Aphthous Ulcers - Information on Aphthous Ulcers

Aphthous Ulcers Information

Aphthous Ulcers is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Aphthous Ulcers may occur to the people at any age. Aphthous mouth ulcers are painful sores that can occur anywhere inside the mouth. They are the most common type of mouth ulcer. At least 1 in 5 people develop aphthous mouth ulcers at some stage in their life. Women are affected more often than men.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Aphthous Ulcers. Aphthous ulcers are commonly present in certain medical conditions. Many of these conditions are associated with impaired immune systems and include Behcet's disease, HIV/AIDS, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

There are basically 3 types of aphthous ulcers:

• Recurrent minor aphthous ulcers, which occur in up to 80% of aphthous ulcer cases. They are usually less than 5mm in diameter and heal within 1-2 weeks.
• Major aphthous ulcers, which are large ulcers (more than 10mm) that take weeks or months to heal and do so with scarring.
• Herpetiform ulcers, which are multiple pinpoint ulcers that heal within a month. These are most commonly on the tongue.

Causes of Aphthous Ulcers

The cause of the Aphthous Ulcers is unknown. Current thinking is that the immune system has been disturbed by some external factor and this results in the development of aphthous ulcers. Also, approximately 40% of people who get ulcers have a family history of aphthous ulcers. In most cases, the ulcers develop for no apparent reason in people who are healthy. They can also be caused by an autoimmune reaction in which a person's own immunity causes the blisters to form, and they have been reported to be caused by an allergy to chemicals in toothpastes and mouth washes. No studies have isolated bacteria or viruses often enough to blame them.

Some factors that seem to trigger outbreaks of ulcers include:

• Emotional stress and lack of sleep
• Mechanical trauma, for example self-inflicted bite
• Nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamins B, iron, and folic acid
• Certain foods including chocolate
• Certain toothpastes
• Menstrual cycle

Treatment of Aphthous Ulcers

Methods For Treating Aphthous Ulcers are :

• Protective pastes that form a barrier over the ulcer so that exposure to irritating substances is reduced.
• Where available, superficial tissue cauterization using Debacterol® or use a silver nitrate stick
• Numbing agents such as the local anaesthetics benzocaine and lignocaine to help reduce pain.
• Antibacterial mouthwashes to reduce secondary infection.
• Avoid products or food that you know trigger or exacerbate ulcers.
• Improve diet or take dietary supplements of vitamins or minerals that you may be lacking in.
• Reduce stress!
• Prescription topical corticosteroids such as Kenalog in Orabase® or Oracort® are sometimes used in very painful and hard to heal ulcers.
• Calcineurin inhibitors such as topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus.
• In severe cases, oral colchicine, dapsone and perhaps thalidomide.

Common Tips for the treatment:

• Avoid spicy foods, acidic fruit drinks, and very salty foods (such as crisps) which can make the pain worse.
• Use a straw to drink, to by-pass ulcers in the front of the mouth. (Note: do not drink hot drinks with a straw, as you may burn your throat. Only cold drinks.)
• Use a very soft toothbrush. See a dentist if you have badly fitting dentures.
• If you suspect a medication is causing the ulcers, then a change may be possible. For example, if you are using oral nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine gum or lozenges), it may help to use a different type instead such as patches or nasal spray.

There are two types of Aphthous Ulcers

• Major aphthous ulcers
• Herpetiform ulcers