Sore in the mouth:
Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies

Mouth sores are not only annoying, they can also be extremely painful. In extreme cases, they even prevent food intake. But how exactly do they actually arise? First of all, it must be emphasized that irritations in the mouth area are usually painful but comparatively harmless. Only extremely rarely are they indicators of more serious diseases such as e.g. B. Cancer. Nevertheless, they are uncomfortable and can severely limit the quality of life. It is therefore worth taking a look at the causes and treatment methods.

How do mouth sores develop?

Inflammation of the oral mucosa often occurs as a result of toothbrushes that are too hard or accompanying symptoms of other diseases. The most common are the so-called aphthae. These are a disease of their own and are more common in women than men. The painful blisters with a yellowish to white coating and a red edge are considered the most common disease of the oral mucosa. Their cause is often not clear, but there are risk factors that can promote the development of sores and blisters in inflamed areas of the oral mucosa. Various scientific sources determine that up to 40 percent of those affected have a family history of the phenomenon, which suggests a genetic predisposition. The consumption of gluten-containing foods is also said to promote the development of aphthae in the event of intolerance.

Stress and lack of sleep are also mentioned as possible causes of inflammation. Certain foods, such as chocolate, strawberries, tomatoes and cheese, and hot drinks can also cause irritation in the oral cavity. Mechanically caused lesions caused by brushing teeth too roughly, toothbrushes that are too hard or a problematic brushing technique are sometimes responsible for sores, as are pressure points from braces or dentures. Deficiency symptoms related to iron, folic acid and zinc are also possible causes. Because saliva moisturizes and protects the lining of the mouth, mouth sores are also sometimes the unpleasant side effect of certain medications that inhibit salivary flow and promote dry mouth.

What can you do about painful spots in the mouth?

The unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth usually goes away on its own within a few weeks. During this time, however, you should take care to irritate the inflamed oral mucosa as little as possible. In concrete terms, this means avoiding particularly hot and coarse foods, as well as sour and salty foods and intensive spices. You should also remove carbonic acid from your diet if you have painful blisters.

If you have symptoms, also pay attention to particularly thorough oral hygiene so that no bacteria settle in the wounded oral cavity. When brushing your teeth twice a day, however, you should not use a toothbrush that is too hard. If you are prone to frequent inflammation of the oral mucosa, toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate is recommended. You should also regularly use dental floss for the spaces between your teeth, a tongue scraper against bacteria on the surface of the tongue, and an antibacterial mouthwash, if possible without alcohol. Rinsing your mouth with water after each meal also helps.

If your symptoms do not go away on their own after a few days, or if you often suffer from sores in your mouth, then you should definitely contact your dentist. This can initially treat the aphthae or other diseases locally, but also systemically in the case of more severe disease progression by administering medication.

The best home remedies when there is a fire

Some home remedies can speed up the healing process. Here are some natural remedies you may already have around the house that help ease inflammation-related pain: tea tree oil, aloe vera, rhubarb extract, calendula extract, chamomile extract, and baking soda (mixed with water as a paste).