Mouth Ulcer-Part III

DIAGNOSIS OF MOUTH ULCER
Mild ulcer do not require any treatment in specific, however self care tips can expedite healing, however in case of recurrent ulcer or if it is severe or if it does not heal within three weeks then consultation with the doctor is a must which will include physical examination of the affected area and medical history. In recurrent ulcer some important questions which may be asked include
The frequency of the ulcer
The duration of the ulcer
The extent of feeling of pain
Over the counter medicines used for treatment
There is also a possibility of further series of test and include the following
A Full blood count can be conducted to detect any infection or any exposure to toxic substances if any
ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate) test to find any inflammation in the body and in case it does reflect any inflammation, further test will be carried to find out the reasons.
Ferreting test finds the level of iron in the body and deficiency of iron can cause recurrent mouth ulcer.
Vitamin B12 test as any deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause mouth ulcer.
Severe cases extending three weeks or abnormal cases like bleeding and painful large red and white patches of mouth ulcer are referred to a specialist and may require a biopsy (a tissue taken for further investigation) as in few cases it might be an indication of mouth cancer and the probability further increases if a person is a male over 45 years of age and is a heavy alcohol drinker or a heavy smoker. Complete recovery chances of mouth cancer are very good in case of early detection, hence very important to have regular visits to the dentist for check ups.
TREATMENT OF MOUTH ULCER
Mild, infrequent and ulcers not interfering with daily activities like eating will heal naturally, and with self-care tips the healing process can be quickened which include :-
Brushing the teeth with a soft brush.
Avoiding hard food like toast and eating soft and easily chewable food.
Reducing stress by adopting relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga and exercises.
If certain type of foods provokes ulcer they should be totally avoided till ulcer is completely healed
If the specific cause has been detected like a sharp tooth it is better to get he tooth repaired from a dentist and allow the ulcer to heal naturally.
MEDICATION FOR MOUTH ULCER
A discomfort or a painful ulcer will require medication which can be prescribed by the doctor alternatively talking to the pharmacist for OTC (over the counter) medicine can also be done. It is always advisable to start medication as soon as it appears. Medicines normally prescribed or taken include the following:-
Corticosteroid medicine helps in the reduction of inflammation thus making it less painful. Hydrocortisone a form of lozenge dissolves slowly in the mouth to be taken four times a day or triamcinolone a paste to be applied 2 to 4 times a day on the ulcer directly are the most common form of corticosteroid and include a very small dose of corticosteroid which is sufficient to reduce inflammation.
Antimicrobial mouthwash to be used twice a day if brushing of teeth cannot be done properly as it will kill any bacteria, micro-organisms, fungi or viruses responsible for causing any infection to the mouth. It may create a brown stain on the teeth which will go off once the treatment is over.
Analgesics or painkillers may be prescribed by the doctor for painful ulcer. Benzydamine spray or mouthwash can be used as per the instructions prescribed by the manufacturer and in case the mouthwash stings it may be diluted by adding equal quantity of water. It normally cannot be used for more than seven days at a stretch.