Learn more about stomatitis

Suddenly you feel your sensitive mouth with small canker sores by the tongue, gum and or inside the cheek. It is very likely that you have an inflammation known as stomatitis. Gastroenterology specialist Bruno Sander explains that? Stomatitis is a inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures of the oral cavity (mouth) and oropharynx, which may involve the region of the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, throat, or floor of the mouth.

The most common symptoms are precisely the appearance of several sores in the region of the mouth. Sander explains that there are three types of them: herpetiform ulcers, which are small and last from one to two weeks; minor aphthous ulcers, which last from 7 to 10 days and major aphthous ulcers, which are more severe and last from six weeks to several months. When the disease presents in children, they may also have fever and irritability.

The General Practitioner, Renato Igino dos Santos, explains that there are several causes for inflammation and they may have a viral origin (Herpes simplex virus HSV-1 or Coxsakie) or may be due to a problem such as poor oral hygiene or deficiency of some vitamins. and minerals in the patient's diet. Cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol may also contribute to the onset of stomatitis.


Stomatitis can also appear as a warning when, for example, the individual has a low immunity situation, in which case children and the elderly should be observed. Poorly placed prostheses or burns caused by food or drink can also trigger the inflammatory process. Sander warns of the search for an accurate diagnosis. "Because the disease has several causes, each case has a specific situation and treatment should take this into account," he explains.

Santos explains that the stomatitis treatment It involves the use of substances such as analgesics, anti-inflammatories, mouthwashes and antipyretics, but it is very important to observe the patient's diet, since eating is certainly compromised. • Hydration should be a point noted because of the difficulty in swallowing. Foods can be pasty to soften the trauma of swallowing crunchy or hard foods. Is it good to avoid acidic foods like orange, pineapple, tomato, strawberry, kiwi and lemon or very spicy foods?

The disease is usually recurrent, that is, the same patient may again present the inflammation. In most cases it is not transmissible, but when it originates from the Herpes or Coxsakie viruses, care must be taken with the transmission of the disease.

For prevent stomatitis It is good to take note of good hygiene practices, such as constantly washing your hands and providing good mouth hygiene. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol and avoiding oral trauma such as bites, burns, and poorly fitting prosthetics can also serve as a good shield.

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