The Problem with Mouth Sores

Mouth sores can cause many problems. First of all they are very uncomfortable making eating and drinking very difficult. If left untreated for a period of time, they can become extremely painful.

The other problem with mouth sores is that they are very often a sign of another underlying disease and generally these diseases tend to be quite serious.

Cold sores, for example, are a type of mouth sore and they are caused by the herpes virus. Once the herpes virus is contracted, it does not leave the system, meaning that the person who has it can suffer from cold sores for the rest of their lives.

Herpes is a type of sexually transmitted disease, is very contagious and is passed on by kissing. Another sexually transmitted disease that will lead to serious mouth sores is syphilis.

The type of mouth sores that develop with syphilis are like open wounds. They are very contagious and extremely painful. It can also cause large holes, which are called gumma, to appear in the tongue and the palate.

Mouth sores can also be a sign of various inflammatory disorders or diseases. One such inflammatory disease is Bechet’s Syndrome which causes inflammation of the eyes, genitals, skin, joints and blood vessels as well as the brain.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a type of allergic reaction that can also lead to mouth sores. People with inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease can suffer from mouth sores too. Certain skin diseases like lichen planus have been known to cause blistering on the skin and mouth sores.

Canker sores are another type of mouth sores. For the most part their cause is unknown but they can be very painful, generally appear on the inside of the mouth and last up to two weeks.

Sometimes they are associated with a fairly uncommon condition known as necrotizing sialometaplasia. This condition usually begins with an injury and can cause holes, as wide as two centimetres to appear on the roof of the mouth. Although these look very serious, they are relatively painless and can be cured. Healing usually takes one to three months.

Some people will experience mouth sores from a young age and they will occur frequently. This strain of mouth sore is known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Although the cause of this type of mouth sore is unknown, it is very common and it tends to run in families.