Learning Some Facts about Oral Ulcers
Most of us might have experienced oral ulcers some time in our lives. But do we really understand what these are?
Oral ulcers are basically those open sores found inside the mouth or on the epithelium on the lips and the surrounding mouth. These are normally caused by breaks in the mucous membrane.
Common Symptoms of Oral Ulcers
Symptoms of oral ulcers normally vary according to its cause. Some oral ulcers start with burning sensations or sharp stinging at the site of a growing mouth ulcer. After a few days, they slowly progress forming into a red spot, then followed by the open ulcer. Oral ulcers appear as yellow or oval, with inflamed red borders. There are also instances where a halo or a white circle just around the lesion may be observed.
The white, yellow, or grey coloured area right with the red boundary is normally because of the formations of layers of fibrin. Fibrins are those proteins that are involved in the clotting of the blood. Ulcers, when agitated, are extremely very painful. They can also be accompanied by swellings of the lymph nodes just below the jaw, which is why these are sometimes mistaken for toothaches.
In other cases, ulcers cause inflammations of the mouth which feel very rough to the tough. Be careful though that if the inflammation lasts for more than two weeks, it is better to seek professional help from doctors or dentists as this are warning signs of oral cancers.
Causes of Oral Ulcers
There are varied causes that can slowly lead to the ulceration of oral tissues. In rare cases, these are caused by overreactions of the own immune system of the body. Some other factors that include are fatigue, stress, injuries from accidental biting, illness, menstruation, hormonal changes, food allergies, sudden weight loss, and deficiencies in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. Also, some drugs, like nicornadil, are linked with oral ulcers, while recreational drugs lead to mouth ulcers.
How to Prevent Oral Ulcers
Most oral ulcers can be prevented by controlling imbalances in the vitamins and minerals that relate to ulcer. Also, restricting and managing the disease process can greatly reduce the process of ulcers. People with high incidence of bacterial infections can prevent oral injuries by bathing the wound with anti-bacterial mouthwash for two straight days, one minute for every twelve hours.
Also, do not forget to use small vessels to contain the solution since most mouth washes remain in the mouth for a few minutes and can have detrimental effects like prolonged impairments of your sense of taste.
Learning about some facts and preventive measures about oral ulcers can help a lot so that you will have an idea how to deal with it once it hits you. However, it is still better to seek for professional help once you experience this very common problem.
