Ulcers - A Common Problem

Everyone is prone to ulcers. There are many kinds of ulcers. Ulcers may occur in mouth or in stomach. An oral or mouth ulcer is a sore in the mouth. A mouth ulcer is a painful sore in the mouth. It appears on the tongue, the lips, and the gums or inside the cheeks. The first sign of the sore may be a tingling, burning sensation and irritation inside the mouth. They can occur either singly or in numbers. They are usually white or yellow in color, surrounded by reddish outer lining. Usually they heal within 7 to 10 days and do not last further or longer.

What causes ulcers?

Common Causes of Mouth ulcers

• Nutritional deficiencies such as iron, vitamins, especially B12 and C

• Poor dental hygiene

• Allergy to certain foods

• Mental or physical Stress

• Infections

• Biting the cheek

• Hormonal imbalance

• Skin disease

What causes stomach ulcers?

• Ulcers that form in the stomach are called gastric ulcers.

• The direct cause of peptic or gastric ulcers is the destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach.

• Another major cause of ulcers is the high use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin.

• Regular Cigarette smoking is also a major cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure.

Symptoms of ulcers

Mouth ulcers may accompany other symptoms associated with an infection. These include:

• Cracks in the corners of the mouth

• Dryness in mouth

• Fever

• loss of appetite

• lethargy

• Pus or white patches covering the tonsils or throat

• Skin rash

• Sore throat

Stomach ulcers may have these symptoms:

• Gastric ulcers generally cause a dull aching pain, mostly, right after eating.

• Making a meal can often cause an increase in pain.

• Eating will not relieve pain as is the case with other types of ulcers.

• Indigestion and heartburn, or acid reflux.

• Pain in the upper abdomen area below your breastbone.

• A noticeable loss of appetite.

• Unplanned weight loss.

How to treat ulcers?

Most mouth ulcers are harmless and resolve by themselves in a few days. But not all the ulcers heal themselves. Few ulcers need medication to be treated. If not treated timely and properly, they may not heal and may result in other problems or infections.

The range of treatment options includes:

• Avoid spicy and sour foods until the ulcers heal.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Regularly rinse your mouth out with warm, slightly salted water.

• Keep your mouth clean.

• Take pain-killing medication, such as paracetamol.

• Apply antiseptic gel to the ulcers.

• Use a medicated mouthwash.

• Use steroid gels or tablets.

• Treat ulcers caused by the herpes simplex virus with anti-viral drugs.

• Treat oral thrush with anti-fungal drugs.

Curing stomach ulcers requires more efforts. You may have to reside on medications and if the condition persists, one may also have to go under the knife.