Mouth Ulcers

Oral ulcer
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Mouth ulcer on the lower lip
An oral ulcer (from Latin ulcus) is the name for the appearance of an open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth. The types of oral ulcers are diverse, with a multitude of associated causes including: physical or chemical trauma, infection from microorganisms or viruses, medical conditions or medications, cancerous and sometimes nonspecific processes. Once formed, the ulcer may be maintained by inflammation and/or secondary infection. Two common oral ulcer types are aphthous ulcers (canker sores) and cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus.[1][2]

Symptoms
The symptoms preceding the ulcer may vary according to the cause of the ulcerative process.

Some oral ulcers may begin with a sharp stinging or burning sensation at the site of the future mouth ulcer. In a few days, they often progress to form a red spot or bump, followed by an open ulcer. Sometimes this takes a little bit longer, depending on the cause of the ulcer.

The oral ulcer appears as a white or yellow oval with an inflamed red border. Sometimes a white circle or halo around the lesion can be observed. The grey, white, or yellow coloured area within the red boundary is due to the formation of layers of fibrin, a protein involved in the clotting of blood. The ulcer, which itself is often extremely painful, especially when agitated, may be accompanied by a painful swelling of the lymph nodes below the jaw, which can be mistaken for toothache.

In some cases, the ulcer can cause other parts of the mouth to become slightly inflamed with patches of 'red bumps' which can feel rough to the tongue. It should be noted however, that any inflamed part of the mouth that remains there after 2 weeks should be seen by a doctor or dentist as soon as possible as this could be a warning sign of oral cancer.

Causes

There are many processes which can lead to ulceration of the oral tissues. In some cases they are caused by an overreaction by the body's own immune system. Factors that appear to provoke them include stress, fatigue, illness, injury from accidental biting, hormonal changes, menstruation, sudden weight loss, food allergies and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron and folic acid. Some drugs, such as nicorandil, have also been linked with oral ulcers.[citation needed] Some recreational drugs cause mouth ulcers.

• Trauma
• Minor physical injuries
  Trauma to the mouth is a common cause of oral ulcers. A sharp edge of a tooth, accidental biting (this can be particularly common with sharp canine teeth), sharp food, poorly fitting dentures, dental braces or trauma from a tooth brush may injure the mucosal lining of the mouth resulting in an ulcer. These ulcers usually heal at a moderate speed if the source of the injury is removed (for example, if poorly fitting dentures are removed or replaced).[1]
• Chemical injuries
  Chemicals such as Aspirin or alcohol that are held or that come in contact with the oral mucosa may cause tissues to become necrotic and slough off creating an ulcerated surface. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS, one of the main ingredients in most toothpastes, has been implicated in increased incidence of oral ulcers.
• Infection
  Viral, fungal and bacterial processes can lead to oral ulceration.[1]
• Viral
  The most common is Herpes simplex virus which causes recurrent herpetiform
  ulcerations preceded by usually painful multiple vesicles which burst. Herpes
  Zoster (shingles), Varicella Zoster (chicken pox), Coxsackie A virus and its
  associated subtype presentations, are some of the other viral processes that can
  lead to oral ulceration. HIV creates immunodeficiencies which allow opportunistic infections or neoplasms to proliferate.[2]
• Bacterial
  Bacterial processes leading to ulceration can be caused by 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis' (tuberculosis) and Treponema pallidum (syphilis).[2]
  
  Opportunistic activity by combinations of otherwise normal bacterial fauna, such as aerobic streptococci, Neisseria, Actinomyces, spirochetes, and Bacteroides species can prolong the ulcerative process.[3]
• Fungal
  Coccidioides immitis (valley fever), Cryptococcus neoformans (cryptococcosis), Blastomyces dermatitidis ("North American Blastomycosis") are some of the fungal processes causing oral ulceration.[2]
• Immune system
  Many researchers view the causes of aphthous ulcers as a common end product of many different disease processes, each of which is mediated by the immune system.[2]
  
  Aphthous ulcers are thought to form when the body becomes aware of and attacks chemicals which it does not recognize. The presence of the unrecognized molecules garners a reaction by the lymphocytes, which trigger a reaction that causes the damage of an oral ulcer.[citation needed]
• Immunodeficiency
  Repeat episodes of mouth ulcers can be indicative of an immunodeficiency, signaling low levels of immunoglobulin in the oral mucous membranes. Chemotherapy and HIV are both causes of immunodeficiency with which oral ulcers become a common manifestation.
• Autoimmunity
  Autoimmunity is also a cause of oral ulceration. Mucous membrane pemphigoid, an autoimmune reaction to the epithelial basement membrane, causes desquamation/ulceration of the oral mucosa.
• Allergy
  Contact with allergens can lead to ulcerations of the mucosa.
• Dietary
  Vitamin C deficiencies may lead to scurvy which impairs wound healing, which can contribute to ulcer formation.[2] Similarly deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron[citation needed], zinc[4] and folic acid have been linked to oral ulceration. Too much ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or citric acid may cause ulcers. In this case the sores disappear after intake decreases (for example, by substituting ascorbate salts for ascorbic acid).[citation needed]
• Coeliac (Celiac) Disease
  A common cause of ulcers is Coeliac disease, in which case consumption of
  wheat, rye, or barley can result in chronic oral ulcers. If gluten intolerance
  is the cause, prevention means taking most breads, pastas, cakes, pies, cookies,
  scones, biscuits, beers etc. out of the diet and substituting gluten-free
  varieties where available. Artificial sugars, such as those found in diet cola
  and sugarless gum, have been reported as causes of oral ulcers as well.
• Cancer
  Oral cancers can lead to ulceration as the center of the lesion loses blood supply and necroses. Squamous cell carcinoma is just one of these.
• Medical conditions associated with mouth ulcers
  The following medical conditions are associated with mouth ulcers:
• Behçet's disease
• bullous pemphigoid
• coeliac disease (gluten sensitivity)
• Crohn's disease
• gingivostomatitis
• leukoplakia
• oral lichen planus
• Lupus erythematosus
• oral thrush
• ulcerative colitis

Prevention
The majority of the types of ulceration, require treatment of the underlying cause of the oral ulceration for successful prevention; Controlling imbalances in vitamins and minerals related to ulceration, managing or restricting the disease processes has shown to reduce the ulcerative process. For trauma related cases, avoiding the offending source will prevent ulceration, but since such trauma is usually accidental, this type of prevention is not usually practical.


See also
Aphthous ulcer (Canker sores)
Herpes simplex virus
Squamous cell carcinoma
Ulcer

References
^ a b c Mouth ulcers. North East Valley Division of General Practice. Retrieved on 2006-06-18.
^ a b c d e f Sapp, J. Phillip; Lewis Roy Eversole, George W. Wysocki (2004). Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Mosby. ISBN 0-323-01723-1.
^ [1]
^ [2]

External links
Oral ulcer at the Open Directory Project
MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Canker sores
MayoClinic.com: Canker sore
Natural cures for canker sores