All types of inflammation in the oral cavity are collectively called stomatitis. Such a disease occurs in patients of all age groups, including infants and newborns. The treatment of stomatitis on the gums is given special attention. It is worth noting that this disease is often confused with gingivitis, which also affects the gums. Without treatment, gingivitis can go into periodontitis.
Causes of gum disease
Treatment of stomatitis becomes relevant with a noticeable decrease in immunity. As well as gingivitis and periodontitis, this ailment occurs against the background of a weakening of the body's defenses. The inability of the immune system to withstand the effects of endogenous and exogenous factors is the main cause of stomatitis on the gums. We will talk about the methods of treating the disease a little later, but for now we’ll list everything that theoretically can cause the disease:
- viruses, bacteria, fungi;
- unbalanced diet;
- avitaminosis;
- injuries of any nature (mechanical, chemical, thermal);
- neglect of personal hygiene;
- the use of toothpaste and rinse for the oral cavity containing sodium lauryl sulfate;
- dehydration on the background of persistent fever, bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination;
- hormonal changes;
- malignant processes;
- HIV infection.
In addition, a favorable condition for the occurrence of ulcers in the mouth (judging by the photo, stomatitis on the gums, the treatment of which this article is devoted to, looks exactly like that) is smoking and alcohol abuse. Incorrectly selected dentures or other dental orthopedic products that do not match the declared quality, jaw size, etc. can also provoke inflammation of the mucous membrane.
How to distinguish from gingivitis
With gum inflammation, the patient has a noticeable redness, severe bleeding. As a rule, in patients with gingivitis, bad breath comes from the mouth. In most cases, the need to treat stomatitis on the gums in adults arises when the mucous membrane is damaged by bacterial or fungal microflora. The risk group for the development of gingivitis includes people who ignore the rules for caring for the oral cavity, which affects the deposition of hard petrified plaque on the basal part of the teeth.
The problem of bleeding and gum inflammation is faced by people with malocclusion. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can also serve as an impetus for the development of gingivitis, which stomatitis can also join. Treatment on the gums of this disease should be carried out as early as possible in order to prevent the transition of gingivitis to periodontitis. This pathology, in contrast to the previous one, is characterized by inflammation of the deeper tissues of the oral cavity.
What triggers periodontitis
Without proper therapy, periodontitis can lead to the destruction of the connection of the tooth with the gum and, as a result, tooth loss. This disease develops when infected with microorganisms such as actinobacillus, prevotella, treponema. Periodontitis is a common problem in the elderly, sometimes caused by stagnation of blood in the gums due to a decrease in the chewing load on the jaw. The likelihood of periodontitis increases with thorough or irregular brushing. This gum disease is most often found in patients with diabetes mellitus, HIV infection.
How to cure a disease
If the treatment of inflammation with gum stomatitis is started in a timely manner, it will be possible to get rid of not only pain and bleeding, but also reduce the severity of inflammation and prevent the possible development of complications. It is undesirable to buy pharmacy drugs for therapy on your own: treatment should be prescribed by a specialist. In addition, sores on the gums can be cured at home, but to stop gingivitis and periodontitis - no.
Treatment of stomatitis on the gum has two components: rinsing the oral cavity with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions and rubbing special gels and ointments into the affected tissues until the symptoms of the disease disappear.
How to rinse
Perform this procedure several times a day after each meal. To rinse the oral cavity using:
- "Chlorhexidine";
- "Furacilin" (no more than two tablets per glass of water);
- Miramistin;
- "Chlorophyllipt";
- hydrogen peroxide (one tablespoon per 100 ml of boiled water at room temperature).
With stomatitis and gingivitis, one of the effective means for rinsing the oral cavity is Listerine. This tool is intended for the prevention of tartar, so you need to use it after every brushing.
At home, the treatment of stomatitis on the gum can be carried out using soda or saline. Both options are prepared in the same ratio: 1 tsp. soda or sea salt in a glass of water. Stir thoroughly before use until completely dissolved. A pale pink manganese solution also has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.
Dental gels and ointments
Such drugs are rubbed into the inflamed gum after preliminary rinsing. The drugs, which will be discussed later, are used at least 2-4 times during the day. The most popular in dentistry are such means as:
- "Metrogil denta" is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug that does a good job of burning.
- "Solcoseryl" - this drug triggers regeneration processes, contributing to the speedy healing of the mucosa.
- "Dental" - has a unique principle of action, anesthetizing and covering the focus of stomatitis on the gum with a protective film.
- "Chrysal" - is produced in the form of a gel, acts instantly, has an analgesic effect for several hours.
- "Asepta" is a means for tissue regeneration, especially effective for periodontitis, as it prevents bleeding of the gums.
- "Gengigel" - starts the processes of restoration and growth of healthy tissues, relieves inflammation.
