Stomatitis – inflammation of the oral mucosa

Pain in the mouth can have a variety of causes. There are pathologies accompanied by discomfort and pain in this place. If they persist for a long time, as well as discomfort when eating, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Oral cavity hurts

It is also important to pay attention to such signs of pain as the nature and location of its manifestation. Let's talk about why the oral cavity hurts, what diseases have such a symptom, and also which doctor to see if it occurs.

Mucosal injury

For any person, the cause of pain in the mouth can be ordinary injuries.

Trauma is often the cause of mouth pain.

For example:

• eating something too hot/cold. This injures the mucous membrane, and pain quickly appears in it. Inflammation indicates the presence of injury to the mucosa, caused by temperature exposure, and at the same time incompatible with its integrity. Eating something very hot can cause injury to both the palate and the tongue, as well as the throat;
• rough food, which can leave scratches on the roof of your mouth and on the inside of your cheeks. This causes pain and burning to appear after a day or two;
• A child has more ways to damage his or her mucous membrane than an adult. The baby can scratch it with his thin nail or put something in his mouth, for example, a toy. And if the child is somewhat older, his mucous membrane can be damaged by lollipops and chips.

When choosing a remedy for pain, it is very important to pay attention to the nature of the injury:

• in case of a burn, it is useful to rinse your mouth with warm water and then use Metrogil Denta dental ointment;

"Metrogil Denta"

• In case of mechanical damage, it is recommended to immediately use antiseptics by rinsing your mouth with them. For an adult, it is useful to rinse your mouth with a mixture: 10-15 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide per glass of water. Decoctions of calendula and chamomile are also good. Also good are the drugs “Rotokan” and “Miramistin”, which fight infection as well as inflammation.

"Miramistin"

The main rule: no self-medication! Therapy must be prescribed by a specialist. Otherwise, you can make the situation even worse. So if symptoms appear, it is recommended to visit a doctor. He will prescribe the best treatment for a particular situation.

Dental pathologies

The infection can be acquired by not following the rules of personal hygiene, as well as by contact with an already sick person. The most common pathologies are listed below.

Stomatitis

There are several types of stomatitis that can cause pain in the oral mucosa.

There are several types of stomatitis

• Allergic stomatitis

Gingivitis

This disease is inflammation of the gums. They hurt while eating, talking, and the pain is felt even when at rest. The likelihood of contracting this pathology does not depend on age category.

Gingivitis – inflammation of the gums

With gingivitis, the gums turn red and bleed, pain appears in the mouth, and it begins to smell unpleasant. This disease is treated in a dental clinic.

Herpes

This pathology, which occurs in the mouth, is a consequence of the spread of the herpes virus throughout the body. No part of the mucous membrane in the human body is protected from it. But usually this disease manifests itself on the lips.

Small ulcers form on the mucous membrane of the mouth and in the throat, causing pain. At first these are bubbles with yellow liquid. When they burst, they leave behind wounds. They also cause discomfort.

Herpes most often forms on the lips, however, due to this pathology, pain in the oral cavity may occur

The same sensations are felt at any degree of damage. It is very painful to touch the source of the pathology, to eat, or just to drink. Herpes is treated by an infectious disease specialist.

Here it is important to first remove the inflammation, and only then begin the actual treatment. At home, it is useful to rinse your mouth with a decoction of chamomile and calendula. It would not be superfluous to use Miramistin and chlorhexidine solution.

To defeat the disease, the doctor prescribes specific medications for external or internal use. Self-medication here, as with many other health problems, is harmful.

Important ! Only a specialist has the necessary experience needed to correctly diagnose the disease and determine how far it has gone.

You need to see a doctor who will prescribe appropriate medications

Neuralgia

If inflammation damages nerve endings, the pain spreads widely. With neuralgia of the muscles of the face and jaw, discomfort in the mouth is also possible. Then the pain is felt when the jaw works, which happens while eating, speaking or yawning.

