What types of ulcers in mouth are there and how to treat them?
Pain during eating and talking and uncomfortable burning. These are the most common manifestations of infected mouth ulcer, which are among the most common inflammatory diseases of the oral mucous. What types of these unpleasant mouth ulcers exist and how to treat them?
What are the types of mouth ulcer?
Every mouth ulcer is different, some of them can be only a few millimetres in size and others can reach up to three centimetres in diameter. They can also occur in different places in the mouth and vary in colour.
Mouth ulcers by location
Mouth ulcer can only occur in areas where the mucous membrane is not corroded. Therefore, mouth ulcers do not form on the gums or on the hard palate on the top of mouth. They usually occur on the soft parts of the mouth or on the underside of the tongue.
The most common types of mouth ulcer by location are:
- mouth ulcer on tongue
- mouth ulcer under tongue
- mouth ulcer on lip
On the other hand, if you suspect that you suffer from ulcer or canker sore on roof of your mouth or on gum, your problems very possibly have different cause and you should see a specialist.
Mouth ulcers by size
Mouth ulcers can also be divided according to size into small, large and herpetiform. Let's take a closer look at the different types.
Small mouth ulcer
Small mouth ulcers (aphtosis minor) are by far the most common in the population, accounting for about 80% of the total. The ulcers are whitish-grey in colour and usually circular in shape. The ulcer tends to be precisely circumscribed with a red border around it. This type of mouth ulcer, which measure less than ten millimetres in diameter, normally takes about seven to ten days to heal and leaves no scars.
Large mouth ulcer
While small mouth ulcers are relatively common, big mouth ulcers (aphtosis major) are rather rare. They are larger than ten millimetres and, in some cases, can reach up to three centimetres in diameter. They also tend to be deeper than small ulcers and take longer to heal, possibly weeks or months. Large mouth ulcers are very painful and leave scars.
Herpetiform mouth ulcer
Herpetiform mouth ulcers are the least common and mainly affect women between the ages of 20 and 30. They are typically found at the base of the oral cavity and on the edges of the tongue. They take the form of small boils between one and two millimetres in size and completely lack an inflammatory rim. They usually appear in large groups and may number up to a hundred. Even though they are small, they are very painful and take a long time to heal.
Mouth ulcers by colour
The colour of mouth ulcers varies depending on what stage they are in. It starts with yellow, and after a few days the mouth ulcer turns white. A white-grey shade is normal, and it sometimes might give the impression of being darker. Nevertheless, ulcer in mouth is never black. If the blister bursts and the mouth ulcers start bleeding, the area around the sore turns red, indicating severe irritation.
How do mouth ulcers arise?
Experts are still unclear as to why mouth ulcers actually arise. But they believe that several factors may be to blame. Hormonal changes, weakened immunity, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies have all been cited as causes of mouth ulcers.
Mouth ulcers can also be caused by food allergies or mechanical irritation of the oral mucous – for example, by brushing the teeth with a toothbrush that is too hard, wearing braces, or by sharp edges on food such as crisps.
Treatment of mouth ulcers
The treatment focuses on relieving pain and speeding up healing. Topical preparations are used to numb the affected area. These may take the form of gels or ointments, for example. Pain caused by bleeding mouth ulcers can also be relieved by the application of special disinfectant solutions.
As for home remedies, you can try gargling a decoction of sage or chamomile. Infected mouth ulcers should heal within seven to fourteen days. However, if they do not heal or hurt so much that they cause a fever, see a doctor.
TIP: Kamistad Gel
Do you want to get rid of the pain that is caused by bad mouth ulcer as quickly as possible? Try Kamistad Gel, a special gel for the treatment of mouth ulcers and inflammation of the gums and oral mucous, and apply it directly to the painful areas. Containing the active ingredient lidocaine hydrochloride and chamomile flower extract, the gel reduces inflammation, quickly relieves pain, and has a positive effect on the healing of mouth ulcers.
Prevention of infected mouth ulcer
Since one of the possible causes of infected mouth ulcers can be vitamin deficiency or weakened immunity, it is advisable to focus on a healthy and varied diet and provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals. In recent years, experts have shown that the development of mouth ulcers can be linked to deficiencies of iron, vitamin B and folic acid.
Also focus on good oral hygiene, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and use toothpastes without SLS foaming agents. During the onset of mouth ulcers, limit spicy, sour and overly hot foods that can irritate the mucous.
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