In addition to rinsing solutions and gels for the oral cavity, the choice of toothpaste plays a huge role in the treatment of stomatitis on the gums in adults. The procedure for brushing your teeth must be performed in the morning and evening every day. At the same time, using special toothpaste is not recommended for longer than a month. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after a 30-day break. To treat stomatitis on the gums, periodontitis and gingivitis, toothpastes are prescribed:
- Parodontax;
- Lacalut;
- "The president".
These toothpastes well eliminate gum inflammation and bleeding, while being suitable not only for treatment, but also for prevention of diseases of the oral cavity and enamel strengthening. They contain components that produce anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anti-caries effects.
Home Rinses
The treatment of stomatitis on the gums at home with folk remedies primarily means the use of herbal infusions and rinses. To eliminate pain and relieve inflammation, a multicomponent medicine should be prepared. Half a liter of boiling water will require 1 tbsp. l dry plant mixture consisting of chamomile, calendula, sage, eucalyptus, yarrow. Use filtered medical solution, which is infused for 3-5 hours.
Another herb that helps a lot in solving such problems includes yarrow, sage, St. John's wort and oak bark. An infusion is prepared and applied according to the same scheme as the previous remedy.
Alternative recipes and the above treatment methods for stomatitis on the gums in most cases meet the expectations of patients: wounds and sores disappear after a few days, and with their healing pain, inflammation and discomfort in the oral cavity recede. In addition to herbal decoctions and infusions, in folk therapy there are a lot of other original recipes. For example, you can rinse your mouth with a solution of mummy. To prepare it, you need half a glass of water and a particle of tar oil the size of a match head. Use the product twice a day after brushing your teeth. The optimal course of treatment is at least 2 weeks.
Other recipes
Many do not even know how to use the usual products for the treatment of stomatitis on the gums. Folk remedies that are in every housewife in the kitchen can really help with sores in the oral cavity, bleeding gums. Useful products include:
- Honey. To see the results in the near future, in parallel with drug treatment, you should regularly rub natural bee honey into the gums. This product has natural antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
- Beet. The root crop is used fresh. First, the vegetable is triturated and mixed with 1 tbsp. l vegetable oil. The resulting mass is applied to the affected areas of the gums in the oral cavity for 20-30 minutes.
- Potatoes. The fruits are peeled and carefully chopped in a meat grinder, blender, on a fine grater. Potato gruel is wrapped around sore spots several times a day for 15-20 minutes.
Effective in the treatment of stomatitis is not only honey itself, but also beeswax, from which you can make a real healing gum according to a folk recipe. To do this, melt in a water bath 75 g of this product. As soon as it softens, you need to add a couple of teaspoons of honey and a little lemon juice to it, mix everything thoroughly. After the mixture has cooled, it should be divided into small portions for chewing. There are no restrictions on the frequency or duration of the procedure; you can chew beeswax several times every day.
Are antibiotics needed?
It is worth noting that antibiotics are used only as prescribed by the attending physician. If a bacterial infection joins the gum disease, a suitable antibacterial drug will be selected for the patient, depending on its type. Most often used in dental practice:
- Amoxicillin;
- "Erythromycin";
- Ampicillin
- "Cephalexin";
- Metronidazole
- "Nolicin."
Stomatitis in children: general recommendations
The most common gum disease in childhood is stomatitis and gingivitis. The latter affects the gums due to an inattentive and inept attitude to brushing your teeth, vitamin deficiency and a lack of useful minerals. The tactics of treating stomatitis on the gums of a child does not have fundamental differences from how adults are treated. The only thing worth noting is that children are prescribed the most gentle and safe drugs.
The decision to prescribe antibiotics is made by the attending physician in extremely rare cases. Babies are prescribed multivitamins to maintain immunity. During the period of the disease in children, the primary task is to minimize the effect of irritants on the oral cavity. That is why you need to ensure that the child ate moderately warm food. The patient's menu should not contain salty, sour and spicy dishes. The predominant foods in the diet should be fruits, nuts, vegetables, dairy products.
Anesthetizing a child
As a local anesthetic for children, you can use Calgel, which contains lidocaine. For general anesthesia, the child is recommended a suspension of "Nurofen", "Panadol". To relieve inflammation and improve the condition of the oral cavity affected by stomatitis, children can use rinsing broths based on eucalyptus and chamomile. Instead of Chlorhexidine, babies are often prescribed Romazulan, a chamomile-based concentrate with an antimicrobial component.
Medical applications for stomatitis
With stomatitis, the child needs to lubricate the gums every day with the anti-inflammatory gel “Cholisal” after rinsing. St. John's wort also helps against ulcers , but it is important to consider that this remedy often causes an allergic reaction in children. You can cook it like this: one tablespoon of dried raw material is poured into 100 ml of refined sunflower oil. The tool is infused for at least a day, after which it is filtered through gauze and used for applications.