Stomatitis is the most common type of inflammation of the oral mucosa. It manifests itself in the form of small ulcers and lasts from several days to several weeks. According to statistics, stomatitis affects about 20% of the world's population. It is especially common in pregnant women and children. Today we will understand what stomatitis is, because of what it appears and how it is treated. We will also find out what types this disease is divided into.
What is stomatitis?
The disease is diagnosed quite often in patients of different age groups. The mechanism of the development of the disease is still not fully understood. The most popular opinion is that stomatitis is a special reaction of the immune system to exposure to unfamiliar irritants. With the appearance of foreign molecules in the body, lymphocytes begin to attack them, which leads to the appearance of ulcerative lesions on the mucous surface, which are popularly called stomatitis.
The disease has a number of features. The first thing worth noting is that it runs on average from four days to two weeks. Ulcerous formations heal quietly and leave no traces in their place. Immunity is not produced. Having had stomatitis once, a person can subsequently become ill with it again. In this case, the frequency of repeated exacerbations can be very variable. On average, the disease manifests itself several times a year. However, there are also cases of more frequent, almost chronic stomatitis, when a new ulcer appears immediately after healing of the previous one.
As a rule, the first time a person is ill with stomatitis at the age of 10 to 20 years. Statistics show that 20% of the population of our planet periodically encountered this ailment.
Causes of Stomatitis
As a rule, the disease occurs due to local factors, namely due to non-compliance with hygiene rules. Some of its species can be caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, gastritis, duodenitis and helminthic invasion. The main factors that cause stomatitis have been identified. We will analyze each of them separately.
1. Toothpastes and oral cleaners, which include sodium lauryl sulfate (LSN). Studies show that the use of hygiene products containing flabs increases the risk of stomatitis. This is mainly due to the dehydrating effect of the specified substance on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. Under the influence of LSN, it becomes vulnerable to all kinds of irritants, for example, food acids. According to the same studies, people who use toothpastes that do not contain LSN suffer stomatitis much less frequently. If such a disease occurs in those, then it does not proceed so painfully.
2. Stress. People with stomatitis often report that ulcers formed when they experienced emotional or mental stress.
3. Nutritional deficiencies. The cause of stomatitis can be an unbalanced diet. The ailment may appear due to a deficiency:
- Vitamins A and C.
- B vitamins: 1, 2, 6, 9, 12.
- Useful substances: zinc, iron and selenium.
4. Hypersensitivity or allergies. Stomatitis can provoke an allergy to food and certain substances. In such cases, the disease occurs due to the ingestion of an unwanted product into the oral cavity. If a person suffering from stomatitis suspects that his body does not perceive certain substances, he should follow his diet to determine what exactly provoked the disease. It will also be useful to undergo a medical examination for allergies.
Most often, stomatitis develops as a result of immunity to such products:
- Cereals: oatmeal, wheat, buckwheat, barley, rye. In this case, the allergen is often gluten protein contained in these products.
- Vegetables and fruits: tomatoes, lemons, oranges, apples, pineapples, figs, strawberries.
- Dairy and dairy products.
- Other products: chocolate, nuts, soy, mustard, vinegar, mint.
- Other substances: medicines, toothpastes, chewing gums and dental materials.
Thus, the list of allergens that provoke the occurrence of stomatitis is very extensive, therefore, without a special examination, it is rather difficult to identify an undesirable product.
5. Hormonal changes. Scientists have found that in women, the formation of ulcers in the oral mucosa may be associated with one or another phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, it is reported that the disease often worsens during pregnancy.
6. Genetics. According to studies, some people have a genetic predisposition to stomatitis. Thus, in parents who often had this disease, the child is more prone to it than others. Stomatitis in children can also occur if women during pregnancy neglect a healthy diet and hygiene of the company cavity.
7. Bacteria. Bacterial organisms were found in the ulcers that form in stomatitis. Thus, there is every reason to believe that they may be involved in the exacerbation of the disease. In most cases, bacteria (and there are always a lot of them on the mucous membranes), if they do not cause stomatitis, then complicate its course.
8. Diseases. The appearance of stomatitis can be directly associated with a number of diseases. Therefore, those who often suffer from this ailment are advised to undergo a medical examination for any systemic diseases. The most terrible of them are malignant tumors in the pharynx, nose and neck.
9. In addition, the appearance of ulcers may be due to:
- A side effect of chemotherapy.
