Protecting Against Mouth Sores

In order to protect against mouth sores, there are a few precautions which a person must put in place. First of all, it’s important to note that some people are simply more susceptible to the recurrence of mouth sores and this relates to both genetics and dental circumstances.

There are certain dental conditions that may lead to mouth sores. For example, if a person wears dentures or orthodontic braces or perhaps has loose or jagged teeth, it is possible for any of those to cause an abrasive rubbing between the gum, the teeth and the soft tissue skin on the inside of the mouth which made lead to cracks or lesions.

If these cracks or lesions get infected, mouth sores will develop. The likelihood of infection is related to the overall health of the person. If the person leads a highly stressful life, doesn’t get enough sleep or eats a bad diet, an infection will be more likely to develop.

When our bodies are stressed, it reduces the level of saliva in the mouth due to dehydration and it also weakens the immune system making it harder to fight off infection. If steps are not taken to reduce the levels of stress, it is likely that the mouth sores will be recurrent.

The other factor that can lead to possible infections is diet. Foods that are high in acidic or salt content attack and aggravate the bacteria in the mouth, making infection more likely.

The foods to watch out for include peanuts, strawberries, coffee, tea, wine, almonds, cheese and tomatoes. These types of foods contribute to the build up of plague in the mouth, which ultimately leads to infection and mouth sores.

Other types of infections which lead to mouth sores include more serious illnesses such as herpes, syphilis, lupus, cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Bechet’s Syndrome and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome are also known to cause mouth sores.

If the mouth sores are caused by a mild injury such as accidentally biting down on the inside of the mouth, the first course of action is to gargle with salt water. If pain or swelling persists, it’s possible to add sodium bicarbonate to the mix and this will create a sort of paste. The paste can then be dabbed to the sore with a cotton swab.

If the cause of the mouth sore is not known, if it is very painful or if it is lasting more than ten days, it is always recommended to visit either a doctor or a dentist.