In adults and children, small wounds (aphthae) in the mouth often appear. They are quite painful and have many reasons for their occurrence.
In some cases, the aftas go away on their own. Often, however, treatment is required for the disappearance of wounds. In this case, the help of a doctor is needed. Only a specialist can correctly diagnose, establish the cause of the anomaly and prescribe adequate treatment.
What is afta?
The word aphta in Greek means "pimple." Its appearance on the oral mucosa begins with a slight burning sensation. Three stages are distinguished in the development of the afta itself.
- Within a few days, a small vial containing liquid appears on the burning site.
- After it, an ulcer is formed. It has a yellowish white color. In size, the wound can reach one centimeter, however, it often happens within three to four millimeters. Around the aphthae, an inflammatory process develops, due to which a slight reddening of neighboring tissues occurs.
- A few days later, a protective mesh forms over the ulcer. It consists of protein and fibrin. It looks like a gray-white spot.
Sores can appear in groups of up to six. In this case, there is a high probability of developing aphthous stomatitis. With weak immunity and the presence of various systemic diseases, such an ailment can develop into a chronic form. In this case, during periods of exacerbation, recurrent aphthae of the oral cavity will appear and then disappear. The disease itself has a sluggish course and is accompanied by tissue edema.
Symptoms
The formation of aphthae on the oral mucosa is quite uncomfortable. At an early stage, a person may experience:
- lack of appetite;
- increase in body temperature;
- malaise and weakness;
- an increase in cervical and occipital lymph nodes.
After the appearance of ulcers, pain occurs during eating and talking.
Classification
Aphthae in the mouth are of various types. They differ in appearance and localization.
- Most often, lower aphthae appear. They are observed in eighty percent of cases. Such wounds have a small diameter and affect the mucosa of the lower lip.
- Large aphthae have a diameter of about one centimeter. They are located on the mucous membranes of the palate, cheeks, tongue, lips. They are deep, heal for a long time and often recur.
- Herpetic aphthae appear in the form of a large number of vesicles having very small sizes. They can completely euthanize their tongue, palate, and even their entire mouth. Especially often this type of disease is observed in women.
Reasons for the appearance
Aphthae in the mouth can develop as an independent pathology, as well as be complications of other diseases. The direct causative agent of the occurrence of wounds by scientists has not been established.
The causes of aphthae in the mouth are quite diverse. The main ones are:
- injuries (a bitten lip or cheek, damaged mucous membrane during eating or when brushing teeth, carelessness of a dentist, scratching of tissues with a destroyed tooth, interfering braces or poor-quality prosthesis);
- radiation therapy used to treat tumors in the head or neck;
- ingestion of chemicals (drugs, gaseous irritants) in the oral cavity;
- stress;
- insufficient oral hygiene;
- herpes;
- genetic predisposition;
- disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract;
- ulcerative colitis;
- endocrine dysfunction;
- decreased immunity;
- lichen planus;
- blood problems
- thrush;
- allergy;
- deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
Do I have to see a doctor?
Afta is not contagious. They can develop without consequences and disappear on their own. In this case, sores are observed no more than two weeks, heal spontaneously, do not leave marks.
In complicated cases, as well as with the development of painful and large wounds, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The specialist will determine how to treat aphthae in the mouth.
In the absence of the necessary medical care, complicated ulcers can cause various disorders, leave scars, and develop into a chronic form.
Some people prefer to self-medicate and do it quite successfully. However, this tactic is acceptable only if the aphthae are solitary, they occur very rarely and do not give complications.
If there are a lot of wounds, they are painful and do not go away for a long time, you need to consult a dentist. This will help avoid relapses after self-medication, the appearance of allergic reactions, and complications.
Treatment features
If the sore did not go away two weeks after its appearance, then you need to help it heal. This is easily done at home. Treatment of aphthae in the mouth is to reduce discomfort and stimulate wound closure.
The main ways to help get rid of the pathology are:
- rinsing the mouth;
- lubrication of the site of localization of wounds;
- chewing.
Smokers should give up cigarettes during treatment. Nicotine smoke is very irritating to the mucous membrane, and this slows down the healing of tissues.
If two weeks after the start of treatment, the aphthae did not disappear or even began to increase, it is necessary to consult a doctor again. The specialist should prescribe a full examination of the body and supplement local methods of exposure to the affected areas with complex methods of combating pathology.
