Trismus, commonly known as “lockjaw,” develops when muscles in the jaw repeatedly contract in response to chronic pain or irritation.
What Causes Trismus?
Various factors, including re-irradiation, chemotherapy, the location of a tumor relative to the patient’s jaw, and surgery can lead to trismus.
Trismus can negatively impact a patient’s ability to open their mouth. This may result in difficulty maintaining oral hygiene for both the patient and their dentist. The patient may struggle with effectively and thoroughly brushing their teeth, and their dentist may be unable to perform routine dental care due to limited access to the patient’s mouth.
Keeping your mouth healthy keeps your body healthy. Poor oral hygiene can lead to malnutrition, chronic gum disease (periodontitis), decay and crumbling of the tooth or bone (dental caries), and collections of pus in the teeth (dental abscesses).
Luckily, for patients at risk of developing trismus or patients already diagnosed with trismus, there are ways to prevent the decline in oral hygiene associated with this condition. Do you fall into one of these categories? If so, keep reading as we discuss 3 ways that patients with trismus can improve their oral health.
Ways to Help Manage Trismus
Undergoing radiation treatment can make simultaneous dental care challenging, whether it’s because of the mentally taxing effects or from physical changes a patient may experience. Patients who develop trismus after radiation therapy may not be able to open their mouth wide enough for a dentist to do a full check-up or thorough clean.
You should go to the dentist before you begin your radiation treatment. A preemptive dental cleaning can prevent any ongoing dental problems from getting worse during a time when you might have difficulty maintaining good oral hygiene.
Use Chewing Gum that Contains Xylitol
Chewing gum has numerous advantages for patients suffering from trismus. For one, it can serve as an exercise to keep the patient’s jaw active. It can also help circulate saliva in your mouth. Why is the circulation of saliva important? Saliva actually plays a key role in oral hygiene. It works as an antibacterial agent, protects tooth enamel, and can prevent gum disease.
Xylitol, a natural sugar found in fruits and vegetables, can also help prevent dental caries and repair tooth enamel. Do you have difficulty with routine oral care methods, like brushing your teeth? Chewing gum that contains Xylitol may help. Do you have difficulty chewing? If so, try xylitol sucking candies as an alternative.
Please check with your speech and swallowing therapist to determine whether or not this is a safe option for you.
Rinse Your Mouth
Rinsing your mouth after every meal can help prevent food from getting stuck in your teeth and reduce the buildup of bacteria. Effective mouth rinses include saline, boiled or sterile water, or nonalcoholic mouth rinse.
You should heat mouth rinses to a lukewarm temperature (neither too hot nor too cold). Very hot water may burn your gums. Meanwhile, very cold water may feel uncomfortable and will not release bacteria from the gums as well as warmer water.
Dental cleanings are one of the most important parts of maintaining good oral health, but few people know how often they should schedule them. It's important to know this information so that you can keep your smile healthy and strong well into the future.
Most dentists will recommend going in for a dental cleaning every six months, as it’s the minimum amount of time needed to thoroughly clean teeth and prevent future dental problems from occurring. Some experts suggest going in as often as every three months, especially if you have trouble with cavities or other minor dental issues that can be resolved through early detection and treatment. Of course, you should also go to our dentist if you notice any changes in your oral health such as pain, swelling, or changes in your teeth function.
Most dentists recommend a dental checkup every six months
If you’re new to your dentist, how often will they recommend for you to come in for cleanings? Most dentists recommend their patients visit them every six months. However, some dentists suggest coming in more often if you suffer from certain dental conditions or if they have specific concerns about your teeth.
At each of these appointments, they’ll do things like check to see if any teeth need work or extractions, check for cavities or gum disease, and use an electric toothbrush on your teeth. In between those appointments, most dentists suggest visiting them at least once a year for a professional cleaning. During those visits, trained dental hygienists—not just dental assistants—will deep-clean your mouth by flossing between your teeth and using dental picks on the plaque that can’t be reached with just brushes and flosses alone.
