When it comes to mouth ulcers—aka mouth sores—many people immediately shed a row of painful tears.
Ordinary people eat hot pot for enjoyment, but those with oral ulcers are a kind of torture.
It is said that adults collapse in an instant. That day, I picked up the piece of beef louver soaked in red oil soup and put it into my mouth, accompanied by a “his-” shiver-
(Image source: soogif)
I actually burst into tears… Turns out what beat an adult, and the ulcer buried in my mouth while eating hot pot.
Ask contemporary young people:
How many people have oral ulcers that come and go hundreds of days a year?
How many people have ulcers and even one mouth?
How many people cry from mouth sores?
…
What happened to people with mouth ulcers?
Actually, recurrent oral ulcers are not only a problem of the mouth, but may be a problem of the whole body.
The incidence of oral ulcers in the population is about 20%[1], which means that one in 5 people has/is experiencing oral ulcers.
If you were to rate the top 10 “tortures” of contemporary young people, it would be on the list.
It can grow anywhere you can think of, on the tip of the tongue, on the edges of the tongue, on the lips, on the cheeks…even the soft palate…
Different locations of ulcers have different lethality[1].
The one on the lips is the most gentle; the next is the buccal side, which is generally tolerable except for occasional accidental injury by teeth.
The more anti-human is on the tongue. Whether speaking or eating, the tongue has to exert force and pull the whole body. At that time, countless pain receptors are awakened together, and the rich nerve endings directly multiply the pain index of the ulcer by thousands.
The most irritating part is on the soft palate. Whether you are talking or swallowing, the pain is always there.
(Image source: soogif)
Unfortunately, why you get ulcers remains a mystery.
At present, it is believed that the pathogenesis of ulcers is related to the lack of genetic factors, drug factors and trace elements.
For example, people whose parents often get canker sores, their children are also more likely to have them; lack of zinc, iron, selenium, vitamin B, and vitamin D can also induce canker sores; Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-tumor drugs, antipyretic analgesics, etc. can also induce oral ulcers to a certain extent [2].
If none of the above, then think about it, have you suffered recently…
1. Devastation from life (stress and stress)
Stress states such as stress and anxiety will accelerate the production of reactive oxygen species in the body. ROS are molecular killers that destroy cells. When the concentration of reactive oxygen species exceeds the normal value that we can fight against, it will cause cell damage. [3].
2. A person emo late at night(mood swings)
Emotions such as tension and depression can lead to a temporary increase in the content of cortisol/reactive oxygen species in saliva; emotional changes will stimulate the sympathetic nerves, which will eventually lead to a slowdown in the growth rate of epithelial cells. Under the condition, it will lead to the occurrence of ulcers or erosions [4].
3. Decreased immunity
When the body’s immune function is suppressed, the incidence of ulcers increases significantly.
When the body’s immune function is impaired, the number of immune cells and immune proteins in the body is insufficient, and the body’s ability to resist external susceptibility factors decreases, and oral ulcers may come to you [5].
4. Lack of sleep
Lack of adequate sleep over a long period of time can do a lot of damage to our bodies.
Long-term insufficient sleep can also induce oxidative stress in the corresponding tissues and organs. When this oxidative reaction damages the mucosa, ulcers will appear [6].
5. Female aunt visiting
Changes in hormones in the body can also cause oral ulcers.
For example, some women are prone to oral ulcers during menstruation, which may be related to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body.
Progesterone has been proven to be an immunosuppressant, and progesterone receptors exist in the oral mucosa, which are the target organs of progesterone, and changes in hormone levels during menstruation can lead to immune system balance dysregulation, and thus more prone to oral damage than usual [7].
Oral ulcers do not have a well-defined causative factor, but are generally thought to be the result of a combination of factors. For example, under the ravages of life pressure, excessive anxiety and tension, staying up late and fatigue lead to a decline in immunity, which in turn induces oral ulcers.
In most cases, there are 3 truths about mouth ulcers:
1. It is self-limiting and can be cured in 1-2 weeks without treatment.
2. It is relapsing, and ulcers will recur repeatedly and cannot be cured.
3. There is no specific medicine at present, but common treatment medicines on the market have certain effects.
Then I have oral ulcers, is there any other way except forbearance? have!
Mild oral ulcers,mainly local treatment, the main purpose is to reduce inflammation and pain, relieve pain or reduce recurrence, and promote ulcer healing[8].
Currently common oral ulcer medications include the following:
1. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs: oral cidi-iodine tablets, metronidazole buccal tablets, chlorhexidine gargle, etc. The main function is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
2. Benzocaine, lidocaine gel, spray and other preparations are local anesthetics, which can relieve the pain of ulcers.
3. Recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel, spray, etc., to promote the healing and growth of mucosa and accelerate ulcer healing.
