The appearance of various ulcers in the oral cavity indicates an infectious lesion of the mucous membranes. These formations can cause severe discomfort. But before you figure out how to treat an ulcer on the gum, you need to figure out the reason why it appeared.
Possible diseases
Having noticed incomprehensible formations in the oral cavity, it is advisable to appear to the dentist and therapist. An ulcer on the gum may indicate that a person has:
- aphthous, herpetic or candidal stomatitis;
- general infectious diseases;
- vitamin deficiency;
- a certain area of the mucosa is constantly injured.
Depending on the reason why the ulcer on the gum appeared, how to treat it, in each case it is necessary to find out separately.
Characteristic symptoms of stomatitis
If you notice ulceration with a white color on the cheeks or gums, you should consult a doctor. So stomatitis can occur.
With an aphthous type of disease, the entire mucous membrane of the mouth becomes inflamed. Ulcers look like round red foci with a white bloom in the center. They cause severe discomfort, people complain of tangible pain. Most patients cannot talk, eat, or drink normally. This disease can be chronic. Relapses appear after stress, with poor oral hygiene, with the activation of a viral infection or as a result of injuries.
Herpetic infection causes multiple ulcerations. Each ulcer on the gum is formed after a bubble with fluid is opened. Up to this point, the formation on the mucous membranes is no different from those that appear on the lips or nose.
With candidal stomatitis in the mouth, you can see multiple white sores on the gums. The causes of their occurrence are activation of Candida genus fungi. A reddened area covered with a dense spot of white purulent plaque is an ulcer on the gum. A photo of the affected mucous membranes makes it possible to imagine how this disease manifests itself.
Common somatic diseases
Some diseases cause damage to the oral mucosa. These include HIV infection, syphilis, pulmonary tuberculosis.
Also, necrotic gingivostomatitis provokes the appearance of ulcers. In this infectious disease, the cheeks, arches, soft palate, gums, tonsils are affected. The disease develops against a background of a decrease in the overall resistance of the body. With this type of gingivostomatitis, halitosis appears, body temperature rises, salivation increases. Gums become swollen, bleed when touched. Each ulcer on the gum is covered with a dirty green coating and has uneven soft edges.
With syphilis, ulcerations of a rounded shape appear, in which there are even raised edges and a specific cartilaginous infiltrate. The bottom of the ulcer is saturated red, may be covered with a grayish layer of plaque. These manifestations disappear in 3-12 weeks; scar formation is possible at their location.
A secondary manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis is damage to the oral mucosa. But with this disease, mainly the cheeks, tongue and the bottom of the cavity suffer. Gums in most cases remain clean.
Other factors that lead to ulceration
With a lack of vitamin C, scurvy occurs. With this disease, ulcers in the oral cavity can form. They are formed from microcracks on the mucosa. Pathogenic microflora penetrates into the damaged integument of the oral cavity. As a result, an ulcer on the
gum can form
. The treatment is taking vitamin C.
With permanent damage to the mucosa, traumatic ulcers form. Incorrectly installed crowns, dentures, fillings, and decayed teeth lead to their appearance. With the elimination of the traumatic factor, ulcer healing takes place in 2 weeks. Treatment in such situations is not necessary. If the mucous membrane is not restored, then the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial drugs. A good effect can be achieved using an ultrasonic brush. With its help, not only the surface of the teeth is cleaned, but also has an antibacterial effect.
Problems in children
Sometimes parents notice that there is an
ulcer on the gum of the child. Do not self-medicate in this situation. It is important to show the baby to the doctor, establish the correct diagnosis and choose the appropriate treatment.
In the smallest patients, ulcerations result in:
- trauma to the oral cavity;
- infectious lesions;
- burns.
Each child can damage the delicate mucous membrane by taking a hard toy unsuccessfully in his mouth. Also, any falls and bumps can lead to this. With the addition of pathogenic microflora, stomatitis may develop against this background.
But often ulceration is formed under the influence of various viruses or bacteria. Against the background of taking antibacterial drugs, a baby may experience candidal stomatitis.
Selection of treatment tactics
Determine how to alleviate the condition and get rid of ulcers on the mucosa, it is possible only after a full examination. The doctor can choose the most appropriate therapy if he is sure of the diagnosis.
For example, aphthous stomatitis, which proceeds without complications, disappears in 7-10 days. In severe cases, the disease can drag on for 4 weeks. To temporarily alleviate the condition, the doctor may advise treating the oral cavity with antiseptics. You can use solutions of chlorhexidine, furatsilina or hydrogen peroxide. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen general immunity.
For the treatment of herpetic stomatitis, doctors advise using Acyclovir. Alternatively, you can use "Foscarnet" or "Zidofivir." In addition, it is necessary to ensure the intake of an increased amount of vitamin C. At the same time, doctors prescribe antihistamines.
If ulcers on the gums appeared as a result of the progression of common diseases, such as syphilis, HIV, then all efforts should be aimed at eliminating the underlying problem.
Preventative methods
You can prevent the appearance of ulcers in the mouth if you carefully monitor oral hygiene and strengthen immunity. Regardless of which disease is caused by a violation of the integrity of the mucosa, it occurs against the background of a weakening of the body's defenses. Regular intake of vitamin C will not only strengthen the immune system, but can also prevent the development of scurvy.
Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of common infectious diseases. You can prevent the entry of HIV or syphilis virus into the body if you monitor your health. For this, it is necessary to use exclusively barrier methods of contraception and exclude the likelihood of the virus entering directly into the blood.
Even one white ulcer on the gum should alert. In time to identify the problem and choose the appropriate treatment will help the examination by a doctor. With the right approach, you can get rid of stomatitis in 7 days. And if you go to the doctor too late or do not listen to the recommendations, injure the ulcers, then the treatment may take a month.
Alternative methods of therapy
Healers and fans of alternative medicine can recommend many methods that can get rid of ulcerations on the gums. But even they say that in the beginning it is necessary to determine the diagnosis.
In almost all diseases that cause ulcers, it is necessary to saturate the body with vitamin C. For this, it is necessary to adjust the diet. Black currant, sweet pepper, rosehip broth, kiwi, parsley, citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, Brussels sprouts should be included in the diet.
Rinse the mouth with traditional healers advise herbal infusions. With aphthous ulcers, they recommend making calendula. To do this, a tablespoon of flowers is poured into a thermos and filled with a glass of boiling water. In an hour, the infusion will be ready. They need to rinse their mouth at least 3 times a day. With viral stomatitis, including herpetic, a solution of potassium permanganate should help. To prepare it, you need to take a few crystals (at the tip of the knife) and dissolve them in a glass of water. You can rinse your mouth every 3 hours.
Regardless of the cause of the disease, pain can be slightly relieved by repeated rinsing with a mixture of soda and salt. To prepare the solution in a glass of warm water, you need to dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and soda. Ulcers can be treated with a solution of vitamin B12.