MOUTH ULCERS : CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Mouth ulcers are painful SORES in the mouth and gums. They are also known as CANKER SORES. Mouth ulcers can be extremely painful and uncomfortable which makes it difficult for some people to eat, drink, and brush their teeth.

The symptoms of a mouth ulcer may vary depending on the type of ulcer. Usually, Mouth ulcers range in sizes, and the exact symptom(s) of the mouth ulcer will depend on what type of ulcer a person has as there are basically different types of Mouth Ulcers. These include:

A)  HERPETIFORM ULCERS (HU)

Herpetiform ulcers are a subtype of aphthous ulcers and get their name because they resemble the sores associated with herpes. Unlike herpes, HU is not contagious. HU ulcers recur very quickly, and it may appear that the condition never gets better.

B)  MINOR ULCERS

This type can range in size from about 2 millimeters (mm) up to 8 mm across. These ulcers typically take up to 2 weeks to get better and will cause minor pain.

C)  MAJOR ULCERS

This type of ulcers are usually bigger than minor ulcers. Major ulcers are often irregular in shape and often penetrates deeper into the tissue than minor ulcers. They can take several weeks to go away and are likely to leave scar tissue when they clear.

Mouth Ulcers can be very painful, and the pain can be made worse by food (with pepper especially), drinks (with , and poor oral hygiene.

HU LESIONS:

   •   They appear as extremely painful ulcers in the mouth

   •   Recur very quickly, so infections seem continuous

   •   Increase in size, eventually coming together to form a large, ragged ulcer

   •   It usually takes 10 or more days to heal

   •  They are known to appear anywhere in the mouth.

They tend to be found in more females than males and are more common in older adults.

SYMPTOMS FOR MINOR AND MAJOR ULCERS INCLUDES:

    •     One or more painful sores that may appear on the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, or the tongue

    •.    The appearance of round lesions that have red edges and are yellow, white, or gray in the middle

During more extreme outbreaks of mouth ulcers, some people may experience fever, sluggishness, and swollen glands.

SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES OF MOUTH ULCERS

The exact cause of mouth ulcers is still not known and varies from person-to-person. Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, may aggravate mouth ulcers.

However, there are some common causes and several factors that may aggravate mouth ulcers, including the following:

1)   Quitting smoking

2)   Citrus fruits and other foods high in acidity or spice races,

3)    Poor-fitting dentures, and other apparatus that may rub against the mouth and gums

4)    Stress or anxiety

5)     Hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause

6)      Medications including beta-blockers and pain killers

7)      Genetic factors

Some people may develop ulcers as a result of a different medical condition or a nutritional deficiency.

Conditions such as celiac or Crohn’s disease, vitamin B12 or iron deficiency, or a weakened immune system may all trigger ulcer's to form.

Thankfully, mouth ulcers tend to clear up on their own, and the pain associated with an ulcer typically disappears within a couple of days.

There are some medications in the form of ointments and solutions that may help with pain and swelling, but these are often not necessary for a person to make a full recovery.

To prevent future outbreaks, people should try to reduce stress and anxiety as much as possible.

TOP BIRTH CONTROL METHODS FOR WOMEN

Population control, Birth control or pregnancy prevention measures have been discussed for decades. The advancements in technology have given us many more choices in this area.

With the help of advanced medical research, birth control measures are no longer to the tune of just a condom. More and more safe and effective pregnancy prevention measures by way of birth control products are being introduced in the market.

Let’s list out a few that are known to be up to 99 per cent effective to prevent pregnancy.

BARRIER CONTRACEPTIVES : If male condom is all that you had heard of, then take a look at the few of these barrier contraceptives to avoid pregnancy.

1.)  FEMALE CONDOM:  This contraceptive is not only useful in avoiding pregnancy but also protect women from most transmitted infections. Easily available at chemists’, this barrier contraceptive prevents the sperm from entering the female body. It is usually inserted into the female organ, about 8 hours prior to having sex.

2.)  SPERMICIDES:  Usually available in foam, gel, cream, tablet or film form, they usually aid in killing the sperm to prevent fertilisation. Taken in conjunction with the Diaphragm or cervical cap, the spermicides are meant to be inserted an hour before intercourse.

 3.)   DIAPHRAGM:  It is made of rubber and is a roundish, rigid rimmed shallow cup that fits into the cervix. It is normally placed inside the female organ to block the sperm entrance. However, it is often recommended to be used with spermicides, as it will kill the sperms cells and disable fertilisation process.

4.)   CERVICAL CAP:    This  is similar  to the Diaphragm in structure, except that it is slightly smaller in size. This also functions similarly like Diaphragm and comes in different sizes for better fitting. However, care should be practiced when using it. Preferably use it after a suggestion from a doctor or a trained family healthcare provider, with proper spermicides. Both the Diaphragm and Cervical caps are supposed to be inserted, at least 8-10 hours before sexual intercourse or penile penetration.

 

 

5.) HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES: Just when you thought you knew all about birth control pills, you will be surprised to know a few more measures that women can adopt for safe pregnancy prevention measure.

6.)  MINI PILLs:  We all know that birth control pill has both the hormones progestin and estrogen, but the mini pill has only progestin that should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. Lacking the estrogen, mini pills are free from the some possible side-effects of normal birth control pills such as increased risks of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), heart disease or sickle-cell disease. It is also recommended for women who are breastfeeding because the mini-pill does not affect milk production.

7.)  BIRTH CONTROL SHOT (INJECTION): One progestin shot is a progestin injection, which prevents the sperm from getting fertilized. As effective as the regular contraceptive pill, this prevention shot is known to be 99.7 per cent effective in avoiding pregnancies. Other than the above mentioned measures, ring, patch and a few intrauterine devices (IUD) are also available. However, detailed information regarding the same should be obtained from the trained  family  health specialist  before  plunging into self experimentation.  Anything that prevents pregnancy artificially or interferes with the body’s routine fertilization process has to be referred by a health or medical practitioner. This is applicable to not just the IUD’s, but all of the above mentioned birth control measures.

Special thanks to KANIKA KOTHARI