Suffering from oral or mouth ulcer?

Cause of oral ulcer?

Apthous ulcers can occur in the oral cavity due to stress, hormonal changes, menstrual problems, food allergies, gastrointestinal disease, vitamin B12, iron or folic acid deficiency. Side effects of certain medications, bacterial, viral or fungal infections, defective immune systems, chemotherapy and HIV infection greatly reduce the immune system which can lead to oral ulceration. Oral ulcers can develop from trauma eg. If any part of the tooth is sharp. Some chronic diseases such as oral lichen planus, autoimmune diseases and oral cancer can also lead to oral ulcer.

Treatment

If you are experiencing an oral ulcer, consult with an oral medicine specialist to find out the cause of ulcer and provide treatment accordingly. Adequate sleep, stress relief and healthy lifestyle are important. For patient's allergic to specific foods, dietary changes may be required. Smoking, betel nut chewing, alcohol drinking over long period of time can lead to oral cancer. If an oral ulcer persists for more than 3 weeks, patient should immediately consult with a dental surgeon. In some cases, biopsy and blood tests may be needed to diagnose the disease. If an ulcer develops from sharp teeth, the teeth should be trimmed as soon as possible. Considering the overall physical condition of the patient, proper history, diagnostic test and thorough clinical examination are required to provide appropriate treatment of mouth ulcer.

Dr.Rifat Rahman

BDS, MSc Oral Medicine (Thailand)

Oral Medicine Specialist

Ibrahim Medical College (Dental Unit), BIRDEM hospital

drrahmanrifat@gmail.com