What Causes Mouth Sores?
There are several different kinds of mouth sores, and many individuals experience some type of sore at least once throughout their lives. Mouth sores can develop on or around any soft tissues that make up the mouth, including the roof, floor, tongue, gums, cheeks, and lips. It's also possible to develop sores on the esophagus, which is the tube that connects an individual's mouth to their stomach. The majority of mouth sores are minor irritations that last for just one or two weeks. There are more serious cases, though, where a mouth sore can be a sign of an infection or mouth cancer.
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Cold Sores
A cold sore, which can also be called a fever blister, is a common type of viral infection. Cold sores cause small and fluid-filled blisters to develop around and on the lips. There may be just one blister, but affected individuals might also have several blisters grouped in a patch. When the blisters break, a sore is left behind, and a crust often forms over the sore. Most cold sores heal in between two and four weeks and don't cause scarring. Cold sores are spread from individual to individual through close physical contact like kissing. They are the result of HSV-1, a herpes simplex virus similar to the strain that leads to genital herpes. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread through oral sex and are capable of affecting both the mouth and genitals. Even if individuals can't see the sores, cold stores are still contagious. HSV infection doesn't have a cure, which means the blisters might recur. Patients can help speed cold sore healing with antiviral medications. These medications might also reduce the frequency with which the cold sores return.
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Canker Sores
Canker sores are often mixed up with cold sores, but they're a different condition. Also referred to as aphthous ulcers, canker sores develop at the base of the gums or on the other soft tissues inside an individual's mouth. Canker sores don't develop on or around the lips, and they also aren't contagious. However, they can cause pain, and they can make it difficult to eat and talk. The majority of canker sores heal within one or two weeks. If these sores don't seem to be healing or they seem unusually painful and large, patients should talk to a doctor. There isn't a specific cause of canker sores that's been pinpointed. However, researchers believe multiple factors can influence outbreaks. Minor injuries caused by accidental cheek biting, sports impacts, brushing too hard, and dental work can increase an individual's risk. An individual will also have a higher risk if they use mouthwash and toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to canker sores, as can allergies, stress, and menstruation-related hormonal shifts.
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Anemia
Anemia occurs when an individual's blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin or red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for binding oxygen, and it's one of the main parts of red blood cells. Abnormal red blood cells and low hemoglobin can both cause an individual's body to be starved of oxygen. Fatigue and other anemia symptoms occur because organs aren't getting enough oxygen and nutrients to function. In the United States, anemia is the most commonly occurring blood condition. Researchers estimate around 5.6 percent of Americans have some form of anemia. Chronically ill individuals, young children, and women all have a higher risk of anemia. More than four hundred kinds of anemia have been identified. They're sorted into three categories: anemia from blood loss, anemia from faulty or decreased red blood cell production, and anemia from the destruction of the red blood cells. If individuals have an iron deficiency that leads to anemia, their mouth may become dry. Individuals might also develop mouth ulcers or sore and red cracks at the corners of their mouth.
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Gingivomatitis
Gingivostomatitis occurs when the mouth and gums become infected. The most common symptom is swelling in the gums or mouth, which is sometimes accompanied by mouth lesions that look like canker sores. Affected individuals might experience the sores on their gums, tongue, cheeks, or the roof of their mouth. The infection can either be viral or bacterial, and in many cases, it stems from improper oral hygiene. The condition is even more common with children than with adults. A child who has gingivostomatitis might refuse to drink or eat because of the pain from the sores, and they may also drool. The infection can lead them to develop swollen lymph nodes and a fever. This infection can be caused by HSV-1, the same virus that leads to cold sores. It can also be caused by actinomyces and streptococcus bacteria. Another cause is coxsackievirus, which is typically transmitted by touching a hand or surface contaminated by feces. In addition to mouth infection and sores, coxsackievirus can lead to flu-like symptoms.
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Folate Deficiency
A folate deficiency can cause anemia, which can, in turn, lead to mouth sores and dry mouth. Folate is also known as folic acid, and it is one of the B vitamins. It helps repair DNA, make DNA, and produce red blood cells. Patients can increase their folate intake by having dark green vegetables and citrus juices. Just a few weeks of reduced folate intake can cause a deficiency. Some individuals also develop a folate deficiency because of a genetic mutation or disease that keeps the body from converting folate into usable proteins. Folic acid is important for pregnant women, as folate deficiencies in pregnancy have the potential to cause birth defects. The majority of individuals consume enough folate from their food. Many foods have added folic acid, which is a synthetic type of folate, to help prevent potential deficiency. Supplements are typically recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant.
