There are common and widespread oral lesions that are often the result of an infection within the oral cavity. Such injuries can be very painful and affect the patient’s quality of life.
Injuries within the oral cavity: never underestimate them
Common oral lesions can be of two types:
- oral lesions of an infectious nature;
- traumatic oral injuries.
Traumatic injuries may be due, for example, to involuntary biting of the cheeks or tongue or rubbing of removable dental prostheses. Traumatic injuries usually heal on their own in about a week.
Common oral injuries: what are they?
A short vademecum has been published in the Journal of the American Dental Association to explain to patients which only the most common oral lesions, how to recognize them and understand when a dental check-up is necessary.
Common oral lesions are:
- aphtha;
- cold sores;
- oral yeast infections (thrush).
Aphthae
Aphthae can occur on soft tissues:
- mouth;
- cheek;
- language;
- gums.
These are round and small lesions, the color is yellowish with a red border.
In addition to familiarity, they can be caused by:
- dry mouth;
- low levels of some minerals or vitamins;
- emotional stress.
It is important to consult your dentist for drug therapy that reduces pain and accelerates healing.
Cold sores
Cold sores is one of the common oral lesions that appear mainly on the lips and recur cyclically after months.
Cold sores are characterized by blisters that subsequently burst leaving a crust, it is a disease that can be transmitted from person to person.
Cold sores are caused by a virus and can be triggered by:
- fever;
- sun exposure;
- extreme fatigue;
- hormonal changes (pregnancy or menstruation).
It is important to contact your doctor for a prescription for a cream that promotes rapid healing.
Oral yeast infections
The two common types of oral yeast infections are:
- thrush;
- prosthetic stomatitis.
Thrush
Thrush develops inside the cheeks, tongue or palate and is typically associated with the use of steroid inhalers for respiratory problems, such as asthma.
Prosthetic stomatitis
Among common oral injuries, prosthetic stomatitis is an infection generated primarily by removable dentures. It is characterized by red spots and occurs mainly on the palate.
Causes of stomatitis can be:
- poor oral hygiene;
- wearing dentures or braces for too long.
It is advisable to contact the dentist to also evaluate the adequacy of the prosthesis, in addition to prescribing drugs for healing the lesions.
There is a strong tendency for patients to underestimate oral lesions, but it is always useful to book a follow-up visit to the doctor or dentist to prevent small lesions from leading to health complications.
