Mouth ulcers are lesions in the mouth tongue lips or and gums.
Types of mouth ulcers
There are mainly three types of mouth ulcers-
Herpetiform ulceration (HU) This type of ulcer is a subtype of aphthous ulcer. HU ulcers recur hastily, and it may appear that the ailment never gets better.
Minor ulcers This ulcer can differ in size from about 2 to 8 mm (millimetres) across. It gets better within two weeks and will cause minor pain.
Major ulcers These ulcers are usually irregular in shape and penetrate deeper into the tissue than minor ulcers. They can take several weeks to go away and are likely to leave scrape tissue when they get cured.
Skin Ailments Many a times disease of skin can affect mucosa of the mouth, which can present as mouth ulcer. Example, Lichen Planus, Pemphigus, etc
Preventions
Some prevention approaches include:
Consulting to a doctor about changing medications that can cause ulcers
Avoiding foods that trigger or worsen symptoms of ulcer
Maintain the hygiene of your mouth with daily brushing and flossing
Avoiding triggers that might cause outbreaks
Causes
Here is a list of the following commonly noticed factors that may worsen mouth ulcers:
Citrus fruits or foods high in acidity
Biting the inside of the cheek
Braces, poor-fitting dental plate and other equipment that may rub against the mouth and gums
A skimpy filling
Anxiety or stress
Hormonal changes during puberty, maternity and menopause
Medications such as – beta-blockers and pain killers