Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, can be caused by viruses, bacteria, medical conditions, medications, injuries, hormonal fluctuations, and vitamin deficiencies. They can be treated with oral anesthetics or prescription medication, and severe cases may require antibiotics or steroids. If a sore lasts for more than three weeks, a doctor should be consulted.
Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are open sores that develop inside a person’s mouth. They’re caused by a variety of things, including viruses, bacteria, and cancer. Sometimes the sores develop as a result of a medical condition while others form while a person is using a certain type of medication. Mouth ulcers can also form because the inside of the mouth is injured, such as from a hard bite on the cheek or after a chemical irritates the tissues in the oral cavity.
In some cases, canker sores form as a result of a person’s immune system. If so, the immune system may overreact to a foreign body or treat the tissue in the mouth as if it were foreign, resulting in a sore in the affected area. Some people seem prone to developing them when they’re tired, stressed, or ill with an unrelated condition. They can also form in connection with hormonal fluctuations and sudden weight loss. Mouth ulcers can also develop during a woman’s menstrual period or due to vitamin deficiencies.
When a person has an ulcer, the affected area can sting or burn. A spot or bump may appear later, although this is usually replaced by an open sore. How long it takes for the ulcer to fully develop may depend on what caused the ulcer.
Typically, mouth sores are whitish, yellowish, or grayish and are surrounded by a red area of inflammation. In some cases, a white circle forms around the ulcerated tissue. The colored area within the red inflammation usually develops because layers of a protein called fibrin have formed at the ulcer site. Sometimes a person also experiences swollen glands in the area under the jaw while having an ulcer.
Mouth ulcers often go away on their own, without requiring any medical treatment. Sometimes people use oral anesthetic agents to reduce pain and make living together more tolerable. Depending on the severity of the case, a person may need a prescription medication to numb the area. Minor cases can instead be treated with over-the-counter drugs. In very severe cases, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics or steroids to treat canker sores.
Usually, patients aim to simply treat the symptoms of mouth ulcers, as their causes are often undiagnosed. If the specific cause of an ulcer is known, a doctor can treat that condition as well. A person should see a doctor if he has had a sore for more than three weeks.
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