Some people may need to visit their dentist more often than every six months, however. You can also talk with your dentist about how often you should come in if you have diabetes because these patients need to visit more frequently to check for early signs of gum disease. If you have any questions or concerns about going in for dental cleanings, it’s always a good idea to ask your dentist at your next appointment. After all, they’re there to keep an eye on things and make sure everything stays healthy!
Why are regular cleanings important?
Regular cleanings are important for many reasons. For one, they remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth, which can lead to cavities and gum disease. While people can certainly reduce this with regular brushing, sometimes these things are missed due to improper or inconsistent brushing.
Not only that, but during your cleaning session, your dentist will look at areas you can’t see, such as below your gum line and in between your teeth. Because you can't see these areas easily, you may not have any idea there is an issue going on. Catching it early can make all of the difference when it comes to creating a treatment plan.
If there is something wrong with one of these areas (such as a cavity), it can be treated before it worsens or grows out of control. In addition, regular cleanings allow dental hygienists to do tests on your gums to make sure they aren’t receding due to an underlying condition. The overall health of your mouth also affects how well your teeth stay looking and feeling their best.
Benefits of regular dental checkups
It would be best if you visited your dentist for a cleaning and checkup at least twice each year. Your dentist can catch problems early and prescribe treatment for tooth decay and other dental issues before they become serious problems that cause pain or even lead to tooth loss. Here are just some of the benefits of regular dental checkups. They help ensure good oral health and will let you know about any possible cavities or damage. If caught early, these problems can be treated easily and effectively by using:
Fluoride treatments
Dental sealants
Prescription drugs
Dental surgery
Flossing
Brushing with special brushes
Mouthwashes that kill germs in your mouth
They also allow time for good oral hygiene practices such as daily brushing and flossing to be reinforced, so you do not need more intensive cleanings more often than necessary.
An optimal dental hygiene routine includes daily brushing and flossing, so it’s easy to assume your teeth are the focal point of dental care. However, if you don’t focus on your gums, you could easily lose the teeth you’ve diligently cleaned for years.
At Supertooth™, located in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Germantown, Maryland, we focus on keeping your entire mouth healthy. From routine checkups and cleanings to state-of-the-art orthodontics, we’ve got you covered.
We even offer emergency dentistry for those unexpected accidents that require immediate care. Here, we discuss the many types of gum emergencies and how we treat them.
How gum injuries happen
Healthy gums are firm and stable. But like all soft tissues, your gums can sustain damage. The two most common gum injuries are passive and traumatic.
Passive gum injuries occur gradually from brushing your teeth too hard or with a stiff-bristled brush. Flossing aggressively can also cut your gums. Gum disease is another type of gum damage that occurs slowly. Although these gum problems require attention, we don’t consider them emergencies.
Traumatic gum injuries occur during an accident, like a fall or a sports injury. You can even injure your gums by using a toothpick or other sharp instrument in your mouth — one slip can slice or puncture your gum tissue.
Cut gums bleed a lot and require immediate dental care from our team at Supertooth.
How to spot a gum injury emergency
Cuts and tears in your gum tissue are apparent indicators to schedule an appointment, but you may also have a gum emergency that’s difficult to identify. Here are signs your gums need emergency care:
Infection
Infected gums progress quickly and can spread to the rest of your body if you don’t seek treatment. You may have a gum infection if you see pus draining from your gums or red streaks in the tissue. Pain, fever, and chills often accompany gum infections.
Inflammation
Inflamed gums are telltale signs of gum disease. But severely swollen gums after an accident or injury could mean you have an abscess that needs urgent care.
Discoloration
Ideally, your gums look light pink and firm to the touch. If yours are bright red and squishy, you may have an infection or other underlying problem that calls for immediate care.
