At Glandwr Dental Practice, we want to provide you with dental information, especially during a time where we are unable to go about life as normal. Our team has put together some advice on mouth ulcers and how to manage them from the comfort of your own home.
Mouth ulcers are sores that can form in your mouth but can end up being very painful. They are usually sensitive to touch and come with sharp stinging pain. They are usually clear to recognise, and react to the smallest movements in your mouth. This makes daily activities like eating, talking, and even just flashing a smile painful! Where do they come from, and how do you get rid of them?
What causes mouth ulcers?
The exact cause of them is difficult to pinpoint. They are common and are sometimes a sign of an infection, but anyone can get them no matter the state of their oral health. However, there are some factors which increase your chances of getting one.
One factor is the result of oral trauma. This is when part of the mouth becomes damaged or irritated after accidentally biting it or scratching it. You can also get ulcers from burning your mouth on food and drinks.
Ulcers can also result from hormonal changes in your body, so women might experience them when they are on their period. Increased stress and anxiety is also known to cause mouth ulcers.
If you are a smoker, the chance of irritating the inside of your mouth and causing an ulcer is higher. This is because smoking affects your body’s production of red blood cells.
Crohn’s disease can also cause mouth ulcers, as the disease causes inflammation in your gut, leading to not only mouth ulcers but also stomach ulcers.
Ulcers can actually be caused by genetics. Some people are genetically predisposed to them, and get stages of recurring ulcers throughout their life. Certain food and drink can increase your chances of some people experiencing them, like benzoic acid in tomatoes, cola, and chocolate.
How do I treat a mouth ulcer?
Thankfully, mouth ulcers do heal naturally, but it can take some time. There are methods to help relieve the pain from them whilst you wait for them to pass.
- Brush carefully
Scratching your ulcer with the bristles of a toothbrush can be extremely painful so make sure you take extra care when brushing your teeth. Brush gently around the area with the ulcer, but ensure that you are carrying out your full oral hygiene routine so you have a clean mouth.
- Avoid certain foods.
Eating particularly hard foods can also irritate an ulcer in the mouth by scratching it. It may be worth avoiding any spicy foods too.
- Medication or lifestyle changes.
If you think that your stress levels are making you experience more ulcers, try adopting some new habits which relieve stress and help you to relax.
If your ulcer is causing you a lot of pain, you can get some medication to help with this. Some mouthwashes on the market are specially medicated to help, just double check you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in them.
An alternative to shop-bought mouthwash for ulcers is rinsing your mouth with salty water. You could buy medicated gels to apply to them too. They gently numb the area, providing relief from the pain and a layer of protection.
If you are concerned that your ulcer is not healing, then please contact us to book an appointment. We can take a look to check if it is anything suspicious.
