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You may feel that it is a minor inconvenience. You might say you bit your cheek, or ate something too Recurring Mouth Ulcers? It Might Be a Sign That Something Is Wrong
It might be a small nuisance. You might tell yourself that you bit your cheek, or had something too hot to eat. But when mouth ulcers recur again and again month after month, they begin to seem more than an occasional problem.
For most, such painful ulcers become a daily reality that disrupt the three primary functions of having use of your mouth — eating, talking, and sleeping. What most people don’t realize is that re-occurring mouth ulcers can be your body’s way of silently sobbing for help — signaling a deeper, more underlying problem — perhaps a nutrient deficiency, or an immunology problem or even linked to your lifestyle.
At Partha Dentall we have a lot of patients who report frequent ulcers and have just dismissed it as something small, only for us to realize that it is connected to an underlying medical issue, nutritional deficiency, or stress. If you keep experiencing ulcers that continue to reappear, you need to quit ignoring the signs.
In this blog, we are going to address most of the factors concerning recurring mouth ulcers, the reasons behind them, when you should consult, and treatments if it is your child involved.
1. What Are Mouth Ulcers and Why Do They Occur?
Mouth ulcers are small open wounds that may occur in the mouth. They tend to be round or oval in shape with a white or yellow center and red outer ring. You may discover them in any area of the inside of your mouth but are most common just inside the lips, on the inner cheeks, beneath the tongue, or on the top of your mouth.
They usually go away by themselves within one to two weeks. But if you keep getting them repeatedly, there is a reason for it.
2. Recurring Mouth Ulcers Causes
Let’s talk about some of the more common recurring mouth ulcers causes. You may be surprised at how many of them might be due to normal aspects in your life.
1. Vitamin Deficiencies
The most frequent cause we are finding in patients who suffer from chronic mouth ulcers is one of a vitamin and/or mineral deficiency, with low iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 being most frequent.
These minerals and vitamins are crucial in tissue health, such as that of the inner lining of the mouth. If you don’t provide your body with the necessary minerals and vitamins, it is more likely for ulcers to develop and will tend to last longer.
2. Emotional Stress
Everybody is aware that stress can affect our bodily health. While some present stress as headaches or tummy problems, others present stress as mouth ulcers. If a person gets mouth ulcers on a regular basis during times of stress or when they are busy; then stress may be a likely culprit.
3. Food Sensitivities
Certain people’s ulcers may be caused by certain foods if they’re sensitive. The types of trigger foods would be acidic fruits (oranges and lemons), spicy foods, coffee, nuts, and possibly even chocolate. Not everybody is sensitive to these foods, but if you do get ulcers on a regular basis then it would be worth it to perhaps take a food diary to see if there were connections.
4. Mouth Injuries
Occasionally, ulcers are simply an unwanted byproduct of a bite while eating. Braces can irritate and cause ulcers, sharp teeth, rough/broken fillings, or an ill-fitting denture also create ulcers. If you always develop an ulcer in the same location in your mouth, perhaps take note of how much rubbing occurs there.
5. Autoimmune and Gut Conditions
In some cases, frequent ulcers are linked to more complex health issues.
Although less common, conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and Behçet’s syndrome can manifest as painful and frequent ulcers in the mouth. These conditions lead to the immune system attacking components of the bodies, including mouth tissues. Though this is rare, it is a significant cause to eliminate if you have other signs of stomach pain or fatigue.
6. Hormonal changes
Often overlooked but you must know that hormonal changes can influence the immune system and inflammation, making ulcers in the mouth more likely.
7. Viral Infections
Mouth ulcers may result from viral infections such as herpes simplex virus (don’t mix up with canker sores) and other infections that are generally linked to ulcerative-type lesions of the mouth. Aphthous ulcers may result from a viral infection, which will often have other symptoms like fever or swollen glands and would require an antiviral to heal.
