Mouth Sores and Your Health

The inside of the mouth is a delicate environment. Underneath the lining of the skin is an intricate network of nerves. If abrasion occurs and any of the nerves are exposed, it can lead to mouth sores, also known as mouth ulcers.

Lots of things can be abrasive to the inside of the mouth. Brushing too hard or using a rough toothbrush can be enough to cause this damage. Also certain kinds of foods, liquids, drugs and chemicals can irritate the skin lining causing mouth sores.

Very often this kind of damage is accidental. We are not aware, until it is too late, that foods we are eating or mouthwashes we are using are in fact harmful.

Foods that are high in acid are particularly irritating. Some foods that are high in acid include grapefruit, oranges, plums, cherries, beans, eggs, liver, tomatoes, butter, aged cheeses, yoghurts, flour based pastry items, coffee, tea and wine. An overindulgence in any of these foods will not only upset your stomach but also the alkaline acid balance in the mouth, ultimately leading to mouth sores.

As ever, a balanced diet is very important. Those that are deficient in things like iron, vitamin B12 and folate will also be more likely to suffer a higher incident of mouth sores.

Many people are also not aware that some of the main ingredients used in toothpaste and mouthwashes are potentially harmful. If a lesion already occurs and acidic food or harmful mouthwash irritates that lesion, it can easily get infected and worsen into a painful mouth sore.

Other factors that can cause this type of lesion are loose dentures, orthodontic braces or jagged teeth. In each of these cases, regular visits to the dentist are essential to ensure proper fitting of dentures or braces or to file jagged teeth.

The health of your mouth is connected to the overall health of the body so if one is compromised, then so it the other. For example if a person is feeling tired, stressed out or under the weather, their immune system will be affected which in turn affects the mouth and the likelihood of mouth sores.

There are some more serious conditions which can lead to mouth sores and these include herpes infection, inflammatory bowel disorder and immune disorders.

So although mouth sores can be quite common, any mouth sore that lasts more than ten days needs to be checked by a doctor or dentist.