In this case, symptoms include more pain during certain activities. The source of pain is inside the tissue, in the muscle, not on the mucous membrane. A visual inspection will not show anything here.

• Stomatitis medicine for children

With this problem, therapy comes down to restoring damaged nerves and muscles. To make a correct diagnosis, you should undergo an x-ray of the affected area of ​​the face, and also consult with an oral surgeon.

For neuralgia of the muscles of the face and jaw, it is also recommended to consult an oral surgeon

Next, the specialist prescribes therapy, focusing on how severe the case is. Neuralgia is usually treated using antibiotics, as well as some specific remedies.

Worth knowing ! It happens that patients are hospitalized.

Sialometaplasia

Benign lesion of the palatine salivary glands. At first, you can suspect something is wrong by noticing not too large seals on the hard palate, similar to nodules. The growth of the affected areas occurs quickly, and their dimensions can reach up to 20 mm. With this pathology, the patient feels aching pain and pulsation where the ulcers are localized.

People aged 40-50 years are susceptible to this pathology. Moreover, more than half of the patients are men. The disease occurs due to one of the following reasons:

• damage to the mucosa;
• vasospasm;
• injections for dental procedures.

Sialopetaplasia is a benign lesion of the palatine salivary glands.

Important ! With this pathology, the most important thing is to make a correct diagnosis. This is because its symptoms can easily be confused with other ailments.

Be that as it may, you should always identify the very cause of pain in the oral cavity. Only then can a specialist prescribe the necessary therapy and give certain recommendations on how to keep the mouth clean and prevent relapses.

Other causes of stomatitis

In addition to infections, there is a whole range of other causes that can cause inflammation of the oral mucosa: • allergic reactions of a local and general nature (for example, to certain foods, medications, filling materials, oral care products) • the presence of soft and hard dental plaque, multiple caries • incorrectly installed dentures or orthodontic devices (braces) • irritation and trauma to the mucous membrane (mechanical injuries, burns) • deficiency conditions in the body (vitamins A, B and C, iron, folic acid); • intoxication with nicotine, alcohol, metal compounds.

Stomatitis can be manifestations and side effects of common infectious diseases (measles, diphtheria) or internal and general diseases and pathologies (blood and skin diseases, hormonal fluctuations, metabolic disorders).

Inflammation of the oral mucosa occurs especially often when the body's immune system is weakened and due to insufficient oral hygiene. The danger of stomatitis may also be associated with increased and constant dryness of the mouth, in which the protective functions of the mucous membrane are sharply weakened. The salivary glands produce on average up to 1.5 liters of fluid per day, and its deficiency leads to an imbalance in the acidity of the environment, an imbalance of inorganic components and, ultimately, has a depressing effect on the immune defense of the mucous membrane.

First aid for stomatitis

The most common cause of pain in the oral cavity is stomatitis.

Note! All of the medications listed are suitable only for relieving pain, but not for treating stomatitis itself. So you should still contact the dentist as soon as the opportunity arises.

The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive treatment for pathologies

The hospital uses complex treatment. This includes physiotherapy, as well as the following types of medications:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• antiviral;
• proteolytic enzymes.

To alleviate the symptoms of this disease at home, painkillers are useful, as well as mouth rinses to get rid of inflammation.

It is also useful to use painkillers at home:

• How to rinse your mouth for stomatitis in adults

• "Analgin";
• "Tempalgin";
• "Panadol";
• paracetamol;
• aspirin.

Important ! The latter is also good as a means to combat inflammation.

To relieve discomfort, it is recommended to use painkillers

Infectious causes

Stomatitis can be caused by infection with viruses or bacteria. In these cases, stomatitis is usually considered as an independent disease.

