FAQs About Mouth Inflammation

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cankerIs your mouth inflamed? Is it sore? If so, you may have stomatitis. Stomatitis is the term used for a sore or inflamed mouth. Any sore in your mouth can be uncomfortable and can make speaking, eating, drinking, and even sleeping difficult. You can develop sores anywhere on your lips, tongue, or in your mouth. You can even get sores on the top of your mouth, or your hard palate. There are different types of stomatitis. Some are contagious and some are not. The FAQs about mouth irritations may help make yours short lived. 

FAQs

Fact #1: Types of stomatitis include cold sores, canker sores, and general mouth irritation.
Fact #2: A virus called herpes simplex type 1 is what causes cold sores.
Fact #3: Cold sores are contagious.
Fact #4: The herpes virus lies dormant in the body until it is activated by fever, hormonal changes, stress, or exposure to sunlight.
Fact #5: The cause of canker sores is unknown, but they may be caused by any of the following: stress, poor nutrition, a bacteria or virus, certain foods, medications, mouth trauma, lack of vitamin B12 or folate, cold, flu, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, sudden weight loss.
Fact #6: Canker sores are not contagious.
Fact #7: Causes of mouth irritations can run the gamut from biting your lips to radiation therapy, including:

  • Biting your cheek
  • Biting your tongue
  • Braces
  • Chewing tobacco
  • A mouth burn from hot food or beverages
  • Certain medications
  • Certain autoimmune diseases

Fact #8: If you can determine the cause sore or irritation you may be able to treat it. Otherwise, you can only relieve the symptoms.
Fact #9: Ibuprofen or Tylenol can help relieve the discomfort.
Fact 10: Campho-Phenique or Blistex can help relieve the discomfort of cold sores and canker sores. A topical corticosteroid such as triamcinolone can be used for sores inside the lip or on the gums.

ABOUT YOUR SHERIDAN DENTISTS:

Questions about our Sheridan, WY dentist office? To learn more about our services, or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, contact us at (307) 672-7567. We welcome residents of Sheridan, Gillette, Billings, Miles City, and the neighboring communities.