What to do during a gum injury emergency
You’ll notice a lot of blood if you've cut your gums. But the blood mixes with your saliva and looks worse than it is. Still, you want to clean the wound and stem the bleeding. Rinse your mouth with a mild saltwater solution and apply direct pressure to the cut using sterile gauze. Next, call us. We can assess the damage, stitch the wound if necessary, and prevent infection.
If you have a foreign object stuck between your teeth causing a gum injury, try to remove it. But don’t use excessive force because it can cause further damage. Call us for emergency care.
For an abscess or infection, rinse with saltwater. The condition needs professional oral care from our team of experts. We locate the infection site, drain the pus, clean the area, and prevent the infection from spreading.
Keeping on top of your oral hygiene should be at the top of your agenda. Here are 10 ways to make sure your mouth stays healthy.
1. Pro Brushing
Brush your teeth twice daily, in the morning and evening (at least). Plaque takes 12 hours to deposit on the teeth surfaces and transform into bacteria, which can attack your enamel or harden into tartar. Top tip: try to hold your toothbrush pointing towards the gum line using circular motions.
2. Keep your mouth in check
Go to the dentist at least twice a year for a check-up. This will allow your dentist to notify you of problems such as decay and gum disease.
3. Go electric
Buy an electric toothbrush and use it for 2 minutes, it has been proven that it removes much more plaque and food debris than the manual one. Make sure you can use it at a low speed so it doesn’t damage the gums. Top tip: a tooth brush head should be changed every three months.
4. Flaws in your flossing
Floss or use inter-proximal brushes in between teeth at least once daily as the food or bacteria get first deposited in between teeth and more likely to develop inter-proximal decays or gum inflammation. Top tip: wrap the floss around your index fingers, use a new piece of the floss for each tooth and floss against the tooth to avoid damaging the gums.
5. Improve your technique
Minimise the amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush: dry cleaning has been proven to be more effective than when using a lot of toothpaste as the mechanical effective movement of removing plaque is dramatically reduced when we feel the mouth fresh using a toothpaste .
6. Don’t forget your tongue
Make sure you clean your tongue as well as many bacteria colonise its surface giving bad breath. Top tip: you can buy special tongue cleaners or simply use a spoon upside down.
7. Stop smoking
Smoking will not only stain your teeth but it also reduces the blood supply to the gums and causes/aggravates gum disease, it can also lead to oral cancer.
8. Can the fizzy drinks
Stay away from acid fizzy drinks as they will erode your enamel and make it more exposed to bacteria. Top tip: try water instead you can always add citrus fruit to the mix.
9. Bye, bye sugar
Reduce sugars in your diet, especially honey or spreadable chocolate or sticky sweets which will go in between teeth and very difficult to brush them off, sugar is the major culprit for tooth decay.
10. Healthy foods
Eat plenty of vegetables like carrots or celery or greens which will naturally brush your teeth and cleanse the surfaces.
When people think of dental care, they often think of teeth. But healthy teeth are only part of the equation. The tissues and bone that surround your teeth, including your gums, are critically important to your overall dental health.
You may be thinking, “There’s no way I could have gum disease. My mouth feels fine.” But gum disease often shows no obvious symptoms and doesn’t cause pain – so many people have it and don’t know it. Nearly half of adults age 30 or older have some form of periodontal (gum) disease. And, nearly 70 percent of adults age 65 and older have it, according to the CDC.
Why does this happen to so many people, and how can you avoid it? Get the facts about this common problem and seek treatment early to keep your mouth healthy.
Early stage gum disease, known as gingivitis, may cause subtle symptoms such as mild bleeding or red or swollen areas on your gums. If your gums bleed when you floss them, this is not normal. See your dentist for a proper cleaning, and be diligent about daily brushing and flossing thereafter.
Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate brushing and flossing – but many other things can cause it too. Diabetes, normal aging and genetics, smoking, stress, poor nutrition, certain diseases, and hormonal changes can trigger gingivitis. Even people who are in otherwise good health can get gingivitis or more severe gum disease, so no one is immune.
