Did you know these things about mouth ulcers? Get your ulcers checked at AMD Dental Clinic

What is a mouth ulcer

Remember when you just put in a bite of spicy food in your mouth and had a burning sensation on a small part of your inner lip or when you hit a soft spot on your gums while brushing? Yess...that tender spot exactly is a mouth ulcer. It is a bruise or sore that can appear on any of the soft tissues of the mouth, including the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and floor and roof of the mouth. Medically, it is a localized necrotic ulcerated area. It is also known as 'Canker Sore' or 'aphthous ulcer' which means 'to set on fire'. We bet they do whenever you take a bite of spicy chips. Researches have shown that about 20% of people get recurring mouth ulcers and over 60% of people will develop a mouth ulcer at least once in their lifetime. These can be painful and slow to heal and can hurt like hell, causing a stinging pain that intensifies when you eat something acidic or spicy, touch them, or even drink water. But luckily, these aren't contagious and won't spread through saliva.

What causes mouth ulcers?

There are no certain causes behind mouth ulcers, but there are a lot of things that can trigger it. Acidic or spicy food being the major one, so now you know when to back off!! A lot of oral health issues have also been identified as the triggers for mouth ulcers like fungal or bacterial infection in mouth or constantly rubbing against a sharp tooth. Some kinds of trauma such as from ill-fitting dentures, fractured teeth, or fillings or accidentally biting into tongue or cheek while chewing can also become a cause of mouth ulcers.

Other than oral health a lot of general health issues can set off mouth ulcers like malfunctioning of the immune system or hormonal imbalances including premenstrual syndrome among women. Emotional stress and lack of proper sleep also play a role in sparking mouth ulcers. Researchers have also shown deficiency of important vitamins like A, E, C and B12 as a cause for mouth ulcers. Lack of water consumption is also one the etiological factor.

These can also be a sign of major health conditions like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or as serious as HIV / AIDS that might require immediate medical treatment.

How can you prevent mouth ulcers?

We have all heard prevention is better than cure, it's time we apply that to our lives especially if mouth ulcers are a common occurrence for you. You can start by avoiding acidic or spicy foods that might cause irritation in your mouth and start taking a proper diet and multivitamins to prevent any deficiency. Taking a proper sleep can also prevent mouth ulcers and reduce stress as well which is also one of the prominent causes for mouth ulcers.

Don't hate us but we are going to go ahead and give you some mom advice to avoid talking while chewing to avoid accidental bites. And we ain't stopping here, so we'll advise you to maintain proper oral hygiene also by inculcating flossing as a habit and start brushing after meals. And use soft bristle brushes for the same. As far as sharp teeth or ill-fitting dentures or braces are concerned, you can ask your dentist to provide you with something to ease the pain.

And make sure that all underlying health conditions are well controlled.

How can you treat mouth ulcers?

Home remedies to cure mouth ulcers

If mouth ulcers are a common occurrence for you or if they are extremely painful and you cannot bear it during the wait time until it gets better, here are a few home remedies for mouth ulcers that might help you to get through the tender period:

1. Lemonade or orange juice

Citrus foods have antioxidant properties which help flush out all toxins from the mouth which aids the healing process. So gulp them to get rid of mouth ulcers.

2. Fruits

Fruits have a high water percentage which helps the body to remain hydrated and reduce body heat levels thus helping the healing process.

3. Honey

Honey's anti-inflammatory properties have been seen to work for reducing the pain, size and soreness and help cure mouth ulcers. Put honey on top of the infected area 3 to 4 times a day.

4. Baking soda

Its antibacterial properties help quicken the healing process by neutralizing the acidic environment in the mouth and cure mouth ulcers. Take 1 teaspoon baking soda and add water. Apply this on the infected area and gargle after it dries.

5. Things you should avoid

Smoking, alcohol consumption, oily foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and red meat are some of the things that increase the body heat thereby aggravating the situation more rather than healing the sore.

Apart from these home remedies try to keep the infected area clean to cure mouth ulcers.

Talk to your dentist

If these don't help and you are still going to google 'How to get rid of mouth ulcers?'

Let us save you some time. It is always advised to get it checked from your dentist because home remedies for ulcers cannot substitute the medical treatment and your dentist will only be able to determine the cause of your ulcers.

And if you are looking for the best dental care in Jaipur to get rid of your painful mouth ulcers, then look no further than our team of Best dentists in Jaipur at AMD Dental Clinic. We'll be more than happy to help you and recommend therapies and treatments like mouth ulcer gel that will help you enjoy your favorite foods again without any pain and trouble.