Many times we are so calm and suddenly boom! pain and discomfort for no apparent reason in the tongue or gum. From that moment on, eating, drinking and brushing our teeth will be a horror. We come to explain why mouth sores appear, the symptoms, what treatments usually work and some tips to avoid them.
From children to the elderly, sores are the most normal thing in our lives and it is a reaction of our body to a specific situation. The fact that it is normal does not make them pleasant, since canker sores are very painful in some cases, taking away the smile from our faces and the desire to eat.
What is a sore?
The sores are not dangerous, nor are they cancerous, since oral cancer does not hurt. The sores are superficial wounds that appear on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks, as well as on the gums that are very annoying, especially when eating highly acidic things.
Mouth ulcers are rounded or oval with a whitish or yellowish color (depending on the infection) and accompanied by a reddish halo. These are open wounds that appear without warning, unless we burn the tip of the tongue, then we know that we will have a sore in a few seconds.
The size of the ulcers varies between 2mm and 10mm, being able to appear individually or in a group. In the event that several appear in a row, we must see a doctor since it could be the beginning of a disease.
Sores are also known as canker sores and canker sores, but it is all the same and has the same causes, symptoms, and treatments that we will see in the following sections.
How many types of canker sores are there?
Although it may seem silly, there are several types of canker sores, specifically 3 types from more to less complex. But as we say, a sore should not get too complicated, if it bleeds, it hurts, the external area becomes very inflamed and so on, it is best to see a doctor.
- Herpetiform ulceration: It is related to the famous herpes, but unlike these, the sores are not contagious. A problem with this type of sores is that they recur quickly and sometimes it seems that they will never fully heal.
- Minor ulcers: a small sore that causes mild and bearable pain that does not hinder our routine. They usually take about 2 weeks to disappear completely.
- Major ulcers: As their own name indicates, they are larger than the previous ones, in addition, they tend to be irregular in shape, they can even penetrate deeper into the tissue (up to 1 cm) causing more pain and discomfort, even leaving scars when they finally They disappear after weeks.
Why do I have sores?
The causes of canker sores are very varied, in fact, it has not yet been shown that they are really related to a lack of vitamins:
- Having a weakened immune system.
- viral infection
- Blows and trauma to the mouth.
- Involuntary bites.
- Hooks for orthodontics.
- Wrongly placed dental prostheses.
- Aggressive dental cleaning.
- Stress.
- Smoking tobacco or drinking a lot of alcohol.
- nutritional deficiencies.
- Hormonal changes (pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, puberty, etc.)
- By taking medication.
- Allergies
- Sensitivity to some foods.
- By rubbing against some surfaces, for example, sucking on an envelope before closing it, biting a zipper cord, holding the keys in the mouth, etc.
- Behcet's disease.
- Genetic heritage.
Symptoms and diagnosis of canker sores
These types of events that are concentrated inside the mouth are not serious, at least not in 97% of cases, but it is worth knowing that if we have many inside the mouth, our face is swelling, our skin it turns red, our cheeks hurt, it prevents us from eating and drinking, then it is high time we went to a doctor.
Mouth ulcers are very annoying, especially if they are on the tip and sides of the tongue and in areas of the gum near the tooth. A dentist can make a quick diagnosis and prescribe some medication to treat them so they don't bother us so much or help them disappear faster.
The most common symptoms are inflammation, pain in the mouth, apathy, lack of appetite or, rather, the desire to eat for not feeling pain, general malaise, irritability and can even cause fever, in the most extreme case.
Main treatments
From now on we have to say that there is no specific treatment that ends the sores in the blink of an eye, hopefully. What we do have within our reach are creams, rinses, special toothpastes, topicals, etc.
Specifically, we, from our own experience after going to a professional, recommended that we rinse several times a week with Chlorhexidine Lacer or Period-ai brand. Hand of saint for punctual sores, bleeding gums, or when the gum hurts for an unknown reason.
It is an antiseptic that must be used after brushing and that "forces" us to spend two hours without eating or drinking for it to take effect. After this discovery, canker sores and other conditions are not bothersome to us.
Another thing that we recommend is that when we have thrush, always stay hydrated, since a dry mouth helps bacteria to proliferate faster, causing more damage and creating bad breath.
How to prevent its appearance
We repeat that there is no miraculous method, we only manage to reduce the probabilities, but wounds of this type could continue to appear inside our mouths. The fewer recommendations we follow, the more likely there will be to suffer sores in our day to day.
- Having an good oral hygiene (including rinsing with Chlorhexidine at least 2 times a week and cleaning the tongue).
- Comply with a varied and balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds and others.
- Consume foods rich in Omega 3 and vitamin 6.
- Avoid hot foods.
- Wear orthodontic protection.
- Change medication.