Aphthy in the mouth: the causes of the appearance, description and characteristics of the treatment

In adults and children, small wounds (aphthae) often appear in the mouth. They are quite painful and have many reasons for occurrence.

In some cases aphthae pass by themselves. However, often for the disappearance of wounds treatment is required. In this case, the help of a doctor is necessary. Only an expert can correctly diagnose, establish the cause of the anomaly and prescribe adequate treatment.

What is aphtha?

The word aphta means "pimple" in Greek. Its appearance on the oral mucosa begins with a feeling of slight burning. There are three stages in the development of aphthae.

1. Within a few days, a small vial containing a liquid appears on the burning spot.
2. After it a sore is formed. It has a yellowish white color. In the size of the wound can reach one centimeter, but more often it is within three to four millimeters. Around the aphthae an inflammatory process develops, due to which there is a slight reddening of neighboring tissues.
3. A few days later a protective reticulum is formed over the ulcer. It consists of protein and fibrin. It looks like a gray-white spot.

Ranks can appear in groups of up to six. In this case there is a high probability of development of aphthous stomatitis. With weak immunity and the presence of various diseases of a systemic nature, this ailment can grow into a chronic form. In this case, during periods of exacerbation, recurrent aphthae of the oral cavity will appear, and then disappear. The disease itself has a lingering course and is accompanied by swelling of the tissues.

Symptoms

The formation of aft on the oral mucosa is quite uncomfortable. At an early stage a person can observe:

• lack of appetite;
• Increased body temperature;
• Malaise and weakness;
• An increase in cervical and occipital lymph nodes.

After the appearance of sores, painful sensations arise during eating and talking.

Classification

Aphths in the mouth are of different types. They differ in appearance and localization.

• Most often appear lower aphthae. They are observed in eighty percent of cases. Such wounds have a small diameter and affect the mucosa of the lower lip.
• Large aphthae have a diameter of about one centimeter. Are located on the mucous palate, cheeks, tongue, lips. They are deep, long heal and often recur.
• Herpetic aphthae are manifested in the form of a large number of vesicles, which have very small dimensions. They can completely cover the tongue, the sky and even the whole mouth. Especially often this type of disease is observed in women.

Causes of appearance

Aphths in the mouth can develop as an independent pathology, and also be complications in other diseases. The direct causative agent of wound formation by scientists is not established.

The causes of aphthus in the mouth are quite diverse. The main ones are:

• Injuries (biting lip or cheek, damaged mucous membrane during eating or brushing teeth, inaccuracy of the dentist, scarring of the tissues with a broken tooth, interfering with the bracket or prosthesis of poor quality);
• Radiotherapy, used in the treatment of tumors in the head or neck;
• Getting into the mouth cavity of chemical substances (drugs, gaseous stimuli);
• stress;
• Inadequate oral hygiene;
• herpes;
• Genetic predisposition;
• Disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• ulcerative colitis;
• Dysfunction of the endocrine system;
• Decreased immunity;
• Red flat lichen;
• Blood problems;
• thrush;
• allergy;
• Deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

Is it compulsory to see a doctor?

Aphthi are not contagious. They can develop without consequences and disappear on their own. In this case, the jaundice is observed no more than two weeks, heal spontaneously, leave no traces.

In complicated cases, as well as with the development of painful and large wounds, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The specialist will determine how to treat aphthae in the mouth.

In the absence of necessary medical care, complicated sores can cause various disorders, leave scars, grow into a chronic form.

Some people prefer to self-medicate and do it quite successfully. However, such tactics are acceptable only if the aft are single, arise very rarely and do not give complications.

If there are a lot of wounds, they are painful and do not pass for a long time, you need to go to the dentist. This will help avoid the occurrence of relapses after self-treatment, the appearance of allergic reactions, complications.

Features of treatment

If the sore did not pass itself two weeks after the appearance, then you need to help her heal. This is easily done at home. Treatment of aft in the mouth is to reduce the unpleasant sensations and stimulate the tightening of the wound.

The main ways to help get rid of the pathology are:

• Mouth rinsing;
• Lubrication of the wound localization site;
• chewing.

Smokers should stop using cigarettes at the time of treatment. Nicotine smoke is very irritating to the mucous, and this slows the healing of tissues.

If after two weeks after the beginning of treatment the aphthae did not disappear or even started to increase, it is necessary to consult a doctor again. The specialist should prescribe a complete examination of the body and supplement local methods of influencing the affected areas with complex methods of combating pathology.