Gingivitis is completely reversible with proper intervention. This includes a thorough cleaning by your dentist followed by twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and sometimes a special mouthwash recommended by your dentist. This is one of the many reasons you should see your dentist every six months for routine care. He or she can detect gingivitis in its earliest stage and help you restore the health of your mouth.
If gingivitis isn’t treated, it leads to more severe gum disease known as periodontitis. This occurs when plaque moves below the gum line and causes inflammation and irritation. If it continues to progress, it leads to infections, pockets or holes in the tissues, and tooth loss.
Gum disease is about more than your mouth. Because bacteria gets under your gums and can invade your body, periodontal disease may be linked to other serious health problems. Researchers believe there may be a link to heart disease, stroke, premature birth in pregnant women, and lung problems.
Gum disease is preventable and treatable – so no one should have to lose teeth to this condition. Your dentist wants to partner with you to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.
Dental health is a primary concern for a lot of people. This is an aspect that should always be taken into consideration no matter how busy a person can get. Why? This is simply because our dental health is directly involved in all the major activities we need to survive. We need healthy teeth and a healthy mouth to eat well for the nourishment of our bodies. We need to have good dental health so we can speak and communicate effectively with other people.
If you are someone who has not paid attention to your dental health for the longest time, it is never too late to start. You can simply check out a dental clinic in Prince Albert or a dentist near you. With modern advancements in the field of dentistry, there are now procedures that are available at cost-effective prices. Read on to know more about them.
Teeth Whitening
You can have teeth whitening in Prince Albert. There are a lot of factors that affect the way our teeth look. Your diet and lifestyle options can impact tooth discolouration. Some substances may stain your teeth or may worsen existing discolouration.
Dental Bonding
You can have dental bonding in Prince Albert. If you have chipped, damaged, cracked, or discoloured teeth, dental bonding is ideal for you. This is also referred to as direct composite veneers. It utilizes a tooth-coloured composite resin that can be moulded into what the patients want.
Dental Fillings
You can have dental fillings in Prince Albert. Teeth with small chips and cracks can take advantage of getting fillings that match their natural colour and appearance. This covers the tooth enamel and adds extra protection while making your teeth more aesthetically pleasing.
Porcelain Veneers
You can have porcelain veneers in Prince Albert. This is a popular way of concealing and fixing teeth that have cracks, chips or discolouration. This is a permanent approach that fixes minor tooth issues by placing shells or porcelain.
Soft Tissue Grafts
You can have soft tissue grafts in Prince Albert. This is done for patients with gum recession. Soft tissue grafting procedures are done to prevent the tooth roots from being exposed. This procedure is not solely for gum recession; it can also be done for cosmetic purposes.
Indirect Fillings
You can have indirect fillings in Prince Albert. This is also referred to as inlay and Onlay procedures. It is a less invasive approach that one can receive to protect the tooth cusps.
Dental Implants
You can have dental implant treatment at a dental clinic in Prince Albert. If you are missing a tooth and you want a treatment that lasts for a long time, this is perfect for you. An artificial titanium root will be used to replace the missing tooth’s root. Over time, this will fuse into your jawbone and function like natural teeth.
Braces
You can have braces in Prince Albert. A lot of people have been struggling with alignment issues in the past and they couldn’t do anything about it. Now, braces come in metal and clear trays that one can use to straighten the teeth.
Dental Cleanings
You can have a dental cleaning in Prince Albert. While this is the most common procedure on the market, some people have yet to learn about its importance. This is basically a professional cleaning session to remove plaque and tartar.
Dental cavities can often go undetected in the early stages, as they do not cause pain. The best method for early detection is to ensure you visit our team for a regular checkup.
If the decay progresses it can cause tooth sensitivity, pain when eating or drinking, visible holes, or discolouration. If untreated for a long period, tooth decay can affect the tooth nerve, leading to a painful toothache and possible infection (abscess).
