What Is an Oral Ulcer?

Oral ulcer, commonly known as "aphthous ulcer", is a common ulcerative injury that occurs in the oral mucosa. It is more common in the inner lip, tongue, abdomen, buccal mucosa, vestibular sulcus, and soft palate. The mucosa in these parts lacks a stratum corneum Or poor keratinization. Tongue ulcer refers to oral ulcers that occur in the tongue and abdomen. Mouth ulcers have severe pain and obvious local burning pain. In severe cases, they can also affect diet and speech, causing great inconvenience to daily life; can be complicated by bad breath, chronic pharyngitis, constipation, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, irritability, fever, Symptoms such as lymphadenopathy.

Basic Information

nickname

Recurrent aphthous ulcer

English name

recurrent aphthous ulcer

Visiting department

Stomatology

Common locations

Oral cavity

Common causes

Immunodeficiency, autoimmune response, fatigue, stress, etc.

Common symptoms

The center of the ulcer is slightly subsided, and the surrounding mucosa is congested

Causes of oral ulcers

The occurrence of oral ulcers is the result of a combination of factors, including local trauma, mental stress, food, drugs, malnutrition, changes in hormone levels, and vitamin or trace element deficiency. Systemic diseases, genetics, immunity and microorganisms may play important roles in the occurrence and development of oral ulcers. Such as lack of trace elements zinc, iron, lack of folic acid, vitamin B ₁₂ and malnutrition can reduce immune function and increase the possibility of oral ulcers; bacteria such as streptococcus and Helicobacter pylori are also closely related to oral ulcers. Mouth ulcers usually indicate a potential systemic disease in the body. Mouth and stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, localized enteritis, hepatitis, women's periods, vitamin B group malabsorption, autonomic dysfunction Symptoms are related.

Clinical manifestations of oral ulcers

There are a variety of diseases that manifest as oral ulcer injuries, such as:

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Also known as recurrent oral ulcer (ROU), recurrent aphthae (cankersores), burning pain is its prominent feature, Gu Guan named "Aphta" (Greek aphthous means "burning pain") ), The appearance is a single or multiple round or oval ulcers of different sizes, the surface is covered with gray or yellow pseudomembrane, the center is depressed, the boundary is clear, the surrounding mucosa is red and slightly swollen. It has the characteristics of periodicity, recurrence, and self-limiting. It is not restricted in age. The age of onset is estimated to be between 10 and 20 years old. There are many women. It can occur all year round, and can heal in about 10 days.

2. Behcet syndrome

The symptoms and occurrence of oral mucosal damage are similar to those of recurrent aphthous ulcer. In addition, the disease involves multiple systems and multiple organs, and has symptoms of extraoral lesions. Eye, genital, and skin lesions are also its main clinical features, manifested as recurrent ulcers at the reproductive site, erythema nodules on the skin, folliculitis, and uveitis. In severe cases, joint, small blood vessels, nerves, digestion, breathing, and urinary damage can occur.

3. Traumatic ulcer

It is closely related to mechanical stimulation, chemical burns or hot and cold stimulation, and its onset location and shape are consistent with mechanical stimulation factors. There is no history of recurrence, and the ulcer heals quickly after removal of the stimulus; however, if it is allowed to develop, canceration may occur.

4. Cancerous ulcer

The elderly are more common and have irregular shapes. The edges are rugged and uneven, and the boundary with the surrounding tissue is unclear. The basal part of the ulcer surface is uneven and granular. It is tough and hard to touch. The pain is not noticeable. Malignant ulcers have a long course of disease, do not heal or gradually expand for months or even a year, and the effect of conventional anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs is not obvious. Patients with benign oral ulcers rarely have systemic symptoms; in contrast, patients with malignant oral ulcers can have fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue.

5. Herpes simplex

Occurs frequently in infants and young children, with clusters of small blisters as the main manifestation. After the blister breaks, it will fuse into a large erosion surface or an irregular ulcer. There is a clear relationship between recurrence and incentives. Precursor symptoms such as sore throat and fatigue are often associated with recurrence, and most of them are accompanied by significant general discomfort during the onset of illness.

6. Radiation stomatitis

There is a history of radiation exposure, which is characterized by the occurrence of the above-mentioned acute and chronic oral damage. Radiation stomatitis occurs when the mucosal damage is mild. Redness and edema of the oral mucosa occur; erosions, ulcers, covered with white false membranes, easy bleeding, tenderness, dry mouth, bad breath, etc., can be combined with dysfunction such as difficulty eating and dizziness, Systemic symptoms such as insomnia, anorexia, and hair loss can be accompanied by systemic damage such as blood and secondary infections when heavier.

7. Tuberculous ulcer

Deep, irregular in shape, phagocytic, basal dark red mulberry-like granulation tissue hyperplasia, ulcers do not heal, and are often accompanied by signs and symptoms of tuberculosis.

8. Necrotic salivary metaplasia

It is more common in men. It occurs at the junction of soft palate and hard palate, with deep ulcers and bone surface, obvious congestion around the periphery, bulging edges, and granulation tissue at the bottom. The pathological manifestation is necrosis of the small salivary glands, and the patient's general condition is better.

Oral ulcer treatment principles

For the treatment of oral ulcers, the main reason is to eliminate the cause, enhance the physique, and symptomatic treatment. The treatment method should adhere to the combination of systemic treatment and local treatment, the combination of traditional Chinese and western medical treatment, and the combination of physical and psychological treatment. What needs to be noticed is that long-lasting, large and deep tongue ulcers may be a precancerous lesion, which is very easy to become cancerous. If necessary, a biopsy has been made to confirm the diagnosis.