What is stomatitis: varieties of the disease, symptoms and treatment of the oral cavity

Stomatitis is a disease of the oral cavity, which is an inflammatory process that is localized in the tongue, gums, inner surface of the cheeks.

The manifestation of stomatitis is a small wound-sores.The disease is infectious and requires treatment.

Treatment of stomatitis lasts 4-14 days , depending on the type and extent of the disease.The healing of sores, usually calm, passes, and there are practically no traces left on the wound.People who have experienced stomatitis at least once in life, there is a risk of re-infection.Periodicity of the disease is very variable.Some patients suffer from this disease 3-4 times a year( a typical case), others - after not yet fully healed yawning, immediately appear new, which makes it possible to position stomatitis as a chronic disease.

Stomatitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The nature of stomatitis has not yet been fully studied, but the scientists' assumption is that the disease is a kind of reaction of the body to certain irritants.In other words, the human immune system responds in a similar manner to the appearance of alien molecules unknown to it and tries to fight them.The attack of lymphocytes( white blood cells) on these unrecognized molecules leads to the appearance in the oral cavity of ulcerative formations, called stomatitis.

Reasons for

There are several main reasons for the development of stomatitis.

Mechanical injury .Many patients notice that the jaundices in the oral cavity appeared in them due to any damage.This may be a scratch caused by a fragment of the tooth, an uneven edge of the prosthesis or crown, as well as a wound that results from accidental biting of the soft tissues and damage to the mucosa during the use of any solid food( crisps, chips, etc.).As a rule, such minor injuries disappear without a trace in 2-3 days, however, in case of complication, ulcers may appear on the site of the wound.

Oral care products containing lauryl sulfate of sodium.According to the results of the conducted studies, it can be assumed that outbreaks of stomatitis often appear in people who use toothpastes and mouthwash with lauryl sulfate.Patients who do not use such cleansers claim that stomatitis has become more rare.

Non-rational power supply .Scientists have found a link between an unbalanced diet and the occurrence of stomatitis.In particular, the disease can develop against a background of deficiency of the following substances:

• of vitamins A and C;
• vitamins of group B: B1, B2, B6, B9, B12;
• some trace elements: selenium, iron, zinc.

Emotional overstrain and psychological stress .Patients suffering from stomatitis, note that outbreaks occur precisely during a period of mental or emotional stress.

Hypersensitivity and allergy .The development of stomatitis can provoke the use of certain foods that cause an allergic reaction in humans.In case of suspected allergies, the patient is recommended to make notes about the types and composition of food to identify substances that provoke stomatitis.If you can not do it yourself, you should contact the clinic, where they can help you determine the cause of the allergy.

The allergic reaction most often can be caused by the following products:

• vegetables, fruits and berries: strawberries, figs, apples, tomatoes, pineapples, oranges, lemons;
• cereals: barley, oatmeal, wheat, rye, buckwheat, as well as a gluten protein that is found in cereals;
• milk and dairy products: cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc.;
• an allergic reaction can also occur as a result of consuming mustard, vinegar, chocolate and nuts.

In addition, allergies can cause substances that are part of chewing gum, dental materials and medicines.

As you can see, the list is very extensive, so to clarify the allergen it is necessary to undergo a survey.

Microbes and bacteria .Experts suggest that microorganisms found in sores can also be involved in the development of stomatitis.Bacteria themselves are not causative agents of the disease, since there are a fair amount of them in the healthy oral cavity, however, the presence of these microorganisms greatly complicates the course of the process.

Heredity .Studies of the nature of the occurrence of stomatitis have shown that there is a genetic predisposition to the disease.Children whose parents often suffer from stomatitis may also suffer from this pathology.In addition, the relationship between a balanced diet, oral hygiene of a pregnant woman and the susceptibility of a future child to stomatitis have been found.

Hormonal changes .There is an assumption that certain phases of the menstrual cycle in women directly affect the formation of stomatitis.Also, exacerbations of the disease were seen in women in a state of pregnancy.

Various pathologies of .The development of stomatitis, as well as other types of aphthous ulcers, directly depends on the presence of certain pathologies.If stomatitis appears at you often enough, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination for detection of any systemic disease( cancer tumors in the nasopharynx or neck area).

In addition, the following factors can provoke the appearance of stomatitis:

• non-compliance with oral hygiene;
• side effect of chemotherapy;
• poor-quality or unprofessionally installed crowns and dentures;
• hobby for alcohol and smoking;
• dehydration of the body caused by large blood loss, increased urination, prolonged rise in body temperature, insufficient fluid intake.

Types of stomatitis

Depending on the nature of origin, stomatitis is divided into several types.

Infectious stomatitis

Viral

The main cause of this type of stomatitis is viruses, hence the name.Most often the disease is provoked by viruses of influenza, herpes, chicken pox, measles, and cytomegalovirus.In general, children and adolescents suffer from viral stomatitis.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease:

• contact with an infected person;
• injury of the oral mucosa;
• immunodeficiency states, decreased immunity;
• reception of glucocorticoids, antibiotics and cytostatics;
• Irregular and / or unsatisfactory oral hygiene.

Symptoms

For beginning virus stomatitis is characterized by a feeling of weakness, lethargy, sometimes there is a temperature increase.Children refuse to drink and eat, become whiny and complain of pain in the mouth.Upon examination, the dentist discovers edema and redness of the oral mucosa.