This is especially true for infection with herpes simplex viruses, which leads to very painful inflammation of the mucous membrane. There are two types of herpetic stomatitis - acute herpetic stomatitis (with primary infection) and recurrent herpetic stomatitis (which can pass through the acute stage or manifest itself as a general infection of the body in the presence of provoking factors). Herpetic stomatitis can lead to an aphthous form, in which erosions, aphthae, and even painful ulcers appear on the mucous membrane.

A specific type of stomatitis is chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis, which begins almost immediately with the formation of aphthae, and the nature of which is not yet clear. But viral and bacterial infections and vitamin imbalances are also suggested as initiating factors.

The specific infection that causes stomatitis includes a fungal infection (fungi of the genus Candida) and the disease itself is called candidiasis (thrush). Thrush is characterized by the formation of whitish dots on the mucous membrane, and as the fungal infection multiplies, a whitish coating. Candidiasis develops, as a rule, as a result of violations of hygiene rules, physiological disorders in the body, and the use of certain medications. It is often observed in children and its danger cannot be underestimated. This infection, which initially appears on the oral mucosa, can be spread to all organs and systems of the body, and in this case already poses a significant threat to health.

Purely bacterial causes of stomatitis are less common. As a rule, bacterial infections affecting the oral mucosa accompany viral types of stomatitis (for example, streptostaphylococcal lesions).

How to treat?

Before choosing a course of treatment for stomatitis, the specialist finds out where this pathology came from in this case. To save a patient, for example, from catarrhal stomatitis, tartar is removed, teeth are treated and filled. To relieve him of ulcerative stomatitis, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the body for problems with the blood, gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels. And with aphthous stomatitis, the sick person is examined for allergies and rheumatism.

The course of therapy depends on the nature of the pathology

Along with treating the disease, the specialist prescribes local therapy, which means rinsing the mouth with chlorhexidine - 0.05% or 1% solution. The following drugs are also used when rinsing:

• aminocaproic acid;
• herbal decoctions;
• methylene blue.

A gentle diet will help speed up treatment.

Here are the foods to avoid:

• spicy;
• roast;
• rough food.

Here are some things you should increase your consumption of:

• porridge;
• pureed soups;
• vitamins (special emphasis on A and C).

Important ! After eating, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly. First with clean warm water, then with medicine.

After eating you need to rinse your mouth

Treatment for stomatitis usually takes from five days to one and a half weeks. But if the disease is started, it will last longer, becoming more and more severe.

Causes of the pathological process

Inflammation of the gums and swelling of the cheek can develop due to tissue injury and the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the wound. Inflammation can lead to:

• pericoronitis,
• complex tooth extraction or other traumatic dental surgery,
• chipping of a tooth with the formation of a sharp edge that damages the gums,
• advanced caries and pulpitis,
• tartar,
• cyst,
• poor quality filling or prosthetics.

The inflammatory process develops faster in people with reduced immunity, diabetes, and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Also at risk are patients with complex malocclusions.

Traditional therapy

Herbal decoctions, used mainly for rinsing, have some anti-inflammatory and at the same time anesthetic effects for stomatitis.

First. Onion peel infusion:

• chop dry onion peel;
• 3 tsp. pour the resulting mixture with 500 ml of hot water;
• boil;
• leave for 7-8 hours;
• strain

Second. Horse sorrel decoction :

• Signs of stomatitis in adults and its treatment

• chop horse sorrel roots;
• 1 tbsp. l. pour the resulting mixture with 1 tbsp. water;
• boil for 15 minutes;
• strain.

Third. Calendula decoction:

• Pour boiling water over calendula flowers in the proportion of 1 tbsp. l. flowers for 1 tbsp. water;
• leave for 15 minutes;
• strain.

Traditional medicine methods are also effective in combating oral pathologies

Fourth. Nettle infusion:

• finely chop nettle leaves;
• 1 tbsp. l pour 2 tbsp. boiling water;
• let stand for half an hour;
• strain;
• use if the gums are bleeding and the oral cavity is “decorated” with ulcers.

