Mouth ulcers and treatment

Almost everyone experiences painful mouth ulcers atleast once in a lifetime. Mouth ulcers are also known as canker sores or aphthous ulcers. They are small lesions that outgrow in your mouth or at the base of your gums. They can take the joy out of eating and make talking distressful.  Mouth ulcers usually disappear within a few weeks, however if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts for longer, you should seek the advice of a doctor.

Some things have been identified to trigger mouth ulcers. Some of them are

• Stress

• Lack of regular sleep habits

• Trauma, from ill-fitting dentures, fractured teeth, or fillings 

• Dysfunctional immunity 

• Harsh toothpastes and mouthwashes 

• Deficiency of Vitamin B12 and zinc

• Orthodontic treatment

• Infections 

• Stomach conditions like celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

There are three types of mouth ulcers

• Minor
  Minor canker sores are small mouth ulcers that heal within one to two weeks with no scarring.

• Major
  Major canker sores are larger and deeper than minor ones. They may take longer to heal (up to six weeks). They may cause scarring too. 
• Herpes ulcers
  Herpes ulcers are minuscule in size, occur in clusters of 10 to 100, and often affect adults. They heal without scarring within one to two weeks.

Family history may also have a role to play in mouth ulcer occurrence.  

The pain and the distress of mouth ulcers may lead to poor eating and culminate in deficiencies and compromise health and immunity in the long run.

Some simple tips may help you deal with the pain and distress of mouth ulcers -

• Applying analgesic pain relieving gel

• Rinsing mouth with saltwater 

• Applying ice to canker sores

• Taking nutritional supplements like folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and zinc

Certain products can help you to relieve the pain of ulcers

Analgesic gels

Analgesic gels containing Choline salicylate, Lignocaine hydrochloride, Benzalkonium chloride and Cetalkonium chloride have found to numb the pain of mouth ulcers. They have been proven to reduce the frequency, duration and symptoms associated with the ulcers too. One can try a mouth ulcer gel like QuikKool to get relief from mouth ulcer pain. 

Zinc

Zinc supplements are also found to be efficient in managing recurrent mouth ulcers.

Vitamin B12

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 has been implicated in the development of mouth ulcers. Vitamin B12 supplementation has been found to be effective in relieving pain and improving the quality of life for patients with mouth ulcers. 

If you get mouth ulcers recurrently, you should consult a physician and get pathological investigation done to rule out deficiencies.  It may also help to avoid potentially irritating foods like citrus fruits, spicy snacks, fried foods and carbonated drinks. Also be sure to avoid harsh toothpastes and mouthwashes. Quit smoking and avoid tobacco products completely. Choose foods loaded with fiber like lentils and whole grains. Also be sure to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing regularly after every meal and rinsing your mouth. Also assure that you get adequate sleep. Be sure to use only soft bristle toothbrushes

To summarize, mouth ulcers are common and affect at least 20% of the population4, and though usually harmless they are painful and can seriously interfere with quality of life. Mouth ulcers can be managed with simple oral hygiene, supplementation and use of analgesic gels.