The earlier we discover a cavity, the better; especially in terms of treatment. This is because as the disease advances, the treatment becomes more involved and there’s also the risk of irreversible damage.
The best treatment for tooth decay
In the very early stages of tooth decay, we may be able to treat it with fluoride combined with a tailored prevention plan. We may also recommend that we apply sealants to healthy back teeth to protect them from decay. If decay has broken through the tooth enamel, you’ll likely need a filling.
If the decay has advanced and reached the tooth pulp, you may need a root canal treatment to save your tooth. If left untreated, a cavity will break down and potentially destroy the tooth completely. It may also cause infection which spreads beyond the root of the tooth and causes an abscess.
If you’re experiencing any kind of tooth pain, we strongly encourage you to get in touch with our team. We can provide both relief and a long-term solution to restore your beautiful smile.
Most people know that daily brushing and flossing will help them maintain good oral health. What they often don’t know though, is what the signs of poor oral health are. Your mouth is an intricate system of nerves, soft tissue, muscles, teeth and bone. And (sometimes) it will try to warn you when potential issues begin to arise.
At Beaches Dental Mona Vale, we recommend that you visit us every 6 months for a dental check-up. This allows us to monitor your oral health and identify any dental problems early on. Keeping up with great oral hygiene and 6 monthly dental visits can help you achieve optimal oral health.
SIGNS OF POOR ORAL HEALTH
Below we discuss a few of the common warning signs of poor oral health. Should you experience any of the below symptoms, it’s important to book a consultation with your dentist for professional diagnosis and, if need be, treatment.
PERSISTENT BAD BREATH
It’s normal to experience bouts of short-term bad breath, but bad breath that persists may indicate a dental health problem. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be accompanied by a bad taste in your mouth.
Bad breath can be as a result of poor oral hygiene, decay, gingivitis or gum disease. It can also indicate issues beyond your mouth, for example, your digestive system. So, if you have bad breath that you can’t seem to get rid of, it’s important not to ignore it.
SWOLLEN OR BLEEDING GUMS
Irritated gums are one of the most common signs of an oral health problem. Healthy gums are light pink and do not bleed easily. If you find that your gums are red, inflamed or bleed for no reason or when brushing your teeth, this could be a sign of several oral health issues.
Gingivitis is a common cause of swollen and/or bleeding gums. Gingivitis, caught in its early stages, is relatively easy to cure. However, left untreated, it can develop into gum disease which can be harder to treat and can have an ill effect on your oral and general health.
SENSITIVE TEETH
Your teeth have layers of enamel for their protection. As your enamel becomes thinner with wear, the tubes that lead to your dental nerves are exposed. This results in tooth sensitivity. You may experience sensitivity when consuming hot, cold or sweet foods and beverages or when brushing your teeth, for example.
The enamel on your teeth can erode as a result of wear, eating acidic foods, hard brushing or other damage. Sensitivity can also occur when your gums recede, exposing your tooth root. This is especially common amongst patients with gum disease.
Tooth sensitivity can be treated. So, don’t suffer in pain – visit your dentist!
TARTAR (CALCULUS) BUILD-UP
Plaque is made up of bacteria in your mouth, and the acid it produces plays a major role in tooth decay. Plaque that is left to build-up calcifies into tartar, which left untreated can become a major contributor to gingivitis and gum disease.
Tartar is the yellowish, white hard substance you may see accumulating on your teeth. It is commonly found in the ‘hard to reach’ areas of your mouth like in between your teeth and along your gum line.
Tartar is only removable with special equipment that your dentist or dental hygienist uses. Part of maintaining good oral hygiene and minimising the build-up of tartar is having routine professional dental cleans.
A DARKENING TOOTH
It’s normal for your teeth to lose their pearly whiteness with age. Exposure to things like coffee, tea, red wine and other heavily coloured drinks or food will also contribute to discolouration. When this type of discolouration occurs, it is usually noticeable on all your teeth. If you notice just a single tooth darkening or changing colour, this could be a sign of a problem.
