A mouth ulcer or oral aphthae is an erosion, a sore or discontinuation in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It occurs due to necrosis and loss of integration of the epithelial layer of the skin above the mucous membrane.
Location wise the can occur on the gums, inner side of the cheeks, lips or even the upper palate. They appear as yellow, white or red discontinuation of the skin and can sometimes be very painful. They may also be called Canker sores.
Conditions that can cause Mouth ulcers are as follows:
- Local trauma: Such as due to braces, dentures, from biting one’s lip or from sharp food objects or from eating hard food. Thermal injuries from consuming very hot food or drinks can also result in ulceration of the mouth.
- Stomatitis: It is a very common but idiopathic condition that leads to the formation of recurrent mouth ulcers without any apparent cause. These are benign and non-contagious by nature.
- Iatrogenic: These can originate post dental work due to abrasions caused during the process.
- Oral Cancer: Ulcers that refuse to heal can be a sign of oral cancer.
- Riga-Fede Disease: It is a rare condition seen in infants on the inner side of the lip or the tongue due to newly erupted baby teeth. Repeated trauma can cause a large mass with fibrosis.
- Radiotherapy: This can sometimes cause mouth ulcers.
- Drug Induced: Certain medications such as Cytotoxic drugs, NSAIDs and some recreational drugs can cause mouth ulcers.
- Infections:
- Viral infections such as Herpes simplex, varicella and HIV can increase the chances of mouth ulcers.
- Bacterial infections include TB, Syphilis, and other opportunistic infections.
- Fungal reasons can be from Cryptococcosis, Blastomycosis and Valley fever.
- Parasitic reasons include Entameoba histolytica.
- Hormonal changes such as during periods or pregnancy.
- Vitamin Deficiencies: Vitamin B 12 and nutritional deficiencies such as of Iron, Zinc or Folate can also cause oral ulcers.
- Stress and Lack of Sleep can also be some of the reasons.
- Citric Fruits: Strongly acidic fruits such as lemons can also trigger mouth ulcers.
Symptoms of Mouth Ulcer include:
- Characteristic lesion with a yellow, white or grey center
- Swelling around the region of the ulcer
- Pain and inflammation
- Soreness in the mouth
- Difficulty in deglutition.
Management of Mouth Ulcers includes:
- Good oral hygiene practices
- Drinking plenty of water on a regular basis
- Brushing gently and using toothbrushes with soft bristles
- Taking a good diet full of vitamins and nutrients
- Avoiding tobacco completely
- Avoiding foods that trigger oral ulcers such as hot and spicy food.
Frequency of Mouth ulcers if up to 20% in any population with some factors that can cause an increased incidence such as:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels lead to an increase in chances of infections and hence causes an immunocompromised state making opportunistic infections causing mouth sores very likely to occur.
- Behçet’s disease: It is a chronic condition due to the inflammation of vessels or vasculitis in the genital and oral region. Symptoms include recurrent oral ulcers, genital sores, inflammation of the eyes and skin troubles.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: IBD is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disease and includes conditions such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis. One of its symptoms is the formation of sores including oral ones.
- Celiac disease: It is a condition causing digestive and multisystem symptoms. It is an immune mediated response towards the small intestine triggered by the consumption of gluten based foods such as wheat, barley and rye.
- Immune Disorders: Conditions such as HIV or AIDS and others make mouth ulcers a common occurrence.
Some of the effective and useful Homoeopathic Medicines for Mouth Ulcers include:
- Antimonium crudum: Canker sores, cracks at the corners of the mouth, tongue coated white as if whitewashed.
- Argentum nitricum: Gums tender and bleed easily, tip of tongue is red and painful, canker sores.
- Borax: It is a highly efficient remedy for mouth ulcers or aphthae with white growth, mouth feels hot and tender, ulcers bleed on touch and on eating, painful gum boils, bitter taste in the mouth. It is also available in the form of Borax Trituration Tablets.
- Taraxacum: Mapped tongue covered with a white film over it, feels raw and comes off in patches leaving red sensitive lesions, bitter taste in the mouth.
- Hydrastis: Ulceration of the tongue, peppery taste in the mouth, tongue swollen large and flabby in appearance, stomatitis and glossitis. B Jain’s Omeo Mouth Ulcer tablets are infused with Borax, Mercurius solubilis, Kalium chloricum and Hydrastis candensis making it the ideal remedy for mouth ulcers providing aid to many.
- Baptisia tinctoria: Teeth and gums sore, ulcerated, with fetid odor from the mouth. Stomatitis, can swallow liquids only.
These are some of the best remedies for mouth ulcers. It should however be remembered that recurring ulcers or ulcers that present with unusual symptoms should be checked by a registered medical practitioner on an urgent basis and not be left to heal on their own. Visit Our website and buy homeopathic medicine online.
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Dr. Priyanka Motwani
Dr. Priyanka Motwani has completed her BHMS from the prestigious Nehru Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Delhi and holds a Post Graduate Program in Lean Six Sigma from Isenberg School of Management, The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is currently the R&D Head at BJain Pharmaceuticals and has a zeal to learn more and more each day.