- Drinking alcohol and nicotine.
- Dehydration, which can occur as a result of: vomiting, inadequate water intake, large blood loss, a prolonged increase in body temperature or increased excretion of urine.
- Inadequate or improper oral hygiene.
- Dental intervention.
Having learned what stomatitis is and what causes it, we turn to the signs of the disease.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of stomatitis are redness of the mucous membrane, which can occur on the inside of the cheeks and lips, under the tongue, on the bottom of the mouth, on the soft palate or in the tonsils. Over time, redness swells, which is accompanied by burning. If at this stage you do not start treatment of stomatitis, then soon sores of a round or oval shape will appear on the inflamed area. They are easy to identify by white or grayish color with a red halo. Ulcers hurt much more than redness, and interfere with a comfortable meal. The fabric around them looks quite cool.
If only one small sore appears in the entire oral cavity, then this is a mild form of stomatitis. If several large ulcers arose, then a severe form of the disease occurs. In this case, stomatitis can be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, inflammation of the lymph nodes, headache, constipation, loss of appetite, increased salivation, irritability, the appearance of plaque on the tongue and worsening of general well-being. In the acute form of the disease, the patient is difficult not only to eat, but also to speak.
With the "classic" form of stomatitis, a single ulcer forms, but in some cases the number of ulcers can reach up to six. Usually they are scattered in different corners of the oral cavity. If two ulcers form nearby, they can merge into one larger one.
Kinds
Experts distinguish eight types of stomatitis. Each of them is worth staying separately.
Aphthous stomatitis
The cause of this disease can be allergic reactions, gastrointestinal diseases, rheumatism, viral infections and heredity. It can be recognized by the occurrence of single or multiple small ulcers (aphthae) in the oral cavity with a diameter of up to 5 mm. As a rule, they have a gray-whitish color and a narrow red rim. The ailment can be accompanied by fever, deterioration in overall health and pain in the area of ulcers. It can have both acute and chronic form.
Herpes stomatitis
The causative agent of this disease is the herpes simplex virus. Infection can occur from a sick person or virus carrier, by airborne droplets or by contact. In children, stomatitis of this type is especially common. They can become infected through dishes, nipples, toys and other items. The disease develops quite quickly: the child weakens, becomes pale and irritable, his body temperature rises, and his appetite disappears, and finally, the size of the submandibular lymph nodes increases. The peak of the disease is accompanied by increased redness and swelling of the mucous membrane, increased salivation, drying out and cracking of the lips and the formation of vesicles on the mucous membrane, which quickly open and form erosion surfaces.
Fungal (candidiasis) stomatitis
This is a fungal disease that is most often found in young children and the elderly. In children, stomatitis of this type occurs due to a lack of acidic substances in their saliva that are designed to fight bacteria. In this case, the disease is also called thrush. The development of candidal stomatitis in the mouth in adults and elderly people is mainly associated with a weakening of the immune system as a result of treatment with antibacterial drugs or against the background of some kind of chronic disease.
Symptoms of fungal stomatitis are: burning in the oral cavity, white coating on the tongue and / or other surfaces of the oral cavity, bleeding and hyperemia of the mucous membrane, loss of taste or persistent unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. Such a disease is contagious and can be transmitted both household and sexual (oral sex).
Allergic stomatitis
This type is a general allergic reaction of the body to a specific allergen, therefore it is not considered a separate disease. He is treated along with the underlying disease. Allergic stomatitis manifests itself in the form of redness, white spots on the mucous membrane, vesicles or small-pointed hemorrhages.
Bacterial (traumatic) stomatitis
This type of disease occurs when an infection gets on the injured mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The cause of injury can be the use of solid food, dental intervention, biting the tongue or cheek, and so on.
Catarrhal and catarrhal-hemorrhagic stomatitis
These species are a manifestation of the mildest form of allergy. In children, stomatitis of these types is most common. The ailment is accompanied by burning, itching, a violation of taste sensitivity, dry mouth and soreness when eating.
In 60-70% of children with catarrhal stomatitis, in addition to damage to the oral cavity, damage to other organs is also observed. When examining the oral cavity, diffuse hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane are observed. Evidence of this is the imprint of teeth on the lateral surfaces of the cheeks and tongue. In addition, desquamation of the filiform papillae is observed in the tongue, which leads to the so-called “varnished tongue”. The mucous membrane is not only hyperemic, but also affected by small-pointed hemorrhages. Her mechanical irritation in this period may be accompanied by bleeding. Moreover, the general condition of the patient is not violated.
