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Common Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are annoying and painful. There are plenty of things that can cause them such as bacterial, viral or fungal infections. A loose orthodontic wire, a denture that doesn’t fit, or a sharp edge from a broken tooth or filling may also be the culprit.
Mouth sores may be symptoms of a disease or disorder. Your Ottawa family dentist should examine any mouth sore that lasts a week or longer. Among the most common mouth sores are:
Canker sores. Small ulcers with a white or gray base and a red border. Unlike cold sores, canker sores appear inside the mouth. And, they are not contagious. There may be only one canker sore or several and they often return.
Fatigue, stress or allergies can increase the likelihood of a canker sore. A cut caused by biting the cheek or tongue, or reactions from hot foods or beverages may contribute to canker sore development.
Treating Canker Sores: They usually heal on their own after a week or two. Avoid hot, spicy or acidic foods that can irritate the sore. Over-the-counter topical anesthetics and antimicrobial mouth rinses may provide temporary relief..
Cold sores. Annoying and painful, cold sores, also called fever blisters or Herpes simplex, are groups of fluid-filled blisters. They often erupt around the lips and sometimes under the nose or around the chin. Cold sores caused by herpes virus type 1 are very contagious. The initial infection (primary herpes), which often occurs before adulthood, may be confused with a cold or flu and can cause painful lesions to erupt throughout the mouth.
Once a person is infected with primary herpes, the virus stays in the body and causes occasional attacks. For some people, the virus remains inactive.
Treating cold sores: Cold sore blisters usually heal in a week by themselves. Over-the-counter topical anesthetics can provide some relief. Prescription antiviral drugs may reduce these kinds of viral infections.
Leukoplakia. Thick, whitish-color patch that forms on the inside of the cheeks, gums or tongue. These patches are caused by excess cell growth and are common among tobacco users. They can result from irritations such as an ill-fitting denture or the habit of chewing on the inside of the cheek. A danger is that leukoplakia can progress to cancer. Your Ottawa family dentist may recommend a biopsy if the patch appears threatening.
Treating leukoplakia: The dentist examines the lesion and studies the biopsy results to help determine how to manage the disease. Treatment begins with removing the factors that contribute to the lesion: quitting tobacco (smoking or chewing) or replacing ill-fitting dentures or bridges.
Candidiasis. This fungal infection (also called moniliasis or oral thrush) occurs when the yeast Candida albicans reproduce in large numbers. It is common among denture wearers and most often occurs in people who are very young, elderly, debilitated by disease, or who have a problem with their immune system. People who have dry mouth syndrome are very susceptible to candidiasis. Candida may flourish after antibiotic treatment, which can decrease normal bacteria in the mouth.
Treating candidiasis: Control focuses on preventing or controlling the conditions that caused the outbreak. Good oral hygiene is essential. Clean dentures to remove Candida and be sure to remove them at bedtime. Saliva substitutes and prescription medications may be helpful when the underlying cause is incurable or unavoidable. |
