Mouth Sores
Sores in the mouth are extremely common. These sores may be painful or painless and affect the lips, the inside of the cheeks, or occur beneath the tongue. There are many reasons for sores to develop in the mouth, even some very minor causes.
Mouth sores are most often mechanical irritations, cold sores (also called fever blisters), or canker sores. Mechanical irritation can happen from:
- Accidentally biting your cheek, tongue, or lip
- Chewing tobacco
- Wearing braces
- Rubbing from a sharp or broken tooth or poorly fitting dentures
- Burning your mouth from hot food or drinks
Less commonly, mouth sores can be a sign of an underlying illness, tumor, or reaction to a medication. Such potential illnesses can be grouped into several broad categories:
- Infection (like hand-foot-mouth syndrome)
- Autoimmune diseases (like lupus)
- Bleeding disorders
- Malignancy
Causes of Mouth Sores
1. Cold sore or fever boils on the lips caused by a virus.
2. Vitamin B deficiency seen at the angle of the mouth.
3. Fungal infections, Herpes virus, measles virus.
4. Ill fitting dentures, cheek and tongue bites.
5. Tobacco chewing.
6. Drug and food allergies.
7. Menstruation and pregnancy.
8. Stress.
9. Chronic bowel diseases.
Clinical Features of Mouth Sores
1. Fever Boils: Cough and cold, fever.
2. Difficulty in eating food because of burning sensations due to spices in the food.
MANAGEMENT
1. Apply Vaseline pomade three times daily.
2. Replace vitamins.
3. Avoid spicy food.
4. Antiseptic mouth washes.
5. Get dentures checked by a dentist.
6. Chronic sores must be checked out.
HOW DO I TELL IF MY CHILD HAS MOUTH SORES?
- You may see sores on the outer lips.
- Gently pull back the upper or lower lips. You may see white or red sores on the insides of the lips or on the front gums.
- Gently pull back the cheeks on each side and examine the inside of the cheeks with a flashlight. You may find some sores there.
- Shine a flashlight at the back of the mouth while your child says "ahhhh". You may see red or white spots in the throat or on the tongue.
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