MOUTH ULCERS : CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Mouth ulcers are painful SORES in the mouth and gums. They are also known as CANKER SORES. Mouth ulcers are mostly harmless, but can be extremely painful and uncomfortable which makes it difficult for some people to eat, drink, and brush their teeth.

Mouth ulcers range in size, and the exact symptoms of the mouth ulcer will depend on what type of ulcer a person has as there are basically different types of mouth Ulcers. 

There are three main types of mouth ulcers. These include:

HERPETIFORM ULCERS (HU)

Herpetiform ulcers are a subtype of aphthous ulcers and get their name because they resemble the sores associated with herpes. Unlike herpes, HU is not contagious. HU ulcers recur very quickly, and it may appear that the condition never gets better.

MINOR ULCERS

This type can range in size from about 2 millimeters (mm) up to 8 mm across. These ulcers typically take up to 2 weeks to get better and will cause minor pain.

MAJOR ULCERS

This type of ulcers are usually bigger than minor ulcers. Major ulcers are often irregular in shape and often penetrates deeper into the tissue than minor ulcers. They can take several weeks to go away and are likely to leave scar tissue when they clear.

Mouth Ulcers can be very painful, and the pain can be made worse by food, drink, and poor oral hygiene.

HU LEGIONS: 

   •   They appear as extremely painful ulcers in the mouth 

   •   Recur very quickly, so infections seem continuous 

   •   Increase in size, eventually coming together to form a large, ragged ulcer 

   •   It usually takes 10 or more days to heal 

   •  They are known to appear anywhere in the mouth. 

They tend to be found in more females than males and are more common in older adults.

SYMPTOMS FOR MINOR AND MAJOR ULCERS INCLUDES: 

    •     One or more painful sores that may  appear on the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, or the tongue 

    •.    The appearance of round lesions that  have red edges and are yellow, white, or gray in the middle

During more extreme outbreaks of mouth ulcers, some people may experience fever, sluggishness, and swollen glands.

SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES OF MOUTH ULCERS

The exact cause of mouth ulcers is still not known and varies from person-to-person. Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, may aggravate mouth ulcers. 

However, there are some common causes and several factors that may aggravate mouth ulcers, including the following:

1)   Quitting smoking 

2)   Citrus fruits and other foods high in acidity or spice races, 

3)    Poor-fitting dentures, and other apparatus that may rub against the mouth and gums 

4)    Stress or anxiety 

5)     Hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause 

6)      Medications including beta-blockers and pain killers 

7)      Genetic factors

Some people may develop ulcers as a result of a different medical condition or a nutritional deficiency.

Conditions such as celiac or Crohn’s disease, vitamin B12 or iron deficiency, or a weakened immune system may all trigger ulcer's to form.

Thankfully, mouth ulcers tend to clear up on their own, and the pain associated with an ulcer typically disappears within a couple of days.

There are some medications in the form of ointments and solutions that may help with pain and swelling, but these are often not necessary for a person to make a full recovery.

To prevent future outbreaks, people should try to reduce stress and anxiety as much as possible.