Traumatic stomatitis is an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity. It develops against the background of constant exposure to soft tissues of irritating factors. The disease can occur at absolutely any age. However, it is most often detected in children, which is explained by frequency microtrauma.
Main reasons
The oral cavity is lined with non-keratinizing epithelial tissue, consisting of a large number of glandular elements. Its mucosa has a high regenerative ability, and saliva has antibacterial properties. However, against the background of reduced local immunity, any wound or burn can trigger the development of stomatitis. If general immunity is also weakened, this pathology is doubly dangerous.
Possible causes of traumatic stomatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- Thermal effects due to constant consumption of hot food. Rarely enough, the disease develops due to frostbite of the oral mucosa.
- Mechanical damage. This type of trauma is most often found in childhood. Damage to the mucosa can be caused by a splinter of the tooth when swallowing solid food or biting some objects.
- Chemical damage. Occur due to prolonged use of low-quality alcohol or tobacco. If there are already microtraumas on the mucosa, nicotine slows down the regeneration process and accelerates the progression of stomatitis.
Favorite places for localization of lesions are teeth, tongue, soft palate and the inner surface of the lower lip.
Clinical picture
A wound or abrasion on the mucous membrane does not always lead to traumatic stomatitis. In most people, the bactericidal properties of saliva do an excellent job with the pathological focus, neutralize the action of microbes. With weakened immunity, the following unpleasant symptoms appear:
- hyperemia and swelling in the affected area;
- burning sensation;
- soreness after eating;
- problems with articulation;
- the appearance of bacterial or fungal plaque;
- increased salivation;
- low-grade fever;
- bad breath;
- an increase in local lymph nodes.
As for the nonspecific manifestations of the disease, some patients complain of headaches. A feeling of overwork is also constantly pursuing, excessive tearfulness, drowsiness is possible.
Diagnostic Methods
As a rule, traumatic stomatitis in adults and children does not require examination using laboratory tests. The diagnosis is confirmed based on the clinical picture.
In some cases, patients are prescribed a general blood test and bacterial culture from the focus of the pathology. In the blood test, there are manifestations of the inflammatory process: an increase in ESR, leukocytosis. A bacteriological study allows you to identify pathogenic microflora, determine the sensitivity to antibiotics.
Of no small importance during the course of diagnosis is the collection of anamnesis. Usually, patients at the consultation talk about early injuries of the oral mucosa, burns or non-healing injuries. Denial to patients of the fact of damage is not a basis for refutation of the preliminary diagnosis. Quite often, microtraumas on the mucous membranes, which are difficult to notice on their own, are the entrance gate for infection.
Features of pathology in young patients
Traumatic stomatitis in children most often develops with teething. At an older age, they can injure the mucous membrane by stuffing foreign objects into the mouth. It's about pencils, small toys. The mucous membrane can be damaged as a result of a hit of a sports apparatus in the face, an unsuccessful fall. Quite rarely, inflammatory phenomena occur due to dental or surgical procedures.
Drug therapy
Treatment of acute traumatic stomatitis should be started immediately after the appearance of alarming symptoms. Drug therapy for adults is complex. One of its most important components is rinsing for disinfection of the oral cavity. For this purpose, use "Chlorhexidine", "Furacilin" or ordinary peroxide. Also, according to the doctor’s recommendations, tinctures are used on medicinal plants (calendula or propolis).
Therapy must necessarily include means to stop inflammation and prevent the spread of the infectious process. Therefore, patients are prescribed "Ingalipt", "Lugol", "Miramistin" or gel "Holisal". Treatment of traumatic stomatitis in adults is not complete without pain medications (“Kamistad”, “Lidochlor”). However, they should be used strictly according to the instructions and at the recommended dosage.
In rare cases, resort to the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ("Ibuprofen", "Nimesulide"). If a general toxic syndrome occurs, antibiotics are required. Before prescribing a specific agent, it is necessary to determine the sensitivity of the main pathogen.
Medications for small patients
How to treat traumatic stomatitis in children? Therapy for young patients is similar to that for adults. However, in childhood only local use of drugs is permitted. We are talking about the following medicines: Ingalipt, Holisal, Miramistin, Fukortsin.
All drugs, their dosage and duration of administration are determined by the doctor. In the case of young children who still do not know how to rinse their mouths, preference should be given to means in the form of aerosols and gels. Along with this, the use of "Chlorhexidine" is better to refuse. The healing of damaged tissues can be accelerated through applications with sea buckthorn oil.
Help traditional medicine
For the treatment of traumatic stomatitis, it is allowed (under the supervision of a doctor) to use recipes from folk doctors. It is worth noting that this treatment option is not an alternative to medication. This is just an addition to the main course of treatment. Rinses using the following ingredients are particularly effective:
- Oak bark. A teaspoon of raw materials must be poured with a glass of water, brought to a boil. Insist the broth until completely cooled, filter. It is recommended to rinse the oral cavity with the resulting product every 3 hours, but not more than a week.
- Propolis. Raw materials should be crushed and dissolved in warm water. About 0.5 l of liquid will require about a tablespoon of propolis. It is important to continue treatment for no more than three days.
Also, a solution of baking soda and potassium permanganate is well suited for rinsing. Such a composition must be of very low concentration, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the mucosa even more.
Additional recommendations from doctors
During the course of treatment, it is important to follow some recommendations of doctors:
- Refuse excessively hot or cold food. All products should be at a comfortable temperature.
- Exclude spicy and salty foods from the diet. You should also discard spices, onions and garlic.
- It is better to soften food to a puree state.
- Completely eliminate alcohol and smoking.
- Carefully monitor oral hygiene, brush your teeth after the next meal.
- Take vitamins prescribed by your doctor to increase your body's resistance to infections.
Following these tips helps speed up the healing process and minimize pain discomfort.
Possible complications
Manifestations of traumatic stomatitis in the photo look quite unpleasant. This is a dangerous disease, the lack of treatment of which can lead to negative consequences. Among them, the most “safe” is the appearance of putrid odor from the mouth, burning pain in the affected area.
The disease can recur if the main traumatic factor has not been eliminated, or due to improper treatment. In the latter case, the pathogen continues to be active in the body, leading to the resumption of the clinical picture after a short period of time.
Another dangerous complication is a generalized infection. It is characterized by the penetration of the causative agent of the disease into the blood, as a result of which new foci of the inflammatory process appear. In advanced cases, the patient develops sepsis, and death is not excluded.
With the active reproduction of pathogenic flora, bacteria can penetrate the respiratory tract. As a result, laryngitis, tracheitis or pneumonia occurs. Therapy of these ailments requires more time and effort than timely treatment of traumatic stomatitis.
Prevention Methods
Prevention of the disease is reduced to the prevention of traumatic effects on the oral mucosa. For example, doctors do not recommend eating excessively hot food. In order to avoid the propagation of pathogenic microflora in the mouth, hygienic brushing of the teeth should be carried out daily. It is advisable to repeat the procedure after each meal. If injuries or burns could not be avoided, it is necessary to treat the affected area with any antiseptic. If symptoms of traumatic stomatitis appear, you should immediately seek medical help.