Mouth Ulcers - The Recurrent Pain In The.....Well...Mouth
Mouth ulcers are known by many names including apthous ulcers and canker sores.
Mouth ulcers can be uncomfortable at best and excruciatingly painful when they really decide to work up.
Clinically aphthous ulcers can be divided into two general categories:
1. Minor Aphthae: Which comprise over 80% of reported cases, are small (<1.0 cm), usually solitary, exquisitely painful, shallow ulcers and heal without scarring in 7-10 days.
2. Major Aphthae: Which account for less than 10% of reported cases, are bigger, deeper, and heal with scar formation over a period of 2-3 weeks.
They are the result of several factors including - stress, nutritional deficiencies, acidity and genetic predispositions.
Other Common factors include:
A. Injuries from any food, cheek biting, and sharp- edged teeth, dentures, etc.
B. Burns: either from certain foodstuff or chemicals
C. Drugs - Pain killers/antibiotics
D. Inadvertent lip/cheek biting
For recurrent sufferers - they are a kill joy. You can't enjoy spicy food - sometimes it is so bad you cannot enjoy ANY food. Huge painful ulcers interfere with speech.
If you try to wait it out - it will take approx 7-10 days (if not more) to heal.
So what is the cure for a mouth ulcer? And is there one?
The bad news is that for those with a predisposition to recurrent ulcers - there is no cure. They will keep coming back no matter what you do.
The good news is - that you don't have to suffer the full 7-10 days that it normally takes for an ulcer to heal.
Previously all we could offer patients was a oral gel that could be applied to anesthetize the area, thereby causing relief from the pain. The initial application stings but then numbs the area for a while allowing you to eat and drink. However the relief lasted for very short periods, necessitating frequent applications. Moreover the gels were only symptomatic treatment with no effect on the actual duration of healing.
LASERS have revolutionized the treatment of ulcers. With a good soft tissue LASER - a couple of 5 min sittings is all that is needed to substantially reduce pain AND shorten the healing period.
The procedure is simple:
1. A topical gel is applied on the ulcer ( No need of an injection at all) - 10 sec
2. The LASER light is moved over the ulcer at a specific wattage for biostimulation (to activate the healing cells) - ( 2min)
3.The last step involves light banding of the edges of the ulcers ( 30 sec)
In approx 3 min - you will experience reduction of pain and will be ready to go home.
The same three steps are repeated on the next day.
For a small ulcer - you may not even require the second sitting.
Those who have experienced a truly painful mouth ulcer can understand the value of reducing the healing period from 7-10 days to a mere 2 -3 days. And all it involves is five min of a very simple and pain free procedure!
Do not let a simple mouth ulcer get in the way of you enjoying good food and great company.
Zap it and rid yourself of it. :)