How to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers?

Thinking about mouth ulcers in itself gives a twinge of pain, and almost everyone in the world right now has gone through that annoying pain at least once in their lifetime, and those of you haven’t; how does it feel to be so lucky?

Mouth ulcers are painful sores that appear inside the mouth and sometimes on the gums. They are also called canker sores. Mouth ulcers are usually not a cause of concern, but the excruciating pain it causes can be a cause of slight disruption in routine life. Mouth ulcers make it difficult to eat, drink, and even brush.

Even though it causes a lot of discomforts, they clear out themselves in around two weeks, and there won’t be any requirement to go to a dentist.

Ulcers can be seen in different sizes and the need to go to a doctor arises when the ulcer doesn’t go on its own and it is almost three weeks since its first appearance.

How Does a Mouth Ulcer Look Like?

A mouth ulcer is found in round or oval shapes and usually appears on the inside of the mouth, specifically on the cheeks, tongue, gums, and lips. The ulcers are seen as swollen and will have a hue of white, yellow or red, or even gray. There are chances of having more than one ulcer at a time.

The most common kind of mouth ulcer is  “aphthous ulcer”. It happens when the immune cells in a body called the ‘T cells’ start becoming more active and start forming ulcers inside of the mouth. The reason for the acting up of these cells is unknown.

Causes of Mouth Ulcers

Knowing the causes is important for understanding how to get rid of mouth ulcers. As discussed above, the reason why people come across mouth ulcers is unknown but some of the reasons that might trigger the formation of ulcers are as follows:

→When you quit smoking for the first time, it might cause the formation of ulcers inside the mouth.

→Having foods that are high in citrusy content or foods like chocolate, spicy foods, cheese, almonds, tomatoes, peanuts, etc.

→Biting of the tongue or cheeks with a sharp tooth.

→Poor-fitting dentures like braces rub over the insides of the mouth.

→Hormonal changes

→Hard food

→Defective filing.

→Deficiency of Vitamin  B12, folate, or iron.

→Chemicals in toothpaste.

→Chickenpox

→Crohn’s disease

→weakened immune system

The genes that run in your family can also be a fair cause of the frequent ulcer formation in your mouth.

Read to know: How does Smoking Affect Your Teeth?

How to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers?

At Home

There are many home remedies that can be done to reduce the irritation caused by ulcers and help restore the normal function of the mouth.

→There are over-the-counter numbing creams or other ointments that can help lower the pain and swelling caused by ulcers.

→Use toothbrushes with softer bristles; Make sure that brushing doesn’t alter the sensitivity around the mouth.

→Getting rid of toothpaste that has irritating chemical components like sodium lauryl sulfate.

→Avoid foods that are hard to chew, sour, spicy, alcoholic drinks, sodas, etc.

Pharmacy Medicines

There are many over-the-counter medicines that you can purchase from the pharmacy without the need for a prescription and these medicines can help in the treatment of ulcers and even help with it in an even shorter span of time.

→The usual medicine prescribed for mouth ulcers by pharmacists will be antibacterial mouthwashes. It helps speed up the healing process reduces the inflammation in the mouth and prevents the spreading of ulcers as well.

→If you are in extreme pain, then you can get painkillers in the form of mouthwash, lozenge, gel, or spray. It might cause a sting or a burning sensation at first but the sensation is temporary. The mouthwash can be diluted with water and should not be used for more than 7 days in a row.

→Corticosteroid lozenges can be used to speed up healing and reduce pain.

Even though you may find a number of home remedies and medications on the internet and elsewhere, you should see your doctor before using any of them.

Is it Mouth Cancer?

It is mandatory to see a dentist if the ulcer lasts for more than three weeks. It can sometimes be a symptom of oral cancer. The ulcers that are symptoms of mouth cancer are usually seen under the tongue or on the tongue but one cannot confirm this.

The reasons for oral cancer can be because of effective smoking or use of tobacco, smokers who are also heavy drinkers, and infection because of HPV.

Regular dental checkups are the best way to detect such lesions inside the mouth at the earliest stage possible.

Mouth ulcers are usually known to clear up on their own but if it’s affecting your daily life, then it will be best to go for OTC medicines. If it doesn’t go away and you have other discomforts along with the pain, then the best choice will be to make an appointment with your general practitioner or your dentist.

Read to know: Things You Should Know About Oral Cancer

Feel free to contact us to discuss more concerns about how to get rid of mouth ulcers.

Read Similar:Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Right Toothpaste