If your tooth experiences mild trauma, it may darken temporarily, like a bruise and can heal in time. In cases of severe trauma to your tooth, permanent darkening may occur due to a dead nerve.
Another cause of a darkening tooth may be tooth decay. Tooth decay left untreated may result in the infection of the pulp of your tooth. This can lead to the darkening of your tooth and you may need a root canal to restore.
LOOSE TEETH
Your adult teeth may become loose as a result of trauma, but if you have one or more teeth become loose without explanation, this is more than likely because of poor oral health. Whether due to impact or poor dental health, loose teeth (or an already lost tooth) require urgent dental care.
Poor oral hygiene can put the soft tissues surrounding your teeth at risk of infection. Left untreated, your teeth can become loose. Brushing and flossing daily will remove most of the plaque from your teeth. But you need to make sure you’re brushing and flossing with the correct technique for it to be most effective.
If you have one or more loose teeth, you need to see a dentist for treatment. The loss of adult teeth can lead to a range of other oral health issues, so it’s important to prioritise tooth preservation.
What are the early signs of oral infection? What treatments are recommended for oral infection, and when do we recommend visiting your Edmonton dentists? Find answers to these questions in this post.
Harmful germs, fungi, viruses and bacteria can multiply and cause oral infections anywhere in or around the mouth. In most cases, poor oral hygiene contributes or leads to these infections.
Plaque continues to develop around the teeth and on the surface of your tongue, increasing the risk of damage to teeth and soft tissues. Similar to many other diseases, mouth infections require care and treatment as soon as possible by a dentist so they don't progress and cause further complications.
In this post, our Edmonton dentists will list some early signs of an oral infection.
What are common oral infections?
'Oral infection' is an umbrella term for a group of several infections occurring in your mouth. They may be of a dental origin (in your mouth) or a non-dental source (in other soft tissues). Most people will develop at least one cavity in their lifetime, making this the most common oral disease.
Other common oral infections include:
Cold Sores
Not to be confused with canker sores, the herpes simplex virus causes painful blisters to appear around the mouth.
Endodontic Disease
Bacteria infects the pulp of the tooth, which can cause pain and necrosis (death) of the tissue.
Gingivitis
Bacteria infects the gums during the early stage of gum disease.
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease
Also called thrush or candidiasis, the highly contagious coxsackievirus leads to painful sores around the mouth, along with rashes on the hands and feet.
Oral Thrush
This fungal infection of the mouth is also known as oral candidosis (or candidiasis) since it's caused by a group of yeasts called Candida. It is not contagious. This oral yeast infection can cause a range of symptoms, from loss of taste and a painful burning sensation in the mouth to white patches (plaques) in the mouth that can often be wiped off.
Periodontal Disease
The gums become infected with bacteria during the later stages of gum disease.
What are mouth infection symptoms?
You may experience different symptoms depending on the oral infection present. Vital infections can cause cluster-like lesions inside or outside the mouth, while bacterial and fungal infections can cause redness or ulcers in your oral cavity.
Some common symptoms include:
Sores in the mouth, lips or gums
Recurring bad breath
Pain in your teeth, gum or jaw
Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods
Sore or bleeding gums
Swelling of the gums, jaw or lymph bodes
Loose teeth
Fever
Headache
Malaise
Difficulty swallowing, biting or chewing
When should I see my dentist?
If you notice any of the symptoms above or suspect you may have an oral infection, see your dentist as soon as possible.
Your dentist will note your dental history and perform a thorough clinical exam to determine the cause. Bacterial, fungal or viral infections are typically diagnosed based on their symptoms.
Depending on the nature of your condition, tests may involve exposure to hot and cold stimuli, an electric pulp test, percussion and dental X-rays. In some instances, a swab test may be needed to test for pathogenic organisms.
What treatments are recommended for oral infections?
The cause of your infection will determine the best treatment option. Oral surgery will be needed to treat dental abscesses and other tooth-related infections.