Fifth:

• Pour 1 part of onion juice into an enamel-coated container;
• dissolve 1 part honey in a hot bath;
• pour onion juice with 2 parts water and honey;
• cool;
• Make lotions and compresses from the result in case of inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa.

Sixth:

• 2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort and 1 tbsp. l. pour chamomile into porcelain dishes;
• pour boiling water;
• stir, close the lid;
• hold for 1.5 hours;
• strain through a sieve.

St. John's wort and chamomile help eliminate inflammation

Seventh:

• 1 tbsp. l. chop sage leaves and calendula flowers;
• put them in a pan covered with enamel;
• pour one and a half cups of boiling water;
• stir;
• put in a water bath;
• Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, covering with a lid;
• cool to ambient temperature;
• strain through cotton cloth.

Eighth:

• 1 tsp each fresh onion juice and Kalanchoe juice, as well as 3 tbsp. l. pour water into porcelain dishes;
• stir.

Ninth:

• 1 tbsp. l. Brew one and a half cups of boiling water for green tea;
• wait 40 minutes;
• at this time dissolve 1 tbsp. l. honey in the bath;
• strain the tea;
• add honey;
• mix.

Tenth:

• 2 tbsp. l. plantain pour 1 tbsp. boiling water;
• close the lid;
• hold for 15 minutes;
• strain through a fine sieve;
• cool.

You need to rinse your mouth with decoctions regularly

Important ! You need to rinse your mouth with such decoctions every two hours every day.

Stomatitis and pediatrics

It is quite difficult to treat stomatitis in representatives of the younger generation. It is very difficult to force them to rinse their mouths, and even more difficult to treat them with medicine. However, patience and affection will allow you to succeed.

Important ! A child with this problem often develops a fever.

With fungal stomatitis, not only ulcers appear, but also a coating reminiscent of curdled milk. During herpes, the ulcers can spread beyond the mouth, now also around it.

In children, stomatitis and other oral pathologies are more difficult to treat

Infants often develop fungal stomatitis, which causes them to be capricious and refuse to eat. Whitish spots on the tongue, reminiscent of curdled milk, can be noticed simply by looking into the baby's mouth. Among the most well-known methods of treating fungal stomatitis is wiping the mouth with a soda solution. To prepare this remedy, you need 1 tsp. Stir soda in a glass of boiled water, wrap gauze around your finger, soak it in the solution, and then wipe the inside of the baby’s mouth.

If the pathology is at the initial stage of development, honey will be useful. They should lubricate ulcers and affected areas of the mucous membrane. But this is only permissible if the baby is not allergic to honey. Syrup from fragrant rose petals is useful. It is done like this: the petals of the plant are washed with cold boiled water, after which they are covered with sugar in a ratio of 1:2 and infused. Heat in a bathhouse for half an hour until all the sugar has dissolved and a pleasant-smelling syrup is obtained, similar in thickness to liquid honey. It is useful to lubricate the baby's ulcers with this syrup every time after he eats.

You can relieve your child of pain in the mouth using honey and various syrups.

Interesting ! Thanks to a wider selection of acceptable medications, stomatitis in older children is easier to treat.

Here are examples of suitable ointments:

• Finely grind 3 garlic cloves, mix in a dessert spoon of yogurt. Apply to sore spots in the mouth three times a day. Due to the pain of this technique, it is not suitable for babies under one year old;
• take tsp. honey and sunflower oil, the white of one egg, an ampoule of novocaine 0.5%. Mix everything;
• Simply place a cut aloe leaf on the ulcer.

Rinsing the child’s mouth with infusions of chamomile and kombucha, fresh cabbage or carrot juice is also useful.

You can treat the oral mucosa with brilliant green, but this must be done very carefully

Separately, it is necessary to mention ordinary brilliant green. It is an excellent drying and antibacterial medicine, but caution is required when using it: it can irritate the mucous membranes.