What is an aphthae?
Painful blisters in the mouth
Estimated reading time: 2 min.
Aphthae are one of the most common diseases of the oral mucosa. The small but painful inflamed ulcers are usually harmless. Although an aphthae usually develops quickly and heals on its own, in some cases it can persist longer or even become chronic.
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What is an aphthae?
An aphthae (from the Greek for sponge) is a sudden and painful inflammation in the oral cavity. It is also spelled aphthae. Primarily, the small vesicle-like ulcers occur on the sensitive oral mucosa, the lips and pharyngeal tonsils or the tongue. They can occur in one or more places in the oral cavity.
How else can you spot an aphthae? The vesicles often hurt when eating and speaking. An aphthae can also be recognized by its milky-yellowish color. Usually, aphthae have a diameter of 1 to 30 mm. In addition, a slight redness often surrounds the aphthae. Usually, the ulcers burst open and the sore becomes inflamed with burning and pain.
Other oral diseases are also associated with aphthae. Children suffering from oral thrush also often have the typical blisters. Unlike conventional aphthae, oral thrush is caused by herpes viruses and is therefore highly contagious.
Is an aphthae contagious?
No, an aphthae is not contagious or dangerous. Although it can be very painful, an aphthae is usually harmless and does not require any special treatment.
What causes aphthae?
The exact cause of aphthae has not yet been elucidated. However, there are factors that may promote aphthae:
Psychological stress
Mechanical stimuli, e.g. from braces or dentures
Injuries with the toothbrush
Weakened immune system
Nutrient deficiency, e.g. vitamin B12, iron or folic acid
Hormonal influences
Food intolerances and allergies
How can aphthae be treated?
Usually, the focus is on local treatment for aphthae to relieve discomfort:
- Anesthetic ointments or gels to relieve pain.
- Avoiding aggravating factors such as acidic and spicy foods
- Regular and thorough oral hygiene
- Oral analgesics for severe discomfort
- Antibacterial mouth rinses
- Herbal anti-inflammatories, such as chamomile
- Compensation for nutrient deficiencies, e.g. iron, folic acid or vitamin B12
How long does an aphtae last?
An aphthae develops quickly, but can also persist for a long time. Usually, an aphtae heals quickly because of the frequent cell division of the oral mucosa. However, the duration depends on the size of the inflammation: Accordingly, an aphthae can be healed after only a few days or only after several weeks or even months. Without treatment, the duration of an aphthae is normally no more than two to four weeks.
In the case of a deeper mucosal defect, healing is only possible with scarring. With chronically many and large aphthae, the quality of life can be severely impaired.
What to do if you constantly have aphthae?
So-called recurrent aphthae can occur again and again. Often, a new outbreak occurs. If you have constant aphthae, purely symptomatic treatment of the aphthae cannot provide long-term relief.
Therefore, you should consult a doctor and take a closer look at possible triggers in order not to suffer from aphthae all the time and to rule out other diseases. This applies not only if you suffer from recurrent aphthae, but also if the mucosal defect is very deep.
To prevent aphthae, it can also be helpful to consistently brush your mouth after every meal. In addition, a dental appointment should be scheduled every six months.
More interesting articles
The oral cavity is lined with oral mucosa. Since the cells of the oral mucosa divide particularly frequently, wounds usually heal faster here.
In the case of poorly fitting dentures, pressure points quickly cause discomfort. What can provide relief with this local inflammation in the mouth, read here.