Aphthous ulcer overview: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 11: Line 11:
==Medical Therapy==
==Medical Therapy==
Aphthous ulcers normally heal without treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. Good [[oral hygiene]] should be maintained, and spicy, acidic, and salty foods and drinks are best avoided, as they may irritate existing ulcers. Strong mouthwash such as Listerine has also been known to cause irritation because of its strong ingredients, and many oral care professionals discourage the use of it while having a mouth ulcer.
Aphthous ulcers normally heal without treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. Good [[oral hygiene]] should be maintained, and spicy, acidic, and salty foods and drinks are best avoided, as they may irritate existing ulcers. Strong mouthwash such as Listerine has also been known to cause irritation because of its strong ingredients, and many oral care professionals discourage the use of it while having a mouth ulcer.
'''Any mouth sore that does not heal after two weeks should be looked at by a dentist or an oral surgeon as it could be a sign of a more serious condition such as [[oral cancer]].'''


==Primary Prevention==
==Primary Prevention==

Revision as of 17:55, 12 December 2012

Aphthous ulcer Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Aphthous ulcer from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

X-ray

Echocardiography and Ultrasound

CT scan

MRI

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Aphthous ulcer overview On the Web

Most recent articles

cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Aphthous ulcer overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Aphthous ulcer overview

CDC on Aphthous ulcer overview

Aphthous ulcer overview in the news

Blogs on Aphthous ulcer overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Aphthous ulcer

Risk calculators and risk factors for Aphthous ulcer overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

An aphthous ulcer or canker sore is a type of mouth ulcer which presents as a painful open sore inside the mouth, caused by a break in the mucous membrane. The condition is also known as aphthous stomatitis, and alternatively as "Sutton's Disease," especially in the case of multiple or recurring ulcers.

The term aphtha means ulcer; it has been used for many years to describe areas of ulceration on mucous membranes. Aphthous stomatitis is a condition which is characterized by recurrent discrete areas of ulceration which are almost always painful. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) can be distinguished from other diseases with similar-appearing oral lesions, such as certain viral exanthems, by their tendency to recur, and their multiplicity and chronicity. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is one of the most common oral conditions. At least 10% of the population suffers from it. Women are more often affected than men. About 30–40% of patients with recurrent aphthae report a family history.[2][3][4]

Causes

The exact cause of aphthous ulcers is unknown. Factors that provoke them include stress, fatigue, illness, injury from accidental biting, hormonal changes, menstruation, sudden weight loss, food allergies, the foaming agent in toothpaste (SLS), and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid.[1] Some drugs, such as nicorandil, also have been linked with mouth ulcers. In some cases they are thought to be caused by an overreaction by the body's ownimmune system.

Medical Therapy

Aphthous ulcers normally heal without treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. Good oral hygiene should be maintained, and spicy, acidic, and salty foods and drinks are best avoided, as they may irritate existing ulcers. Strong mouthwash such as Listerine has also been known to cause irritation because of its strong ingredients, and many oral care professionals discourage the use of it while having a mouth ulcer.


Any mouth sore that does not heal after two weeks should be looked at by a dentist or an oral surgeon as it could be a sign of a more serious condition such as oral cancer.

Primary Prevention

The best way to prevent Aphthous ulcers is to keep your mouth free of infection. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth, keeping your hands out of your mouth and visiting the dentist for regular cleanings.

References

  1. Wray D, Ferguson M, Hutcheon W, Dagg J (1978). "Nutritional deficiencies in recurrent aphthae". J Oral Pathol. 7 (6): 418–23. PMID 105102.

Template:Oral pathology


zh-min-nan:Chhiūⁿ-iam-ke-lâ de:Aphthe eo:Afto gl:Afta id:Sariawan it:Afta he:אפתה la:Ulcus Aphthous nl:Afte sq:Afta fi:Afta sv:Afte th:แผลร้อนใน uk:Афти

Template:WH Template:WS