Medication Therapy

Treatment of aphthae in the mouth begins by determining the cause of their occurrence. If the sores are the result of a systemic illness, then drugs are prescribed in parallel to combat it. Depending on this, the necessary drugs are selected: antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic.

For symptomatic treatment of aft, topical preparations are used:

• Anesthetics (to facilitate the process of ingestion it is recommended to rinse their mouth immediately before meals);
• Antiseptic solutions and ointments (to accelerate the healing of sores and exclude the possibility of bacterial infection, the wound is treated two to three times a day for a week);
• Anti-inflammatory (applied directly to a sore spot, helps to remove redness and swelling);
• Rubbing of affected areas with vitamin A.

All drugs are inexpensive and are dispensed in pharmacies without a prescription.

Folk remedies

In addition to using medicines in the treatment of aphthus in the mouth, it is recommended to follow the advice of alternative medicine:

• Rinse your mouth with a solution of table salt or soda, tea brew, tincture of calendula or sage, decoction of medicinal herbs - lime, chamomile, St. John's wort;
• Chew honey combs;
• Lubricate the wounds with essential oils of rosemary, geranium, tea tree.

Incorrect use of folk remedies can make their use completely ineffective. Therefore, before treatment with any prescription alternative medicine is better to consult a doctor.

Diet

If the aphthae in the mouth occur quite often and unreasonably, then first of all you should reconsider your food. The diet should include products:

• Disinfecting the mucous membrane of the gums and palate (garlic, onions);
• Saturated with flavones (turnips, blueberries, persimmons, oranges);
• Having a high percentage of zinc (walnuts, mushrooms, peas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, rice and rye bran, chicken heart, beef);
• Rich in vitamin B (pork and beef offal, yeast, broccoli, milk, oats, bananas);
• Containing vitamin C (citrus, black currant, dog rose, kiwi).

Prevention

In addition to proper nutrition, avoiding the appearance of aft and the occurrence of their relapses will help to observe additional measures. For this you need:

• Follow the condition of the teeth (in time to treat dental diseases, correct an incorrect bite, build up or remove a splinter, set only high-quality bracket systems and orthopedic structures);
• To clean the teeth choose a brush with a soft bristle that will not injure the oral cavity;
• To strengthen the immune system to visit the sauna, do massage, exercise exercises, a lot to be in the air.

Aphthy in the mouth in children: treatment and prevention

There is a separate type of sores in the mouth, characteristic only for toddlers. Rankes are called "Bednar's aphthae." They appear as a result of the occurrence of traumatic erosion of the oral mucosa.

Pathology is most often observed in newborns. Afts arise due to violation of feeding rules, the choice of an incorrect nipple, rough skin of the mother's nipple, improper mouth hygiene, lack of bottle sterilization, finger sucking.

In older children and adolescents, such sores appear because of the habit of taking various objects into the mouth.

Bednar's Afts have characteristic features:

• Localized at the boundary of the soft and hard palate;
• Have clear contours;
• Are located symmetrically;
• Covered with a touch of gray-yellow color, which is very difficult to remove.

Sores cause severe pain. In neglected condition the aphthae merge. On the surface of the mucous membranes of the mouth, a great erosion is formed, which causes great anxiety when feeding.

To the newborn does not begin to give up food and lose weight, with the appearance of wounds it is necessary to urgently turn to the pediatrician and start activities that allow to remove the aphthae in the mouth. The reasons for their appearance and treatment are closely interrelated, therefore only the doctor can collect the entire history and on its basis to put the correct diagnosis. Bednar's Afts are differentiated with such diseases as:

• syphilis;
• tuberculosis;
• Diphtheria of throat;
• Angina of the herpetic type.

After confirming the diagnosis and identifying the cause of the wound, a treatment is prescribed. It includes:

• Elimination of the factor causing injury;
• Cleansing of mucous membranes from plaque;
• Medical treatment of the oral cavity;
• Use of anesthetics.

The healing of aft in children lasts from a few weeks to two months. During this period, the pediatrician needs constant monitoring.

In order to prevent the onset of aphthus in children, it is necessary to follow simple rules:

• Pick up a good nipple;
• Follow the rules of artificial and nursing feeding;
• Follow the condition of the mother's nipples;
• Observe the hygiene of the oral cavity of the baby;
• In older children eradicate the habit of taking foreign objects into their mouths.

Despite preventive measures, aphthae in children can still appear. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. It should also be done if the wound appeared in an adult and does not pass within two weeks.