Book your FREE consultation3. Mouth ulcers in Child – Things parents need to know
If your child experiences frequent ulcers, it can be worrying. Kids may find it difficult to eat, talk, or brush their teeth, and younger children will simply not have a way of explaining why their mouth is sore.
There are plenty of the same possible causes of mouth ulcers in children as there are in adults — deficiencies, stress, trauma from aggressive food or brushing, etc. Mouth ulcers may also reflect viral diseases such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease, particularly if they are accompanied by fever or rash.
If your child keeps getting them, or they don’t go away in a few days, they should be evaluated by a paediatric dentist or physician. They will check out the cause and give them gentle treatment based on your child’s comfort level and age.
4. When To Worry
Most mouth ulcers are harmless and will go away by themselves. There are some times when the ulcer might need extra attention.
You should bring your child to a health care provider if:
• they have ulcers more than two weeks in length, not treated
• they have recurrent ulcers more than once a month
• they have very large or painful ulcers
• they have ulcers with other signs such as fever, malaise, or weight loss
• they have ulcers in the same location every time
• you see ulcers together with other symptoms of the digestive system.
We have a very careful way of handling recurrent ulcers at Partha Dental. We do not only address the symptom; we attempt to determine the potential root cause of recurrent mouth ulcers in child, and with the patient, we will come up with a treatment plan which addresses the entire thing.
5. How We Handle Recurrent Mouth Ulcers at Partha Dental
Each patient is unique and therefore so will their treatment. Based on why the ulcers occurred, the treatment can comprise of:
• topical gels or medicated mouth washes that minimize pain, and potentially expedite healing
• Vitamin supplements; if deficiencies are known through blood tests
• Dental procedures; if you have orthodontic work or dental work that is producing trauma or irritation within the mouth
• Antivirals or antifungals; if necessary
• diet or stress management to restrict possible triggers
We also treat children very well. We do this by trying to make children feel at ease and heard throughout the process.
6. Home Remedies to Prevent Ulcers
In addition to professional treatment, there are some easy habits and strategies you can follow to minimize the occurrence of repeated ulcers. For instance:
• Use a soft bristle toothbrush
• Do not eat foods that cause ulcers in you
• Gargle with warm saltwater everyday. Or you can also use an antiseptic solution.
• Maintain proper fluid intake throughout the day
• Eat regular meals and avoid gorging on garbage foods
• Deal with stress effectively.
Mouth ulcers disrupt meals, comfort and sometimes, your self-assurance. Others do suffer with Or as mouth ulcers – as they do not need to live this way for good.
Call us now – 04041420000 because here at Partha Dental, we sit down, listen, examine, and treat the whole picture.
We can assist in taking care of your mouth ulcers; however, no matter if it is something extremely simple or a bit more complicated, we are here to assist in fixing your mouth and keep those nasty sores from coming back again.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes mouth ulcers recur?
Recurring ulcers can be due to a deficiency in vitamins, immune conditions, food intolerance or sometimes stress.
2. Are recurrences of mouth ulcers indicative of cancer?
Not typically but any ulcer that has failed to heal after three weeks, or a change in size, shape or color should be checked by your dentist. Early assessment is extremely important to rule out severe conditions.
3. My child gets ulcers every few weeks, what can I do?
Consider a dental check-up. We will investigate the potential causes and offer gentle and effective means to assist.
4. How are recurrent ulcers treated?
Depending on what is causing them, treatment can consist of topical gels, waiting 10 minutes after chewing gum before applying the gel, vitamin supplements, antiviral medication, adjustment of dental appliances, and in some instances, lifestyle changes as well.
5. Can stress actually cause mouth ulcers?
Yes mental stress can weaken immune system. Read more
Disclaimer:
The prices mentioned in this blog are indicative and may vary based on the severity of the condition, technology used, and materials suggested by the Dentist. They are accurate as of the date of publishing and subject to change as per clinic policy. Third-party or AI-generated estimates may not reflect actual clinic pricing. For accurate costs, please visit your nearest Partha Dental clinic.
