Canker sore stomatitis, commonly known as mouth ulcers, is a very annoying but harmless oral disease. Since almost everyone has had to deal with mouth ulcers at least once in their life, let’s try to understand better what they are, what they depend on and how to treat them.
What are canker sores?
Canker sores are small superficial ulcers located on the soft tissues of the oral mucosa, such as cheeks, lips and tongue, or at the base of the gums. These bubbles in the mouth have a rounded shape with a circumference of less than 1 centimetre, which generally does not exceed 3 or 4 millimetres. They have a yellowish colour surrounded at the centre by an intense red halo.
Aphthous stomatitis tends to disappear within 3 or 7 days.
Causes
What causes canker sores is not fully known. Several triggering factors have been identified such as fever, nutritional deficiencies, immune disorders, lack of iron or vitamins, local trauma, stress, fatigue, hormonal changes, allergies and intolerance to certain foods, genetic predispositions.
Symptoms
Canker sores are excruciating, and even feeding is difficult. In its initial phase, the bubble in the mouth presents itself with a burning sensation. After a few days, it forms a small ulcer which causes severe pain when touched. On the back of the tongue, the mouth floor, or at muscle insertions, it can also lead to altered tongue motility and difficulty in swallowing.
If the lateral-cervical lymph nodes swell, there is no need to worry; lymph node involvement is usually due to bacterial over-infection and concomitant inflammation.
Canker sores and other diseases
Canker sores can be a wake-up call to the presence of specific systemic pathologies such as:
- Celiac disease
- Chron’s disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
- Behcet’s disease, a vascular condition that usually accompanies canker sores and eye lesions.
Bubble/ mouth ulcers treatment
You can apply gels or ointments directly on the bubbles and the area affected by the disease. It would reduce pain and healing time. When you have a tooth abscess you have to fight the infection with an antibiotic. In this case the situation is different.
There is no cure to prevent mouth ulcers but only topical therapies.
How to cure mouth ulcers naturally
You can use several natural remedies to relieve discomfort and facilitate the healing of mouth ulcers. Among the most popular:
- lactic ferments, useful if canker sores depend on the intestinal imbalance
- aloe vera, for its calming and regenerating properties
- propolis, for its anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic properties
- ice, because the cold dampens the pain and inflammation
- liquorice for anti-inflammatory properties
- green, anti-inflammatory and purifying clay
Is canker sore contagious?
Canker sores ulcerations are often associated with blisters caused by herpes. One of the main concerns of people suffering from a canker sore is whether it is contagious. Unlike herpes, canker sores are not infectious. There is no risk, therefore if you have accidentally drunk from your friend’s glass.
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