STOMATITIS AND APHTHOUSE STOMATITIS

Are you often inflicted by persistent and painful ulcers of the mouth? Many individuals face this condition, where the mucous membrane of the different parts of the mouth such as inner cheeks, gums, tongue, palate, throat and the underside of the tongue get inflamed due to persistent aggravation. This aggravation may be caused due to poor oral hygiene, scalding due to the consumption of hot food or beverages, or ill fitting dentures. This condition may also be indicative of an allergic reaction to a particular drug, side effects of a medication, infections and radiation therapy. Medically this condition is known as stomatitis.

 

The onset of stomatitis can be attributed to various causes ranging from aggravation caused due to broken teeth, inappropriately fixed pediodontic and orthodontic appendages. These rub against the soft lining of the inner cheek causing irritation and eventual inflammation. People who are used to regularly consuming beverages such as tea and coffee that are too hot cause irritation to their tongue and throat. Some diseases which are known to cause stomititis are gonorrhea, leukemia, measles, AIDS and inflammatory bowel disease. Stomititis can also be caused due to the deficiency of vitamin C.

 

A particularly intense condition of stomatitis called recurrent aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomitits is marked by the presence of inflamed painful ulcers on the cheeks, gums, palate and under side of the tongue. The condition begins with the appearance of dot sized ulcers and these can eventually grow to 2.5 cm if left untreated or unchecked. These ulcers are known as canker ulcers and are caused due to an allergic reaction towards certain chemicals in toothpastes, cosmetics and other oral hygiene products such as mouth wash or mouth sprays. Canker ulcers have also been observed in patients who have suffered from lead, mercury or bismuth poisoning. Fungal infection is another cause of these ulcers; a common fungal condition is called thrush. Generally though, the common cause of canker ulcers is the excessive consumption of spices and pungent food, alcohol and tobacco and tobacco products. It’s also caused due to a deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 in the body.

 

Some of the recommended preventative measures are to avoid eating foods such as nuts and chips which have jagged edges that may inflame the cheeks, tongue or other organs of the mouth. Avoid the excessive consumption of alcohol. Restrict the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products. Consume food and beverages that are either close to room temperature or only a little warmer. Use a soft bristled tooth brush that doesn’t damage the gums. Do not brush your teeth rigorously as there is a liability of the brush banging against the gums.

 

A range of treatments are used to treat stomatitis depending on the underlying cause of this condition. If caused due to faulty pediodontic or orthodontic appendages, you should replace them at the earliest. Minor cuts and bruises usually heal within a week without the use of medication. Incase deficiency is determined as the cause; it can easily be treated by the intake of vitamin B12 and iron supplements. Patients suffering from  AIDS, leukemia, anemia are usually prescribed ailment specific medication.

 

If the condition persists physicians may recommend the oral application of medication on the ulcers. If the problem exhibits a consistently recurring pattern, a treatment which involves the use of low powered carbon dioxide laser may be recommended. If positive results are not observed from the usage of Vitamin supplement and oral medication, antibiotics maybe recommended. Tetracycline and corticosteroids have proved to be quite effective in the treatment of aphthous stomatitis.  Sometimes stomatitis is also observed in patients suffering from herpes, valacyclovir is a potent medication in this case.

 

If the ulcers show intense inflammation and are particularly painful anesthetics such as 2% lidocaine maybe prescribed to ease the pain. For stomatitis caused due to faulty dentures, braces or jagged teeth coating agents like kaopectate and orabase a protective tooth paste are generally recommended.