The reason we develop mouth ulcers is still not known and may vary widely from person to person. However, we are sure of one thing – these sores are painful and annoying and affect how you speak, eat, drink, and even brush your teeth.
Types of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers also referred to as canker sores, appear in the soft tissue of your mouth and gums. There are three main types:
- A herpetiform ulcer (HU) look like herpes sores, hence the name. However, unlike herpes, a canker sore is not contagious. Since HU ulcers tend to recur quickly, it can seem like the condition never improves.
- A minor ulcer causes minimal pain and often clears up in two weeks or less.
- A major ulcer is larger and penetrates deeper into the tissue. They tend to linger for several weeks and may leave scarring.
How to Avoid Discomfort
The causes of mouth ulcers are unknown at this point, but we do know the factors that aggravate them, cause them to linger, and make them more painful. To avoid ulcers or minimize the extent of the outbreak, here are a few steps you can take:
- You don’t need to be told there are numerous reasons to quit smoking, and now you can add irritating a mouth ulcer to the list. If you have trouble quitting, try to at least cut back when you are having an outbreak.
- Avoid citrus fruit and other food and drinks that are spicy or high in acid.
- Talk to your dentist to make sure that your braces or dentures fit properly. If not, both can irritate tender tissue and potentially lead to mouth ulcers.
- Check with your primary care doctor about the medications you take. Some painkillers, as well as Beta blockers, are known to increase your risk for outbreaks.
Call Our Stapleton Family Dental Office Today
If you are looking for a dentist in Denver who can answer your questions and provide solutions for problems like mouth ulcers, please call Central Park Dental.