What is stomatitis?
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. This condition can be caused by infection, injury, allergies, or an autoimmune disease. Inflammation leads to the formation of single or multiple painful ulcers in the mouth, which are covered with a white coating.
Symptoms of stomatitis
-
Soreness: The main signals of the disease are pain or discomfort in the oral cavity. The pain is localized in the area of ulcers.
-
Redness: The mucous membrane of the oral cavity may be reddened, inflamed.
-
Edema: The affected areas of the mucous membrane may look swollen.
-
Ulcers: Sometimes stomatitis is accompanied by the formation of ulcers, erosions or other damage to the mucous membrane.
-
Difficulty eating, talking: Due to pain and discomfort, patients often have difficulty eating or even drinking water.
-
Hypersensitivity: The mucous membrane may become more sensitive to irritants such as spicy, acidic or hot foods.
-
Non-obvious symptoms: Stomatitis may be manifested by common symptoms such as weakness, fever, or swelling of the lymph nodes.
If you find similar symptoms, we advise you to consult a doctor. Especially if they continue or intensify. During the consultation at Olympus Clinics, our dentists will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
What are the types of stomatitis?
Aphthous stomatitis:
Characteristics: Aphthae are small ulcers on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
Causes: The causes of this species are not always clear, but it is believed that it may be due to immune, genetic or viral diseases.
Symptoms: Painful whitish ulcers, often surrounded by a red edge, which can be placed on the tongue, lips, cheeks or gums.
Herpetic stomatitis:
Characteristics: Caused by the herpes virus.
Causes: Herpes virus (usually herpes simplex type 1).
Symptoms: Painful ulcers, swelling, redness, general weakness, fever.
Candidiasis stomatitis:
Characteristics: Caused by the fungus Candida albicans.
Causes: violation of the microflora of the oral cavity, decreased immunity.
Symptoms: curdled white-yellow plaque on the tongue, cheeks, gums, as well as redness, soreness.
Traumatic stomatitis:
Specifications: It is caused by mechanical damage to the mucous membrane.
Causes: Injuries, for example, from biting the mucous membrane or incorrectly installed dentures.
Symptoms: Painful ulcers or abrasions at the site of injury.
Allergic stomatitis:
Characteristics: It is caused by an allergic reaction to certain substances.
Causes: Exposure to allergens such as food, medicines, chemicals.
Symptoms: Swelling, itching, redness of the oral mucosa.
The disease can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination by a doctor. He will ask you about the severity of the pain, nutrition, what kind of toothpaste you use, what medications you take. The doctor can also assess potential causes, such as smoking, the presence of infections.
If the symptoms of the disease recur, the cause is usually aphthous and herpetic types. A history of diabetes or HIV infection or recent use of antibiotics may indicate candida infection as the cause of oral damage. If people with acute stomatitis do not have signs, symptoms, or risk factors for systemic disease, they usually do not need testing. If the symptoms are prolonged and/or severe, the doctor will conduct testing to determine the cause. Testing includes a general analysis of blood, iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid, and zinc.
Treatment of stomatitis
Mouth ulcers usually do not persist for more than two weeks, even without treatment. If the cause of the disease is found, the doctors of Olympus Clinics will draw up a treatment plan. If the cause cannot be identified, the focus of treatment shifts to symptom relief.
We have compiled ways that can help relieve pain, inflammation of ulcers:
Avoid hot drinks, foods, as well as salty, spicy, sour food.
Take the painkillers prescribed by the doctor.
The goals of treatment for ulcerative form are to alleviate discomfort and protect against infection.
Try the following:
Drink more water.
Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution prescribed by your doctor.
Brush your teeth twice a day.
Apply the analgesic ointments prescribed by the doctor to the ulcer.
If you have ulcers frequently, you may be deficient in folic acid or vitamin B12. Tell a specialist at Olympus Clinics about this at a consultation in order to get tested for these components.
Inform the Olymp Clinic doctor about any health problems before starting a new medication.
Health comes first
At Olympus Clinics, every day we not only enhance the beauty of patients, but also take care of their health. In case of any malaise, do not tolerate pain. Come for a consultation with our specialists to find out the exact diagnosis and start timely treatment. We employ only experienced doctors, who can be read about on our website or in reviews on the platforms of doctors, Doctors, Yandex Maps, 2gis.
