Oral Ulcer

An oral ulcer adapted from Latin ulcus is the name for the existing of an open sore in the mouth caused by a damage in the mucous membrane/the epithelium on the the mouth.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. Oral ulcers are also a common result of ceased cigarette smoking, affecting about two out of five quitters. The causes are :

• Trauma : Minor physical injuries and Chemical injuries
• Infection : Viral, fungal and bacterial and Protozoans
• Immune system: Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity, Allergy
• Dietary
• Flovent
• Cancer