Ulcers in the tongue are a very common and extremely unpleasant problem that people face, regardless of age and gender. The appearance of such lesions on the mucous membranes of the mouth significantly reduces the quality of life of the patient, complicating even the process of eating.
Of course, many people are looking for additional information about this disease. Why do ulcers appear on a child’s tongue? What other symptoms are worth paying attention to? Which doctor should I go to? What treatments are considered the most effective? Answers to these questions will be useful to many readers.
What symptoms should I look for?
Many patients, turning to the doctor, complain of the formation of ulcers in the tongue. In fact, such a pathology may be associated with the influence of a variety of factors. Erosive damage to the skin of the tongue causes a lot of discomfort to a person - pain is constantly present, but intensifies, for example, during a conversation, drinking, eating, etc.
Ulcers in the tongue can be complicated by other symptoms. These include:
- the formation of plaque, which covers part or all of the surface of the tongue;
- redness of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and tongue;
- difficulties, discomfort during a conversation;
- pain and burning while drinking or eating;
- general symptoms of intoxication, in particular, fever, weakness, poor health;
- swelling and redness of the throat;
- the formation of a rash on the mucous membranes and skin in other areas of the body.
If such symptoms appear, consult a specialist. Of course, sometimes ulcers can be the result of trauma and heal on their own, but often their appearance indicates the presence of certain diseases.
Classification: forms and varieties of ulcers
For diagnosis, it is necessary to accurately determine the nature and location of the damage. For example, some patients are diagnosed with ulcers at the root of the tongue, which usually indicates the presence of internal diseases. In addition, such lesions can be localized in the central part, from the sides (appear when damaged by dentures) or on the tip of the tongue (mechanical damage, for example, a burn).
Wounds on the tissues can take on different shades. For example, sometimes the area of sores is painted in red, whitish, yellowish-series or even green. By the way, this is an important diagnostic criterion.
Ulcers in the tongue can be either single or multiple. Sometimes individual wounds merge with each other by the edges, forming very massive lesion sites.
In addition, there are:
- trophic ulcers, in which only the upper layer of the epithelium is damaged (they are relatively easy to treat with medication);
- necrotic ulcers, which are characterized by a deeper lesion of the tissues of the tongue (such formations cause a lot of inconvenience to patients, and treatment in this case lasts longer).
During the diagnosis, the doctor draws attention to all the above characteristics - this helps to determine the cause of damage to the tissues of the tongue.
Mechanical damage
Ulcers at the tip of the tongue, as well as damage to its lateral parts, as a rule, appear as a result of mechanical stress. The reasons in this case may be as follows:
- accidentally biting the tongue;
- damage due to broken fragments or uneven edges of the tooth;
- prolonged wearing of devices designed to correct bite;
- improperly made dentures;
- tissue damage to the tongue with cutlery;
- burn when eating too hot or spicy food, drink;
- the use of a hard-bristled toothbrush;
- various injuries received during dental procedures.
Ulcers on the background of stomatitis
According to statistics, in most cases, the appearance of ulcers in the tongue is a symptom of stomatitis. There are various forms of this ailment, each of which is accompanied by certain signs.
- Viral stomatitis is accompanied by the formation of small vesicles, which are filled with a cloudy fluid. As the disease progresses, the rashes open, and small ulcers form in their place. Sometimes they merge with the edges, forming extensive lesion sites. The ailment is accompanied by itching, burning and soreness.
- White plaque and ulcers on the tongue may indicate a fungal infection of the oral cavity. As the disease progresses, plaque acquires a curd coating. When it is removed, bleeding sores open.
- Aphthous stomatitis is also accompanied by the formation of ulcers. Lesions have clear boundaries. Erosion from above is covered with a touch of grayish color.
- Bacterial forms of stomatitis are accompanied by the formation of very extensive ulcers, which often merge between the edges. Sites of erosion acquire a bright reddish color.
- The formation of the so-called Bednar aft is possible. The ulcers in this case are localized mainly at the tip of the tongue and are covered with a yellowish coating on top. In most cases, children face a similar problem.
Other causes of ulcers
There are other risk factors, exposure / presence of which can lead to the formation of ulcers in the tongue. The reasons may be as follows.
- Vitamin deficiency in the body (hypo- and vitamin deficiencies).
- Oncological diseases.
- Various kinds of allergic reactions, including to food products, medicines.
- Tuberculosis is sometimes complicated by the appearance of foci of inflammation in the mouth. In the affected areas, small ulcers form over time.
- Syphilis at a certain stage of development is accompanied by the formation of painful ulcers and erosions on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and tongue.
- HIV infection also often occurs with the formation of mouth ulcers. As a rule, they are localized on the tongue, gums, inner surface of the cheeks.
As you can see, all of the above diseases are accompanied by a weakening of the immune system, which increases the likelihood of ulcers and complicates the healing process. By the way, skin lesions in the tongue are often the result of radiation or chemotherapy.
Risk factors include non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene. In such cases, pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply actively, which can lead to the formation of erosion on the tongue and mucous membranes of the mouth and lips.
Ulcers in the tongue: which doctor should I go to? Diagnostic Features
Damage to the tissues of the oral cavity is a good reason to consult a dentist. In this case, the initial inspection is extremely important. The doctor will carefully examine the damage and collect information for anamnesis. You need to find out about the nutritional features of the patient, the medicines he takes, his lifestyle, the presence of systemic diseases, etc.