4. Certain hormonal drugs, such as dexamethasone acetate oral patch, can be anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic, and also have a certain effect on the treatment of oral ulcers.
5. Watermelon frost spray, Bingbo powder, Qingdai powder and other Chinese patent medicine sprays have the functions of clearing away heat and detoxification, reducing swelling and pain, dispelling wind-heat, and also have a certain effect on oral ulcers .
Of course, if the area of mouth ulcers is relatively large, you can go to the hospital to find a doctor for professional treatment. Clinically, 10% medical silver nitrate solution is commonly used for treatment. This is a disinfectant and antiseptic drug, which can sterilize, converge and promote wound healing, so that bacterial proteins on the surface of the ulcer solidify and precipitate, forming a film to protect the ulcer surface.
If you are a patient with severe oral ulcers, most of them are caused by diseases of various systems in the body. In addition to topical medication, treatment for the cause, such as immunosuppressants, immunosuppressants, and oral vitamins, should also be used.
It is worth noting that if the wound of the oral ulcer is too large, it has not healed for more than three weeks, the surface of the ulcer is uneven, the boundary is unclear, and it often grows in a fixed area, You need to be vigilant about other malignant oral diseases. It is best to go to the hospital to find a doctor for a professional diagnosis.
If, in addition to oral mucosal ulcers, there are also lesions of the eyes, genitals, skin and joints, it is necessary to exclude a rheumatic immune system disease – Behçet’s disease. At this time can not be taken lightly, should go to the hospital for further examination, so as not to miss the opportunity of early treatment.
On the Internet, most of the remedies and secret recipes claiming to cure oral ulcers have no scientific basis. For example, grinding vitamin C or vitamin B into powder and applying it to the affected area is ineffective; for example, eating fruit in large doses is even more inadvisable, as fruit acid will stimulate the ulcer surface and the condition may worsen.
In many cases, the so-called “ulcer will heal after eating xx” is the self-healing of the disease, not the curative effect of these remedies.
If you have an ulcer, don’t toss, let yourself go, either endure it or take the medicine obediently.
Oral ulcers are not fatal, but they are more like our body’s alarm clock, reminding you in time: maintain regular living habits and an optimistic mood, and eat less spicy food… …by doing this, it has been able to minimize its recurrence.
Contributing Author: Yang Dongying
Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Master’s Student
References
[1]Zuzanna lebioda and El bieta Szponar and Anna Kowalska. Etiopathogenesis of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and the Role of Immunologic Aspects: Literature Review[J]. Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis, 2014, 62(3): 205 -215.
[2] Shang Zhizhong, Wang Anan, Gao Xiaotong, Liu Tinghua. Research progress on the etiology of recurrent oral ulcers [J]. Electronic Journal of General Stomatology, 2019,6(19): 26-27.]
[3]Ziaudeen Sherin, Ravindran Rathy. Assessment of Oxidant-Antioxidant Status and Stress Factor in Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Patients: Case Control Study.[J]. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017 , 11(3):ZC01-ZC04.
[4][Ajmal M, lbrahim L, Mohammed N, et al.Prevalence and Psychological stress in recurrent associations at among female dental students in Saudi Arabia[J].Clujul Medical, 2018, 91(2):216.]
[5] Shang Zhizhong, Wang Anan, Gao Xiaotong, Liu Tinghua. Research progress on the etiology of recurrent oral ulcers [J]. Electronic Journal of General Stomatology, 2019, 6(19): 26-27.
[6]Chen P, Yao H, Su W, He Y, Cheng K, Wang Y, Peng W, Li P. Sleep deprivation worsened oral ulcers and delayed healing process in an experimental rat model. Life Sci. 2019 Sep 1;232:116594. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116594. Epub 2019 Jun 21.
[7] Wu Min, Liu Shoutao, Chen Shaowu, Liu Fang, Yi Yingjie, Huang Xuemei, Liu Jianfang, Zhang Miaosi, Xu Zhiping. Luteal phase sex hormone levels in patients with menstrual-related recurrent oral ulcers Research[J].Journal of Practical Stomatology,2010,26(03):360-362.
[8] Li Yunwu, Li Weining, Wu Feihua. Clinical drug treatment of oral ulcers [A]. Chinese Stomatological Association Oral Pharmacy Professional Committee. Chinese Stomatological Association Oral Pharmacy Professional Committee for the second national Proceedings of Academic Conference on Oral Pharmacy[C]. Professional Committee of Oral Pharmacy of Chinese Stomatological Association: Chinese Stomatological Association, 2013:1.
Editors: Zhang Xiaoyi, Guo Qian, Zhang Liang
Proofreading: Wu Yihe | Typesetting: Li Yongmin
Operation: Han Ningning | Coordinator: Wu Wei