable tobacco products absolutely do contribute to mouth ulcers and can even be the cause.
Stress. Stress has many negative impacts on you body, including contributing to mouth ulcers. In general, reducing stress is good for your dental and overall health!
Braces and other oral devices. Many mouth ulcers are the result of braces that have just been adjusted or other oral appliances such as dentures that no longer fit properly.
Hormonal changes. Some women develop mouth ulcers during their monthly period.
Toothpaste. Toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulphate can lead to ulceration.
Treatment of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers don’t usually need treatment beyond symptom management, as they tend to clear up by themselves within a week or two. If they don’t clear up, you need to contact Alex Bratic Dental immediately.
Although most ulcers go away spontaneously, treatment can help to reduce swelling and ease your discomfort. This is particularly helpful if your mouth ulcer affects eating and drinking.
Things you can do to speed up healing include:
- Using a protective paste recommended by your pharmacist
- Brush with a soft toothpaste that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate, as this may be irritating
- Avoid hard, spicy, salty, acidic or hot foods and drinks
- Using a straw to drink cool drinks
- Avoiding foods and behaviours that may be triggering your ulcers
You can buy several types of mouth ulcer treatment from a pharmacy. Speak to your dentist or pharmacist about the best treatment for you. Adult options include the following:
- Antimicrobial mouthwash may speed up healing and prevent infection of the ulcer.
- Painkillers are available as a mouthwash, lozenge, gel or spray. They can sting or cause numbness, but this is temporary. Painkilling applications shouldn’t be used for more than seven days in a row.
- Corticosteroid lozenges may reduce pain and speed up healing. These are best used as soon as the ulcer appears.
Mouth Ulcers and Alex Bratic Dental Care
Seek dental advice from Alex Bratic Dental about your mouth ulcers if you have:
- Unusually large sores
- Sores that are spreading
- Sores that last three weeks or longer
- Intolerable pain despite avoiding trigger foods and taking over-the-counter pain medication
- Difficulty drinking enough fluids
- A high fever at the same time you haves mouth ulcer(s)
Mouth ulcers can be a sign of more serious diseases, so if they persist, it is important that you visit us.
Comfort, Convenience, and Excellent Care at Alex Bratic Dental Care
Alex Bratic Dental Care is the perfect combination of comfort, convenience and excellent care in Beenleigh.
Alex Bratic Dental Care is located on City Road near the Pacific Motorway near Beenleigh Station, with convenient public transport nearby and free onsite parking.