Mouth lesions are the abnormal patches, sores, or altered texture of the mouth lining. The various mouth lesions include cuts, lumps, bumps, or ulcers (firm white patches over the mouth, lips, gums, and throat).
What are the signs and symptoms of mouth lesions?
Pain is a common symptom of mouth lesions. Some patches may appear as ulcers or red or white patches in the mouth. They may also bleed in severe cases.
Canker sores or aphthous ulcers are the common mouth sores that often recur. These are painful ulcers that are found mostly in patients with compromised immunity or during periods of stress and infection.
Cold sores are the mouth lesions found in herpes simplex virus infection. These are also called fever blisters; they spread through personal contacts, such as kissing. They are tiny, fluid-filled blisters occurring in groups on and around your lips. The blisters break leaving a scab that stays for several days before disappearing.
What causes mouth lesions?
Mouth lesions can be caused by a variety of causes. These include:
- Vitamin or mineral deficiency [B vitamins (vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12), iron, folic acid, and zinc]
- Burns
- Infection
- Systemic diseases (diseases that affects the whole body)
- Crohn's disease
- Behçet syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Oral cancer
- Herpes simplex virus infection (cold sores)
- Syphilis (the typical mouth sores in syphilis are known as chancres)
- Angular cheilitis (red swollen, patches on the lips, especially around its corners making an angle)
- Bites
- Dental injury
- Erythema multiforme or Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Medications (methotrexate can cause canker cores)
- Mucocele
- Pemphigus vulgaris
- Poorly fitting braces or dentures
How are mouth lesions treated?
Most often, you can treat mouth lesions at home by following simple tips.
- Apply ice or cloth dipped in cold water for a soothing effect.
- Apply milk of magnesia on canker sores two to three times a day.
- Make a do it yourself (DIY) baking soda solution in water and use it as a mouth rinse.
- Try switching to a soft brush.
- If you use a toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate, find one without it. This common ingredient in most tubes of toothpaste is known to trigger mouth ulcers.
Medications used in the treatment of mouth lesions include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over the counter NSAIDs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help alleviate pain.
- Medicated lip ointments/gels: The over the counter cold sore ointment Abreva (docosanol) may shorten the healing time of a cold sore. Gels, such as Orajel, Orabase (benzocaine), and lidocaine (an anesthetic) can be used to relieve pain or discomfort in canker sores.
- In case of infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medication. An antiseptic mouthwash is also helpful.
QUESTION
See AnswerWhat is laser vaporization of mouth lesions?
Laser vaporization uses beams of light energy of a particular wavelength (laser technique) to treat mouth lesions. Not only does it help decrease the pain and speed up the healing, but also reduces the risk of scarring from mouth lesions. Lasers work by modifying the nerve conduction in the lesions; it vaporizes the tissue around the sore and sterilizes the affected area.
Oral lesions treated with laser surgery include aphthous ulcers and overgrowths, such as lymphangiomas, hemangiomas, and verrucous carcinomas.
How to prevent mouth lesions?
You may try the following to prevent mouth lesions:
- When you have a cold sore or see it coming, avoid close contact, such as kissing.
- Do not share personal items, such as toothbrushes, lip balms, razors, drinking glasses.
- Do not touch your mouth or lips often. Wash your hands if you happen to do so.
- If you tend to get mouth sores over lips, apply a lip balm with sunscreen every time you venture out in sunlight (sunlight can trigger sores).
- Have lots of fruits and vegetables to get your daily intake of vitamins and minerals.
Poduval J. Laser Vaporization of Mouth Lesions. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1890867-overview#
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Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
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Triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% dental paste (Kenalog Orabase, Oralone in the U.S.) is a dental paste prescribed to treat painful lesions in the mouth. Side effects, drug interactions, dosage, storage, and pregnancy and breastfeeding information should be reviewed prior to taking this drug.What Are Mouth Lesions?
Mouth lesions are the abnormal patches, sores, or altered texture of the mouth lining. The various mouth lesions include cuts, lumps, bumps, or ulcers (firm white patches over the mouth, lips, gums, and throat).