After a few days, a number of rounded vesicles are formed on the affected areas, filled with a turbid liquid of a yellowish hue.Before this, tingling, burning and itching can occur.Signs of intoxication are intensifying.

Infectious rashes occur most often in the border areas of the oral and skin mucosa.May appear on the mucous membranes of the cheeks and lips, sometimes affect the tonsils and pharynx.

A few days later, pustules appear on the site of the vesicles, which then transform into erosion.The duration of the disease is from 7 to 10 days.

Bacterial

Its appearance is provoked by various types of bacteria, mainly those that live permanently in the oral cavity.The mucous membrane of the oral cavity is practically immune to the effects of microorganisms, so the development of the inflammatory process of is possible with the trauma of .The causative agents of this disease are staphylococcus and streptococcus.

Often the focus of infection is the chronic pathology of the nasopharynx and tonsils, purulent inflammation of the gingival pockets and caries-affected teeth.Often, bacterial stomatitis develops against a background of angina, influenza, or other infection.

Initial symptoms of the disease are a feeling of discomfort in the oral cavity and pain syndrome.Acute and acidic food causes the patient's itching and burning.

On the mucous membrane of the hard palate, tongue, cheeks, lips and gums appear erosion, often merging into a single whole.Erosions of rounded shape, clean, have a fiery red color and clear boundaries.

There is edema and looseness of the gums , the mucosa becomes a dark crimson hue.There are signs of general intoxication.People with immunodeficiency can experience generalization of the process with the further development of sepsis.

With bacterial stomatitis, there may be an increase in lymph nodes.Duration of the disease is from 4 to 10 days.

Candidial

Candiosis( candidiasis stomatitis) is an infectious disease that is caused by saprophytic fungi.These microbes become more pathogenic with dysbacteriosis and a decrease in the reactivity of the organism.Very often, infants, elderly people and people with immunodeficiency and accompanying diseases suffer from it.

Factors provoking the development of candidiasis stomatitis:

• dysbacteriosis;
• diabetes mellitus( metabolic disorder);
• decreased immunity( primary or secondary);
• long-term use of antibacterial agents.

Small children can get infected through a toy, a pacifier, dirty dishes, a mother's nipple, birth canals.

The initial symptoms of candidiasis in infants are spots or curds of white color on the mucous membranes of the palate, tongue, cheeks and lips.Kids can refuse to eat because of a burning sensation and soreness in the mouth.In adults, too, there is burning in the mouth and throat, breathing is difficult.The scurf has a more dense structure, and attempts to remove it lead to the appearance of erosion, which can sometimes bleed.

Allergic stomatitis

As it is clear from the name, this kind of stomatitis is caused by allergic reactions of the body.

To provoke the development of the disease can: seals, dentures, contact and food allergens, antibiotics.

The following people are at risk group:

• women aged 50-55;
• persons suffering from bronchial asthma;
• patients who had previously had a Quincke edema;
• people suffering from drug or food allergy;
• persons having pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Clinical manifestations of allergic stomatitis: edema of the mucous membranes of the pharynx, soft palate, tongue, cheeks and lips, which hinders the process of chewing and swallowing food, as well as making breathing difficult.Mucous cavity of the mouth is irritated, hemorrhage and presence of erosive sites are noted.The tongue is covered with plaque, enlarged in size.Salivation is weak.

When allergic to the prosthesis, the burning is observed on the site of the delivered structure.

Common symptoms: insomnia, irritability, fever to critical levels.

Traumatic

This kind of stomatitis can result from thermal, chemical or mechanical trauma to the oral cavity.Chemical trauma can be caused by the action of acids or other dangerous substances on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.

Mechanical injury to occurs with an unprofessionally installed crown or prosthesis, and may also result from accidental biting.At the site of the wound there is an inflammatory process, accompanied by swelling and redness.If you do not take timely measures, there is erosion, and then sores that interfere with normal eating and causing pain.

The following types of stomatitis also occur :

• Toxic.It arises as a reaction of the mucosa to heavy metals that are part of dental materials.
• Atrophic.It is caused by chronic diseases, poor ecology, hypovitaminosis, unbalanced nutrition.

Treatment of stomatitis: general principles

The choice of a medicament for the treatment of stomatitis is determined depending on the causative agent of the infection.With fungal and bacterial stomatitis treatment is carried out with antimicrobials, with herpes - antiviral.

Antiviral drugs may be topical( solutions, sprays, gels) and general( suppositories and tablets) actions.

Treatment of any form of stomatitis involves using antiseptic to rinse your mouth after each meal.

After rinsing, inflamed areas or wounds are treated with a special gel that speeds up the treatment of sores.Traditional creams and ointments in the treatment of stomatitis are not used, because they do not create the desired therapeutic effect and do not stick to the mucosa.Gels are also used for local treatment.

The use of antimicrobial agents promotes the healing of wounds, which are very quickly covered with crusts.After a couple of days, the crusts fall off and then the healing preparations are attached to the treatment( rosehip oil, sea buckthorn, aloe juice, etc.).When treating stomatitis, we should not forget about medicines for general strengthening of immunity.

The general concept of stomatitis combines several different diseases.Correct diagnosis and identification of the pathogen is a guarantee of successful treatment and rapid recovery.Most of the stomatitis in adults is secondary, that is, repeated at intervals of several months.Basically, their development is caused by a decrease in the body's defenses, so people who are prone to stomatitis should constantly monitor their immunity and support in every possible way to support it.