A dental filling or crown may then need to be placed. Alternatively, you may require a root canal or, in severe cases, a tooth extraction.
Generally, viral infections do not need to be treated beyond addressing the symptoms, while the primary infection involved in a bacterial infection will require treatment to alleviate oral symptoms.
For fungal infections, you may need to apply a topical antifungal ointment or rinse with an antifungal mouthwash.
Most oral infections have a good prognosis if they are diagnosed and treated early. However, with severe cases, the infection can potentially progress to a level where extracting the problem tooth is the only solution.
How can I prevent oral infections?
To prevent mouth infections, employ some basic health and oral hygiene practices such as:
Maintaining oral hygiene
Brushing twice each day
Flossing
Using antiseptic mouthwashes within the prescribed limit
Avoiding direct contact with an infected person
Keeping mouth hydrated
Taking the necessary vitamins and minerals
Not sharing toothbrushes or razors
Preventive care and hygiene plays an important role in maintaining your gums and teeth and keeping them free of oral infection.
When you come in for regular exams, your dentist will take the opportunity to identify any oral health issues and create a plan to treat them. These include any oral infections that may be developing. We can also answer any questions you may have about preventive hygiene and taking care of your oral cavity.
Canker sores are painful, round mouth sores. They show up in several places:
· On the inside of the lips
· Inside the cheeks
· On the tongue
· At the base of the gums
· On the roof of the mouth (palate)
Canker sores often run in families. They are also linked with other diseases, including Behcet's syndrome. You may have only one canker sore at a time, or many of them, all at once. Most people get one, two or three sores at a time. But some people have 10 or more at a time. People who get canker sores typically have them a few times each year. Canker sores are not contagious.
It is not very clear what causes canker sores. Most scientists believe that there is a Problem with the body's immune system. Emotional stress, menstruation or injury to the mouth are common triggers for simple canker sores. Certain foods such as citrus or acidic foods may trigger a canker sore or make one more uncomfortable.
Other conditions that may cause similar sores:
· Blood and immune system diseases, including HIV
· Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
· Allergies
· Trauma
· Crohn's disease
· Lupus
Canker sores are often confused with cold sores. Cold sores are caused by a virus.
About half of the population get canker sores. Smaller canker sores usually heal within a couple of weeks and do not leave scars. For most people, they are just annoying. But some people get larger canker sores (almost one-half inch across or larger). These take longer time to heal. They can be painful, and may leave scars. These sores may be so uncomfortable that it is sometimes hard to eat or speak.
Symptoms
You may feel a burning or tingling on your inner cheek, lip or tongue before a sore appears. Each sore takes two to three days to form. The sores are round and shallow
Diagnosis
Usually, you do not need to visit a doctor for canker sores, unless it is the first time you have them. If the sores become worse over time, or start showing up more often, see your physician or dentist. He or she can do some tests for blood diseases, connective tissue diseases, drug reactions and skin disorders.
Sometimes a biopsy is needed to make sure the mouth sore is not a different disease. While taking a biopsy, the area is locally anaesthetized , and a small piece of tissue is removed. Then it is examined in a laboratory.
To reduce discomfort, you can:
· Eat bland foods
· Rinse the mouth with warm water
· Use pain-relieving gels or creams on the sores
People with larger or very painful sores may need steroid medication. These are gels or creams that are placed on the sores. They make the sores heal faster and also prevent them from growing bigger.
Other possible treatments include injected steroids. There are also a few medicines you can take by mouth, but this is for the most serious cases.
When To Visit a Professional
You should visit your dentist or physician if:
· You are having sores for the first time
· Your sores are larger than 1centimeter (almost one-half inch) across
· You get more sores now than you used to
· You get sores more often than you used to
· You have other symptoms with your sores, such as:
o Rashes
o Joint pain
o Fever
o Diarrhea
Prognosis
Most canker sores clear up without treatment and do not leave scars. In more severe cases, medicines often help to speed-up healing.
