Your Vancouver dentist discusses mouth sores. What’s normal? When do you see a dentist?
What are Mouth Sores?
A mouth sore is a type of sore that can appear anywhere inside or outside of the mouth. These sores (also known as stomatitis) have a variety of different appearances, causes, symptoms, and cures. Mouth sores affect up to eighty percent of the population at some point in their lives.
Symptoms of Mouth Sores
There are several symptoms you may experience if you develop a mouth sore. These symptoms include the following:
Swelling
Redness of the mouth lining or roof of the mouth
Ulcers (hole) in the mouth lining or roof of the mouth
Fluid filled sores that look like tiny blisters (referred to as vesicles or bullae depending on the size of the sore)
Fever that accompanies the mouth sore(s)
Am I at Risk of Developing Mouth Sores?
Anyone can develop a mouth sore at any time. It really depends on other factors including your current health, your diet, and whether or not you use tobacco products. See blow for more details about the causes of mouth sores.
What Causes Mouth Sores?
Because there are many different types of mouth sores, there are also many different causes. Typically, mouth sores are caused by an infection elsewhere in the body, and the mouth sores are a symptom of that infection. Here are some other causes of mouth sores:
Canker Sores
Canker sores are small very painful sores or ulcers inside the mouth. They commonly have frequent recurrence.
Viral Infections
Viral infections such as herpes simplex or herpes zoster can result in painful mouth sores that are commonly referred to as cold sores. Because they are viral, they can become dormant and return frequently. In fact, viral infections are the most common cause of mouth sores. Cold sores can appear on the lip, soft palate, tongue and anywhere on the inside of the mouth.
Other Infections
Other types of bacterial infections can lead to swelling and sores of the mouth. These infections are usually caused by an overgrowth of organisms that normally reside in the mouth. People who suffer from gum disease or certain types of STDs commonly experience mouth sores.
Injury
Any type of injury to the mouth can result in mouth sores, especially if the injury occurs on the side of the face (cheeks) where the inner mouth tissue is vulnerable. As well, if you accidentally bite the inside of your cheek, it can lead to mouth sores.
If you have jagged, broken or chipped teeth, this can lead to mouth sores due to the irritation caused by the sharp tooth surfaces touching the inside of your mouth. It’s important to visit your dentist if this is the case.
Irritants
Any type of irritant such as a chemical irritant (such as toothpaste or mouth wash), or food irritant (such as hot sauce, sour or acidic foods) can cause a small sore inside the mouth. These sores are generally a reaction to the irritant, and will go away within a few hours to a few days.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use in any form (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco) can cause irritation and sores inside the mouth and on the tongue. It’s important to remember that tobacco products contain hundreds of other chemicals that can potentially cause mouth sores.
Reaction to Medication
Some medications can cause mouth sores. A good example might be if a person begins taking a strong antibiotic. Because the antibiotic may wipe out good bacteria along with bad, the mouth can be left vulnerable to infection, irritation, and sores. Certain types of chemotherapy/radiation can also cause sores inside the mouth.
Systemic Disorder
System disorders, such as hives or hay fever can cause sores on the inside of the mouth. Another common disorder called Celiac Disease (allergy to gluten) can cause mouth sores if too much gluten is consumed.
Diagnosis of Mouth Sores
More sores are usually easily diagnosed by a doctor or dentist performing an oral examination. It’s important to let your doctor or dentist know if you experience any of these symptoms when you have mouth sores:
Fever
Skin blisters
Inflammation of one or both eyes
If you visit your doctor or dentist for mouth sores, it’s important to provide a full health history so that the cause of the sores can be determined.
Treatment for Mouth Sores
Medical
There are different treatment options and approaches to help get rid of mouth sores. If the sores are caused by some other condition or disease, you should work with your dentist or doctor to get that condition under control or resolved, and most likely when that occurs, your mouth sores will also go away.
Dental
If you suffer from gum disease and other dental issues, it’s really important that you see your dentist on a regular basis to receive treatment and information about how to improve your dental hygiene. Having healthy gums and teeth will help prevent or reduce your risk of developing mouth sores.
Steps You Can Take
There are things you can do at home to help reduce the symptoms of mouth sores, and to reduce your risk of developing them in the future:
If you use tobacco products, it goes without saying that you should quit as soon as you can
Ensure you heat a health well balanced diet
Cut out any highly acidic food and drinks from your diet
Avoid hot spicy foods while you are suffering from mouth sores
Rinse your mouth twice daily with a saline solution
Use an over the counter hydrogen peroxide rinse designed especially for mouth sores
Apply topical antibiotic cream designed especially for mouth sores
Use over the counter anesthetics such as Orajel or Anbesol to help numb the pain of mouth sores
Summary
Mouth sores are a fairly common occurrence. At least 80 percent of us will develop a mouth sore at some point in our life. The best way to reduce your risk is to stay healthy – this includes regular checkups with your doctor, practicing good dental hygiene, and seeing your dentist on a regular basis for dental cleanings.
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