Mouth ulcers-those small yellow or white eruption lined inside your mouth! They are simply painful and they can make your life miserable with their miniscule presence. These rashes as small as a few millimeters are caused inside your mouth by break in the mucous membrane and appear like a depression in them.
Although mouth ulcers may be of different types, the two most common types are
– Ulcers caused by minor injuries
– Aphthous ulcers
The first type of mouth ulcer occurs when a person has a sharp edge on a tooth, or poorly fitting dentures. In these cases, the mouth is continuously getting hit by the edgy tooth that ultimately results in ulcer. These ulcers are treated by removing the source of the injury.
Aphthous ulcers are very small, but painful ulcers that most people experience in their lives at least once, especially in adolescence or young adulthood. The aphthous ulcers occur mainly when the body’s own immune system attack the mucosal lining of the mouth. These ulcers often are the result of deficiency in vitamin B12, folic acid or iron. They can also appear at the time of stress or certain hormonal circulation. They commonly occur due to the eating of certain foods. This type of mouth ulcer also may appear as a result of certain types of viral infections.
The mouthwashes are the most effective way of healing both types of ulcers. The mouthwash may be of two types: home made or commercial. In certain ulcers, the simple salt and warm water solution come to great help. The compound thymol glycerin mouthwash is another simple solution for certain ulcers. For more advanced ulcers, antiseptic mouthwashes such as chlorhexidine povidone iodine mouthwashes are applied.
If the ulcers are too painful, the mouthwashes containing local anaesthetics are applied. Local anaesthetics like benzydamine hydrochloride, choline salicylate gel or lignocaine provide temporary numbness at the affected area. However, the mouthwashes containing local anesthetics are not recommended for young children suffering from mouth ulcers. Mouthwash containing Carbenoxolone can be used to relieve the irritations of certain types of ulcers.
So far as the aphthous ulcers are concerned, treatment is based on medical advice. To treat this ulcer, mouthwash containing corticosteroids is most commonly prescribed. However for more severe cases, in addition to mouthwash, oral medications or injections are also recommended. But before you start using corticosteroids containing mouthwash, it is important to make sure that the ulcers are not caused by a viral infection.
There is another type of mouthwash to treat aphthous mouth ulcer. These mouthwashes contain a type of antibiotic called tetracycline.
Most of the mouth ulcers can be easily treated by the application of the mouthwashes. If they persist long, it is recommended to seek medical help, as they may be the outcome of poor immunity or other medical conditions.