Preventing & Treating Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers, commonly known as canker sores, can be very bothersome and sometimes recurrent. Mouth ulcers are different from cold sores in that they form inside the mouth, oftentimes on the inner cheek. They look like little white blisters and might feel uncomfortable when chewing or brushing your teeth. Here are some common questions that patients who are suffering from mouth ulcers might have.
What Causes Mouth Ulcers?
A typical cause of mouth ulcers is braces rubbing against your mouth. The brackets can be spiky sometimes, so your orthodontist will probably give you a small amount of adhesive wax to place over any parts that are too sharp or uncomfortable. Also, some studies suggest that stress can induce mouth ulcers as well. This is a result of the hormonal fluctuation your body undergoes whenever experiencing a lot of anxiety. Additionally, ulcers can occur in individuals who recently quit smoking or vaping.
When Should I Seek Professional Help?
If your mouth ulcers won’t go away within a few weeks, consider reaching out to your doctor to make sure that you don’t have a more serious infection. Additionally, if the ulcers become red or extremely uncomfortable, this might also be a sign of something more urgent.
Treatments Options
As far as professional treatments, your doctor can recommend an antibacterial mouthwash or an oral pain reliever to help soothe your mouth. Make sure to be gentle with the foods and drinks you consume while your ulcer is healing. Alcohol and spicy foods can irritate your ulcer and potentially inhibit the healing process.
Prevention
It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of mouth ulcers, especially if they’re recurring. Pay attention to your diet to try and identify foods that trigger irritation and flare ups. It’s possible that you’re more sensitive to certain ingredients. If your braces are causing the ulcers, make sure to use the adhesive wax whenever you need to so that your brackets won’t continue to irritate your mouth.
Understand that mouth ulcers usually heal completely on their own. If you’re experiencing this for the first time, don’t worry too much as long as you’re not feeling an unusual amount of discomfort. As mentioned before, too much stress could potentially make them worse!
If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment with your Lincoln, CA dentist, give our office a call at (916) 645-1138.