Ulcerative stomatitis
This disease is notable primarily because it is accompanied by severe pain at the time of talking and eating. Most often it develops in people suffering from a stomach ulcer, chronic enteritis, infectious diseases, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular system and blood. In addition, it can occur with severe poisoning.
The first symptoms are hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, in the lips, gums, palate and tongue. Later, transparent bubbles appear on their background, which, after opening, are transformed into erosion. In this case, the gingival papillae may bleed. The disease is accompanied by hyposalivation, an increase in the submandibular lymph nodes, sore throat and discomfort in the throat.
Vesicular stomatitis
This type of disease manifests itself in animals, mainly ungulates. It is an acute infectious disease characterized by a vesicular lesion of the mucous membranes of the mouth, skin of the lips, udder, nasal speculum, as well as the corolla and the inter-experimental gap. All this is accompanied by fever.
Diagnostics
When diagnosing stomatitis, the doctor first of all studies the patient’s medical record, and then proceeds to a visual examination of his oral cavity. To identify the disease does not require any specialized tests or analyzes - the appearance of the ulcers and their location is enough to accurately identify the disease. In addition, one of the distinguishing characteristics of stomatitis is the healthy appearance of the tissues surrounding the ulcer, and the absence of any pronounced systemic signs (fever, weakness, etc.). An exception is severe forms of the disease, which in most cases are accompanied by painful conditions.
How to cure stomatitis?
The treatment of this disease is always carried out in two directions: strengthening the immune system and local effects on the affected area. To relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes and accelerate their recovery, the infected area is treated with special medicinal compounds. This operation can be performed in three ways: rinsing the oral cavity, local irrigation, local treatment with a cotton swab. After removing the inflammation, it is necessary to get rid of pain. Usually, stomatitis medications have a disinfecting and analgesic effect immediately. After the treatment of ulcers with such means, it will be superfluous to lay antiviral ointments (oxolinic, florenal, tebrofen and others). Regardless of the type of medicine used, swallowing it is undesirable.
Means that strengthen the body's immune system, perfectly complement the treatment of stomatitis and accelerate the recovery process after it. With developed immunity, the risk of relapse of lesions of the oral mucosa is reduced and the rapid healing of the skin is stimulated. To restore the body's defenses, you need to limit the impact of stress factors and balance the diet. In rare cases, it is necessary to resort to intensive immunization and strengthening procedures.
To stomatitis quickly receded, the damaged area of the oral cavity must be treated every 3 hours. At first, this is especially important. Timely treatment started will allow you to quickly get rid of the problem and prevent the disease from becoming more severe. During the day, it is worth monitoring oral hygiene and the condition of the teeth. You can get rid of bacteria that appear from food debris using auxiliary products such as peach oil, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil and Kalanchoe juice.
An important element in the treatment of stomatitis is a balanced diet. If possible, sweets that contribute to the development of a favorable environment for the life of microorganisms in the mouth should be excluded from your diet. What to saturate the diet, so it is fresh vegetables and fruits (oranges, kiwi, bananas and apples). They abound in vitamins and minerals, which greatly increase the body's defenses. In addition, the following products will help in the treatment of stomatitis: rice, beef liver, dairy products, rose hips and nuts (especially cedar).
With infectious stomatitis, it is desirable to limit the patient’s social circle in order to avoid infection of other people. If contact cannot be avoided, it is recommended that you use a gauze dressing.
Treating children
In children, stomatitis is treated according to the same strategy as in adults. If the baby is breastfed, it will be useful to periodically treat the mother's breasts, dummies, bottles and toys with an antiseptic solution that he can pull into his mouth. In addition, in this case, it is important to balance the diet of the mother so that the baby receives enough useful substances for his early recovery and restoration of the immune system.
Medicines
Having understood the general concept of stomatitis treatment, we will get acquainted with the most commonly used drugs. It is important to note that without the approval of the doctor and thorough familiarization with the annotation, it is highly not recommended to use any medications.
Anesthetics
With stomatitis, very painful ulcers appear in the mouth, which can interfere with the normal functioning of the patient. . (, , , ). , , .
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Recently, pastes are actively used to treat stomatitis, which cover the ulcers with a film that protects them from the influence of irritating substances contained in food. As a rule, such drugs add components that accelerate the healing of the mucous membrane, and anesthetics.
