In a he althy oral cavity, countless microorganisms live in natural balance. Violation of this balance can lead to inflammation of the oral mucosa with very diverse manifestations. Causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention and photos of stomatitis can be studied in this article.
Definition
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa, characterized by the appearance of sores on the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips and palate. This is usually a painful condition associated with redness, swelling and bleeding of the affected area. Prevention and treatment of stomatitis are mainly aimed at relieving symptoms and eliminating provoking factors.
Varieties of stomatitis
There are several types of pathological inflammation of the oral mucosa. They differ in specific symptoms and causes. There are the following varietiesstomatitis:
- Allergic. Occurs due to contact with the allergen. There are swelling, redness, ulcers and erosion in the oral cavity.
- Aphthous. Appears against the background of reduced immunity, diseases of the throat and oral cavity, can be caused by streptococcal infection. A characteristic sign is the presence of aphthae - ulcerative rashes on the oral mucosa.
- Vesicular. An acute infectious disease caused by a vesilovirus. The main symptom is the appearance of watery vesicles in the oral cavity, and in the enterovirus variety - on the mucous membrane of the mouth, palms and feet.
- Herpetic. It is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature, increased drowsiness. Bubbles form on the oral mucosa, which burst after 3 days. Accompanied by gingivitis, viscous saliva.
- Catarrhal. It occurs due to poor oral hygiene. Symptoms of the disease are manifested in the appearance of white plaque on the mucous membrane, painful sensations and an unpleasant odor.
- Traumatic. It appears as a result of a single or prolonged physical impact on soft tissues, as a result of which painful formations appear at the sites of damage, which are not characteristic of the normal state of the mucosa. These can be small blisters, sores, erosions, abscesses or wounds covered with a grayish or white coating.
- Ulcerative. It is characterized by the formation of ulcers with a gray coating, the appearance of pain and fever.
Causes of occurrence
A number of factors can cause stomatitis. However, gener altriggers for inflammatory changes in the mucosa are:
- poorly fitted dentures;
- wearing dentures for a long time;
- infection (e.g. candidiasis);
- allergic reaction (e.g. to certain medications);
- dry mouth (xerostomia);
- malnutrition (e.g. vitamin B deficiency);
- weakened immune system;
- post-cancer treatment.
Symptoms
Inflammation of the oral mucosa can be acute or chronic. Depending on the cause and course of stomatitis, the following symptoms occur:
- redness;
- edema;
- burning;
- pain, especially when eating hot, sour or spicy foods;
- plaque;
- bad breath;
- increased or decreased salivation;
- bleeding;
- painful rashes on the oral mucosa;
- difficulty swallowing due to tissue irritation;
- dry mouth.
Prevention of stomatitis, regardless of the causes of the disease, should be started with a complete comprehensive cleaning of the oral cavity. Further proper care will help reduce the risk of recurrence of the pathology.
Diagnosis
In case of inflammation of the oral mucosa, it is necessary to consult a dentist to examine the affected areas. Using a mucosal smear in the laboratory, you can determine:caused by infection or some pathogen. A tissue sample may also be required. The material is taken mainly under local anesthesia. In some severe cases of stomatitis, additional testing may be needed. To do this, the doctor may prescribe a general blood test for lymphocytes, ESR, iron, folic acid.
Treatment and prevention
Stomatitis in children in mild cases does not require any special measures. Most often, the rash and other symptoms go away on their own. Your doctor may prescribe anesthetic medications to relieve pain. Large ulcerations can be treated with ointments, sprays, depending on the type of disease. You can also use rinses that reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Cases of aphthous stomatitis associated with a serious underlying illness such as HIV infection can be treated with oral medications.
If your ulcers are due to an allergic reaction to certain foods, you need to change your diet. Soft, non-hard, non-sour foods (no spices or s alt) will help reduce irritation. Sucking on ice cubes will help relieve some of the pain. Other treatments, such as using magnesia or rinsing with s alt water diluted with hydrogen peroxide, may be helpful in some cases.
Because stomatitis can be caused by physical impact, it is important to take care to avoid injury to the inside of the mouth infurther. Any dental problems (carious or broken teeth, badly fitted braces) that may be causing or contributing to ulcers should be treated at your doctor's appointment. To prevent stomatitis, people who use prostheses, crowns, braces need regular visits to the dentist.
Treatment in adults
Therapy for the treatment and prevention of stomatitis in adults depends on the diagnosis. For viral inflammations, antiviral drugs are usually prescribed, for bacterial infections - antibiotics. Gargling with anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, and/or astringents may also be helpful in relieving soreness.
Along with treatment, it is recommended to eliminate exposure to provoking factors such as smoking or drinking alcohol. In addition, oral hygiene must be carefully observed. These measures make a significant contribution to avoiding future inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Prevention in children
About 90% of children have experienced inflammation of the oral mucosa. There are several ways to prevent stomatitis, following which will help prevent the recurrence of the disease.
- Your child should avoid all close contact with people who have sores or rashes. Therefore, if one of the parents has herpes, it is necessary to explain why hugging and kissing cannot be done with such a disease.
- If your child has herpetic stomatitis, avoidspreading the virus to other children.
- Make sure your child is washing their hands frequently.
- Keep toys clean and don't let them be given to other children.
- Do not let children share dishes, cups or utensils.
- Don't let your child kiss other children.
Prophylaxis in adults
In addition to daily dental and oral care, experts recommend following some rules for the prevention and treatment of stomatitis in adults, for example:
- Must use mouthwash;
- avoid s alty, spicy foods, alcohol, cool milk drinks are allowed;
- avoid stressful situations;
- take sedatives;
- if you wear braces or dentures, you should consult your dentist about the possibility of using them during and after treatment;
- take all prescribed medications until the end of the course.
It is worth remembering that many forms of stomatitis can be contagious. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after eating, select separate cutlery and utensils, hygiene products for yourself.
Aphthous stomatitis
A fairly common type of stomatitis is inflammation with the formation of aphthous ulcers in the oral cavity.
In addition, there may be: fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, swelling. It may also increasesalivation, pain and burning sensations appear. Aphthous stomatitis occurs mainly in children. This is due to the fact that they pull everything into their mouths. Due to discomfort, the child may refuse food, be lethargic and capricious.
Prevention of aphthous stomatitis consists in observing the following rules:
- First, you need to wash your hands more often. Not only before meals, but also between meals. If there is no water nearby, use antibacterial wipes.
- It is recommended to consume food supplements with vitamins, zinc and iron. For example, vitamin B12 can prevent the recurrence of stomatitis and the formation of purulent ulcers.
- For people with hypersensitivity, it is recommended to use toothpaste and mouthwash with reduced sodium lauryl sulfate.
- According to the recommendations of dentists, using an ultrasonic toothbrush at a low intensity will help reduce the recurrent activity of aphthous ulcers.
- Also, to reduce the risk of stomatitis, it is recommended to use toothpastes with enzymes (amiloglycosidase and glucose oxidase). These enzymes inhibit bacterial growth, break down tartar and restore natural balance.
- Don't be nervous. It is recommended to rest more and try to avoid stressful situations.
- Cessation of smoking and drinking of alcohol has a beneficial effect in the fight against aphthous stomatitis.
Herpetic stomatitis
Preventiondisease consists in some temporary isolation of the victim. You can not kiss and hug a person with herpetic eruptions. It is recommended to use a separate set of dishes, cutlery. Separate accessories, such as a towel, should also be provided for the patient. If herpetic stomatitis is found in a child, parents should limit the baby's contact with other children. In addition, it is necessary to treat toys with disinfectants daily.