A blood test is performed (an increase in the level of leukocytes indicates the presence of an inflammatory process), as well as a microscopic examination of samples taken from the surface of the tongue. If there is a suspicion of an infectious disease, then bacteriological culture is carried out.
In the future, the patient may need a consultation with an allergist, immunologist, infectious disease specialist, neurologist, oncologist or pulmonologist.
Ulcers in the tongue: root cause treatment
Of course, therapy largely depends on the characteristics of the course of the disease. During the diagnosis, it is very important to determine the causes (ulcers in the tongue are often a consequence of another disease) and only then draw up a treatment regimen.
- If viral stomatitis occurs, then patients are prescribed antiviral drugs. Effective in this case is Acyclovir, which is available in a convenient gel form. Fungal stomatitis requires the use of antifungal drugs, in particular Fluconazole. With bacterial lesions, antibiotics are used (both in the form of tablets, and various gels, solutions). Anti-inflammatory drugs (usually steroid drugs) are also included in the treatment regimen.
- If the ulcer is the result of an injury, then it is only treated with antiseptics and monitored for healing - such injuries, as a rule, heal on their own.
- With necrotic gingivostomatitis, patients are prescribed antibiotics of systemic effects, as well as antihistamines.
- If ulcers develop against the background of HIV infection, then a person is recommended to consult a qualified infectious disease specialist.
- With syphilis and tuberculosis, the patient requires specific therapy.
- Patients are also prescribed vitamins in the form of solutions for intravenous or intramuscular administration. They help activate the immune system, improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, accelerate the healing process.
The use of local drugs
Many people are faced with a problem such as the appearance of ulcers in the tongue. What to do in such cases? The treatment methods have been described above, depending on the cause of the damage. Nevertheless, for the rapid healing of erosion, various solutions and ointments are used.
- It is very important to treat ulcers with antiseptic agents on time - this will help prevent the development of complications and relieve inflammation. To this end, green medicine is widely used in modern medicine (erosion treatment is effective, but the procedure itself is very painful) and hydrogen peroxide.
- Ulcers in the tongue in a child are best treated with a solution of furatsilina or chlorhexidine. These drugs have pronounced bactericidal properties and well disinfect oral tissue. By the way, their composition is not alcohol and other substances that can cause pain or burning, so the baby tolerates the procedure easily, without tears.
- Anti-inflammatory ointments are also used. From ulcers in the tongue helps "Chrysal" (available in the form of a gel). In more severe cases, patients are prescribed an ointment, which contains glucocorticosteroids (for example, dexamethasone).
- In order to temporarily relieve pain, Lidocaine is used in the form of a special dental gel or spray.
Diet features
Ulcers, erosion on the tongue are very painful. That is why until the time of their healing, you need to carefully monitor the diet. The diet should include light, high-calorie foods.
Dishes should be warm, but by no means too hot or cold. It is worth temporarily excluding from the menu spicy, spicy and salty foods, as well as alcohol and sweets. It is better to cook and grind the products - so they will not injure the tissues of the oral cavity.
Folk remedies
In no case should you give up drug therapy. But to speed up recovery and alleviate the patient’s condition, you can use some home remedies (of course, with the permission of the attending physician).
- A solution of soda helps to cope with mouth ulcers. It is simple to prepare: a tablespoon of soda needs to be dissolved in a glass of warm water. The solution is used to rinse the mouth. Procedures should be repeated every two hours. Soda has antiseptic properties.
- For rinsing, decoctions of herbs can also be used. Effective are infusions and decoctions of chamomile, calendula, oak bark, calendula, sage, and string. All these herbs have pronounced anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, significantly accelerate the healing of wounds in the mouth.
- Cabbage juice also disinfects the tissues of the oral cavity. You just need to grind a few fresh leaves of cabbage in a blender, then squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. The resulting product is rinsed in the mouth twice a day.
- To rinse, you can use essential oils. In a glass of warm water you need to dissolve 2-3 drops of oil. Effective are dill, peppermint, tangerine, tea tree oils.
- At home, you can prepare a special ointment. You need to mix glycerin (sold at the pharmacy) with turmeric powder in a 2: 1 ratio. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The resulting homogeneous mixture is lubricated in the mouth several times a day.
Preventive actions
Ulcers in the tongue in an adult or a child are a very unpleasant phenomenon. That is why it is much easier to try to prevent the occurrence of such damage. Of course, there are no special preventative medicines. But following certain rules will help significantly reduce the risk of ulcers and erosion:
- it is important to carefully observe the rules of oral hygiene, brush your teeth regularly, and use suitable products;
- you need to pay attention to the choice of a toothbrush - it should not injure the skin of the tongue;
- too hard, cold, hot or spicy foods should be avoided, as this negatively affects the condition of the oral mucosa;
- Dental diseases (including dental caries) must be timely treated;
- it is worth abandoning bad habits (ethyl alcohol, as well as cigarette smoke, damage the mucous membranes of the mouth and skin of the mouth);
- once every several months you need to undergo a preventive medical examination, including a dental one;
- do not forget about the prophylactic intake of vitamins (doctors recommend taking vitamin and mineral complexes in the winter or spring, as it is at this time that the body suffers from vitamin deficiency).
When ulcers and erosion appear, it is very important to consult a specialist in time. The sooner therapy is started, the lower the likelihood of developing any complications. In any case, the prognoses for patients are most often favorable - lesions on the skin of the tongue heal without leaving scars or scars on their own.