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Brushing Teeth Too Hard
An individual who experiences frequent mouth sores may be brushing their teeth too hard. When an individual brushes their teeth too hard, it causes erosion to their protective tooth enamel, which is the part of the tooth that stops bacteria from invading into the tooth. The more erosion that occurs in the tooth enamel, the more opportunities bacteria have to enter the tooth and surrounding gums. When bacteria find a way into these tissues, they can colonize and produce mouth sores. Brushing teeth too hard also means the gums are also being brushed too hard. Gums have a tough outer layer like teeth do that keep bacteria from entering the underlying tissues. The outer layer of the gums is similar to the outer layer of the skin, protecting the underlying tissues until it becomes lacerated or rubbed raw. Brushing this outer layer of the gums too hard can cause it to erode and produce raw spots in the gums that allow bacteria to grow into the fragile underlying gum tissue.
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Biting The Tongue, Cheek, Or Lip
An individual may develop mouth sores if they have a habit of biting their cheeks, tongue, or lip. Biting these tissues out of nervousness or habit is a mechanical action that can cause tissues to lacerate and rip from its original location. This tearing of the mucosal tissue leaves an open wound in the mouth that may or may not bleed for a short period. An open wound in the mouth allows particles of food, liquids, and bacteria to enter the deeper tissues and produce inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the immune system responds to the injury that has occurred in the individual's mouth. Inflammation causes the area that has become raw to become swollen, painful, and red. This process can occur with any area of the mouth where an individual bites and tears through enough of the top layer of the mucous membranes. These raw and inflamed areas easily form sores or ulcers in the mouth that may be larger than ulcers caused by other mechanisms.
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Irritation From Braces Or Retainers
An individual who develops frequent mouth sores may also be experiencing irritation from orthodontic equipment like braces, retainers, or other appliances installed in the mouth and around the teeth. When it comes to orthodontic equipment and appliances in the mouth, an increase in the amount of friction on the gums and other tissues can trigger the development of ulcers. The inside of the lips and cheeks are tough to a certain degree, but sometimes the sharp, pointy, and metal-containing components of an individual's braces, retainer, or other orthodontic appliance are enough to puncture the outer layer of these tissues. Mouth sores are especially common among individuals who have just gotten their braces, retainer, or other orthodontic appliance installed on their teeth or in their mouth, as the sides of the mouth and the lips are not acclimated to the presence of these objects. Most individuals get mouth sores less and less throughout their orthodontic treatment, and may only experience the occasional sore when they have their braces changed out or adjusted.
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Burning The Mouth
An individual may develop a mouth sore after burning their mouth. An individual may burn the tissues on the inside of their mouth when they consume a hot beverage or food. When food or fluid that is too hot touches the tissues of the inside of the mouth, it scorches and burns the top layer of tissue, producing pain. The top layer of the membranes in the mouth may immediately slough off or slough off later. In both situations, the burn leaves raw tissue behind. The raw tissue comes in contact with many substances in the food and drinks the individual consumes and any bacteria or acidic substances that get into the mouth. When bacteria, food particles, or liquid particles come in contact with the burn, the area can become inflamed and irritated. This irritation induces a response by the immune system, causing redness and swelling. The burn area then develops into an ulcer in the individual's mouth that can be painful and may take several days to several weeks to fully heal.
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A vitamin B12 deficiency causes an individual to have a shortage of healthy red blood cells because the vitamin is required for red blood cell formation. Vitamin B12 is also essential for the management of numerous enzymes and amino acids in the body. While the exact mechanism of how a vitamin B12 deficiency causes an individual to develop mouth sores is not clear, it is thought to be related to altered acidity in the mouth and digestive tract. When the acidity in the mouth is not where it should be, it can make the mucous membranes more sensitive and more vulnerable to damage than they would be otherwise. Increased vulnerability to damage means the individual will have mouth sores more frequently than individuals who do not have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Mouth sores in vitamin B12 deficiency patients may also take longer to heal than they do in healthy individuals.