Means for restoring the affected epithelium
Sea buckthorn oil, propolis ointment, vanillin, rosehip oil, Solcoseryl and Karatolin are drugs that significantly accelerate the restoration of damaged areas of the oral mucosa.
Folk methods
When treating stomatitis at home, many folk remedies are used.
For rinsing the oral cavity, apply:
- Soda (one teaspoon per glass of water).
- Hydrogen peroxide (two teaspoons per glass of water).
- Kalanchoe or aloe juice (using pure or slightly diluted juice).
- Carrot juice. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1.
- Egg white. Beating one egg white with 100 milliliters of water, you can get a common remedy for treating stomatitis at home.
- Potassium permanganate. Giving water with the help of potassium permanganate a light pink color, you can make another simple but effective tool.
- Propolis tincture.
- Decoctions of medicinal plants: chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula, sage, yarrow, hyssop and oak. Some of these plants kill microbes, another - regulates the acidity in the mouth and relieves inflammation, the third - strengthens the affected areas of the mucous membrane.
- Flax-seed. This product is considered the main tool for restoring the mucous membranes of the whole body, so when treating stomatitis at home, it will not hurt. Strained broth from 1 tbsp. l seeds and a glass of water are used to rinse your mouth.
- Kombucha tincture.
- A solution of chlorophyllipt. This tool, due to its neutral taste and low odor, is especially often used in the treatment of stomatitis in children. They rinse their mouth and throat also with sore throat and cough. To prepare the solution, you only need to add 20 drops of chlorophyllipt to a glass of water.
- Alum. Having diluted a couple of pieces of alum in a glass of water, you can get a good tool for disinfecting the oral cavity.
- Hypericum tincture. This tool is an excellent anti-inflammatory and astringent medicine. To rinse, it is enough to take 30 drops per half a glass of water. Also, tincture can be taken orally by 40-50 drops.
- Decoction of the bluehead. To prepare this medicine, you need to pour 1 tbsp. l bluehead flat-leaved with a glass of water, boil for 15 minutes and leave for an hour.
For the treatment of ulcers use:
- Protein with honey and vitamins. This is a very common remedy for fighting stomatitis at home. To prepare the medicine, you need to mix one egg white with 1 teaspoon of honey, 5 mg of novocaine and vitamins B1 and B6 (one ampoule each). The resulting composition must be mixed to a state of foam. It is taken on an empty stomach in 1 teaspoon. The tool must be kept in the mouth until it is completely absorbed into the mucosa.
- Aloe. The leaves of this plant are applied to ulcers of stomatitis. If the affected area is hard to reach, the leaves can simply be chewed.
- Garlic. A natural antiseptic is perfect for treating stomatitis in adults at home. By mixing grated garlic with yogurt or kefir in equal proportions, you can get a great disinfectant. It must be applied to the surface of ulcers. It is important not to overdo it and not to use the product too often, as it can lead to a burn of the oral mucosa.
- Potatoes. Grated raw potato gruel has a milder, but no less significant effect than garlic. Only she does not fight microbes, but heals wounds.
- Boron Vaseline. By treating the affected area with this tool, you can contribute to the rapid healing of ulcers.
- Green tea. According to reviews, stomatitis can be treated with simple green tea. Dry tea leaves are applied directly to the sores and kept until they get wet.
Prevention
We have found out what stomatitis is, how to diagnose and treat it, it remains only to find out how to prevent this disease.
To reduce the risk of stomatitis, you need to:
- Beware of damage to the oral cavity.
- To timely treat teeth.
- Brush your teeth thoroughly, using not only a brush, but also a floss.
- Rinse the oral cavity with antiseptic agents.
- Use only those products that do not cause irritation of the mucous membrane to care for the oral cavity.
- When using bracket systems, carefully care for them.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Monitor the state of the immune system.
Conclusion
Today we figured out what stomatitis is. There are many types of this disease, and each of them has its own symptoms. However, a common sign of the disease and its main distinguishing feature are white or grayish sores in the oral cavity. By the mere presence of such neoplasms, one can immediately suspect stomatitis in oneself. Photos showing the affected areas of the mucosa look rather unpleasant, but do not panic. In fact, this disease is a reaction of the immune system and signals the need to strengthen the body's defenses and more thorough oral hygiene.