Drug therapy
Treatment of aphthae in the mouth begins with determining the cause of their occurrence. If ulcers are a consequence of a systemic disease, then drugs are prescribed in parallel to combat it. Depending on this, the necessary medicines are selected: antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic.
For the symptomatic treatment of aphtha, topical preparations are used:
- painkillers (to facilitate the process of eating, it is recommended to rinse their mouth immediately before eating);
- antiseptic solutions and ointments (to accelerate the healing of ulcers and exclude the possibility of bacterial infection, wounds are treated two to three times a day for a week);
- anti-inflammatory (applied directly to a sore spot, help relieve redness and swelling);
- rubbing the affected areas with vitamin A.
All medicines are inexpensive and dispensed in pharmacies without a prescription.
Folk remedies
In addition to the use of medications in the treatment of aphthae in the mouth, it is recommended to follow the advice of alternative medicine:
- rinse your mouth with a solution of sodium chloride or soda, tea leaves, tincture of calendula or sage, a decoction of herbs - linden, chamomile, St. John's wort;
- chew honeycombs;
- lubricate the wounds with essential oils of rosemary, geranium, tea tree.
The improper use of folk remedies can make their use completely ineffective. Therefore, before treatment with any prescription of alternative medicine, it is better to consult a doctor.
Diet
If aphthae in the mouth occur quite often and for no reason, then first of all you should reconsider your diet. The diet should include foods:
- disinfecting the mucous membrane of the gums and palate (garlic, onions);
- saturated with flavones (turnips, blueberries, persimmons, oranges);
- having a high percentage of zinc (walnuts, mushrooms, peas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, bran from rice and rye, chicken heart, beef);
- rich in vitamin B (pork and beef offal, yeast, broccoli, milk, oats, bananas);
- containing vitamin C (citrus fruits, black currants, rose hips, kiwi).
Prevention
In addition to proper nutrition, the observance of additional measures will help to avoid the occurrence of aphthae and the occurrence of their relapses. To do this, you must:
- monitor the condition of the teeth (treat dental diseases on time, correct the wrong bite, build up or remove a split tooth, install only high-quality bracket systems and orthopedic designs);
- for brushing teeth, choose a brush with soft bristles that will not injure the oral cavity;
- to strengthen immunity, visit a sauna, do massage, exercise, spend a lot of time in the air.
Aphthae in the mouth in children: treatment and prevention
There is a separate type of mouth sores, characteristic only for babies. The wounds are called "Bednar aphts." They appear as a result of the occurrence of traumatic erosion of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.
Pathology is most often observed in newborns. Aphthae arise due to violation of feeding rules, choosing the wrong nipple, rough skin of the mother’s nipple, improper oral hygiene, lack of bottle sterilization, and finger sucking.
In older children and adolescents, such sores appear due to the habit of taking various objects into the mouth.
Bednar aphthae have characteristic features:
- localized at the border of soft and hard palate;
- have clear contours;
- are located symmetrically;
- covered with a touch of gray-yellow color, which is very difficult to remove.
Ulcers cause severe pain. In a neglected state, aphthae merge. Large erosion forms on the surface of the mucous membranes of the mouth, which causes great concern when feeding.
So that the newborn does not begin to refuse food and lose weight, when wounds appear, it is urgent to consult a pediatrician and begin activities to remove aphthae in the mouth. The reasons for their appearance and treatment are closely interconnected, so only a doctor can collect the entire anamnesis and make the correct diagnosis on its basis. Bednar's aphthae differentiate with diseases such as:
- syphilis;
- tuberculosis;
- diphtheria pharynx;
- sore throat of herpetic type.
After confirming the diagnosis and identifying the cause of the wounds, treatment is prescribed. It includes:
- elimination of the factor that caused the injury;
- purification of mucous membranes from plaque;
- drug treatment of the oral cavity;
- the use of anesthetics.
The healing of aphthae in children lasts from several weeks to two months. During this period, constant monitoring of the pediatrician is necessary.
In order to prevent the occurrence of aphthae in babies, it is necessary to follow simple rules:
- pick up a good nipple;
- comply with the rules of artificial and breastfeeding;
- monitor the condition of the maternal nipples;
- observe the hygiene of the baby's oral cavity;
- in older children, the habit of taking foreign objects into the mouth is eradicated.
Despite preventive measures, aphthae in children can still appear. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. The same should be done if the wound appeared in an adult and does not go away within two weeks.