How Does a Mouth Ulcer Develop?
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Outbreak!
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There aren't many things more annoying than a mouth ulcer or canker sore. You use your mouth to eat, talk and breathe. Having something painful around your mouth just makes all of those activities much harder. But by knowing how mouth ulcers form, you can learn to get them less often. This article will explore the roots of mouth ulcers.
Canker Sores and Herpes
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The lips of your mouth are protected by a thin mucous membrane. The membrane helps with absorption of moisture and keeps your mouth from getting too dry in the wind. There are minor arteries in your lips that are responsible for circulating blood. Whenever there's a break in the membrane, your lip can form a peptic ulcer. Since it is very hard to immobilize a lip, the ulcers can get bigger and deeper within days.
Most mouth ulcers are known as canker sores. They can form if you get a cut on your lip or in your mouth. But an overreaction of your body's immune system can also provoke canker sore formations. Stress and hormonal changes have also been known to cause canker sores. If you've recently quit smoking, you could also get a canker sore.
The other less-common type of mouth ulcer is a contraction of herpes. Both Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 are known to cause cold sores around the mouth and other not-so-exposed areas. With herpes mouth ulcers, the formations are persistent and can quickly return in small outbreaks throughout your life. Herpes is also contagious, even more so during an outbreak.
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Treatment and Prevention
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Preventing canker sores is very hard, but you can help heal them once they start. Avoiding toothpaste with sodium laureth sulfate can slow down formations. If you are susceptible to bacterial infections, gargling twice a day can help keeping canker sores from forming. Prevention can also happen if you ensure your immune system has plenty of Vitamins B, C and zinc.
As far as treatment goes, most are topical. Medications like Orajel can temporarily relieve the pain, but such medications cannot really cure your canker sore. If you have herpes, treatment can include antiviral medications like acyclovir. Keeping a level intake of fluids can keep the mouth moist, making the ulcers less painful. Natural remedies include drinking chamomile tea for pain relief.
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