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Mouth ulcers
Amouthulceristhelossorerosionofpartofthedelicatetissuethatlinestheinsideofthemouth (mucousmembrane).Someofthecausesincludecertaindrugs,chemicalsandinfectiousdiseases suchasherpesorthrush.Themostcommoncauseismechanicalinjury,suchasaccidentallybiting yourcheek.Inmostcases,mouthulcersareharmlessandresolvebythemselvesinafewdays withouttheneedformedicaltreatment.Aphthousulcersarerecurringulcerswithnoknowncause thataffectaround20percentofthepopulation.Seeyourdoctorifyourmouthulcersdontclear upwithinafewdays,orifyouaretroubledbyfrequentattacks. Symptoms Thesymptomsofamouthulcerdependonthecausebutmayinclude: Aroundsoreorsoresinsidethemouth Swollenskinaroundthesores Tenderness Problemswithchewingortoothbrushingbecauseofthetenderness Irritationofthesoresbysalty,spicyorsourfoods Lossofappetite.

Ima ge des crip

A range of causes Mouthulcerscanbecausedbyawiderangeoffactorsincluding: Accidentalbitingofthecheek. Injuryfromatoothbrush(suchasslippingwhilebrushing). Constantrubbingagainstmisalignedorsharpteeth. Constantrubbingagainstdenturesorbraces. Poororalhygiene. Burnsfromeatinghotfood. Irritationfromstrongantiseptics,suchasamouthwash. Oralthrushinfection. Herpessimplexviralinfection(coldsore). Reactiontocertaindrugs,suchaschemotherapeuticagents. Autoimmunediseases(forexample,lichenplanus). Syphilisinfection. Arangeofotherinfectionsincludinghand-foot-mouthsyndrome. Certaindiseasesincludingtuberculosis,AIDS,diabetesmellitusandinflammatorybowel disease. Cancerofthelip.

The cause of aphthous ulcers isnt known Aroundoneinfiveadultssufferfromrecurringboutsofaphthousulcers,whicharemouthulcers withnoknowncause.Thetongue,gumsormouthliningcanbeaffected.Cropsofthesetinyoffwhiteulcerstendtosproutduringtimesofemotionalstressorthemenstrualperiod.Thishasled someresearcherstosuggestthataphthousulcersmaybecausedbyanimmunesystemreaction, sincetheimmunesystemisaffectedbystressandhormones.Theunderlyingtriggermaybea virusoranallergicreaction.Anothernameforaphthousulceriscankersore. Possible complications Untreated,mouthulcerscanoccasionallyleadtocomplicationsincluding: Bacterialinfection Inflammationofthemouth(cellulitis) Toothabscess.

Mouthulcers

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Diagnosis methods Itisimportanttoestablishthecauseofthemouthulcers.Someoftheinvestigationsmayinclude: Physical examination-mouthulcerslookdifferentdependingontheircause.For example,iftheulcerislargeandyellow,itwasmostlikelycausedbytrauma.Coldsores insidethemouthtendtobeverynumerousandspreadaroundthegums,tongue,throat andinsideofthecheeks.Afeveralsosuggeststheulcersmaybecausedbyaherpes simplexinfection. Blood tests-tocheckforsignsofinfection. Skin biopsy-asmalltagoftissuefromtheulceristakenandexaminedinalaboratory.

Treatment options Mostmouthulcersareharmlessandresolvebythemselvesinafewdays.Othertypesofmouth ulcers,suchastheaphthousvarietyorthosecausedbyherpessimplexinfection,needmedical treatment.Itisntpossibletospeedtherecoveryofulcers,butthesymptomscanbemanagedand theriskofcomplicationsreduced.Therangeoftreatmentoptionsincludes: Avoidspicyandsourfoodsuntiltheulcersheal Drinkplentyoffluids Regularlyrinseyourmouthoutwithwarm,slightlysaltedwater Keepthemouthclean Takepain-killingmedication,suchasparacetamol Applyantisepticgeltotheulcers Useamedicatedmouthwash Usesteroidgelsortablets Treataphthousulcerswithanti-inflammatorydrugs Treatulcerscausedbytheherpessimplexviruswithanti-viraldrugs Treatoralthrushwithanti-fungaldrugs.

Prevention tips Suggestionsonhowtoreducethelikelihoodofmouthulcersinclude: Brushyourteethatleasttwiceeveryday. Flossregularly. Visityourdentistregularly. Brushyourteethverygently,takingcarenottoslipwiththebrush. Eatawellbalancedandnutritiousdiet. Makesurethatunderlyingconditions,suchasdiabetesmellitusandinflammatorybowel disease,aremanagedappropriately.

Where to get help Yourdoctor Dentist Chemist

Things to remember

Amouthulceristhelossorerosionofthedelicateliningtissueofthemouth(mucus membrane). Themostcommoncauseismechanicalinjury,suchasaccidentallybitingyourcheek. Inmostcases,mouthulcersareharmlessandresolvebythemselvesinafewdayswithout theneedformedicaltreatment. Aphthousulcersarerecurringulcerswithnoknowncausethataffectaround20percentof thepopulation. Ifyourmouthulcersdontclearupwithinafewdays,orifyouaretroubledbyfrequent attacks,seeyourdoctor.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

NorthEastValleyDivisionofGeneralPractice

Mouthulcers

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Mouthulcers

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