Inflammation in the mouth: symptoms, treatment and prevention

04.05.2018

The oral cavity connects the body with the environment and can therefore be subject to a variety of negative influences. Such influences include the influence of too hot or too rough food, the influence of pathogenic microorganisms. In such cases, the first protective barrier is the mucous membrane, which lines the entire oral cavity and has, in addition to protective ones, many other functions. The mucous membrane is well supplied with blood, and its cells divide quickly and frequently. Therefore, wounds on the mucous membrane heal faster than on other parts of the body. However, for a number of reasons, the mucous membrane can be subject to inflammatory processes called stomatitis. Stomatitis is considered separately from such inflammatory processes in the oral cavity as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums; they have their own characteristics) and periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium). The causes of stomatitis are very diverse.

Types of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity

These diseases are classified depending on what causes the inflammation, as well as on the location of its source in the mouth.

Thus, general lesions of the mucous membrane are called stomatitis [1]. If the mucous membrane of only the tongue, lip, palate, gums or alveolar process becomes inflamed, they speak of glossitis , cheilitis, palatinitis, gingivitis or periostitis, respectively.

Depending on the reasons that caused the inflammatory process, these diseases are divided into:

• infectious;
• traumatic;
• symptomatic;
• specific.

If left untreated, inflammation can occur with complications and have negative consequences both for the teeth, gums, mouth and pharynx, and for the general health of a person.

How to treat?

Before choosing a course of treatment for stomatitis, the specialist finds out where this pathology came from in this case. To save a patient, for example, from catarrhal stomatitis, tartar is removed, teeth are treated and filled. To relieve him of ulcerative stomatitis, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the body for problems with the blood, gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels. And with aphthous stomatitis, the sick person is examined for allergies and rheumatism.

The course of therapy depends on the nature of the pathology

Along with treating the disease, the specialist prescribes local therapy, which means rinsing the mouth with chlorhexidine - 0.05% or 1% solution. The following drugs are also used when rinsing:

• aminocaproic acid;
• herbal decoctions;
• methylene blue.

A gentle diet will help speed up treatment.

Here are the foods to avoid:

• spicy;
• roast;
• rough food.

Here are some things you should increase your consumption of:

• porridge;
• pureed soups;
• vitamins (special emphasis on A and C).

Important ! After eating, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly. First with clean warm water, then with medicine.

After eating you need to rinse your mouth

Treatment for stomatitis usually takes from five days to one and a half weeks. But if the disease is started, it will last longer, becoming more and more severe.

Causes of development of inflammatory diseases

The human oral cavity is inhabited by many beneficial, opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms, the totality of which is called microflora [2]. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, various types of fungi, viruses, and protozoa were found in it [3]. If a person is healthy, the composition of the microflora is balanced, due to which the health of the entire oral cavity is maintained. However, under the influence of various unfavorable factors, general and local immunity can decrease, and the balance of microflora can be disrupted due to the excessive development of certain pathogenic microorganisms

Often these reasons act in a complex manner - against the background of a chronic or acute disease, the patient’s immune defense decreases, which leads to intensive reproduction of a certain strain of microorganisms, its predominance in the intraoral flora and the start of the inflammatory process. For example, candidal stomatitis is caused by fungi of the genus Candida. The causative agent of herpetic stomatitis is the herpes simplex virus.

Risk factors for oral inflammation [1]:

• systemic diseases (diabetes, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine and other disorders);
• weakened immunity (for example, due to HIV, unfavorable environmental conditions, hypo- and avitaminosis, poor nutrition);
• past infectious diseases, especially in children (ARVI, influenza, chicken pox) [4];
• long-term use of potent medications, in particular antibiotics;
• unsuccessful prosthetics;
• prolonged stress;
• lack or insufficient oral hygiene ;
• bad habits (smoking), etc.

Thus, it is believed that one of the key reasons for the development of aphthous stomatitis is chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Oral candidiasis can develop due to long-term use of antibiotics, and leukoplakia can develop in response to constant irritation of the mucous membranes of the lips and oral cavity, for example, with a poorly fitted denture [1].

First aid for stomatitis

The most common cause of pain in the oral cavity is stomatitis.

Note! All of the medications listed are suitable only for relieving pain, but not for treating stomatitis itself. So you should still contact the dentist as soon as the opportunity arises.

The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive treatment for pathologies

The hospital uses complex treatment. This includes physiotherapy, as well as the following types of medications:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• antiviral;
• proteolytic enzymes.

To alleviate the symptoms of this disease at home, painkillers are useful, as well as mouth rinses to get rid of inflammation.

It is also useful to use painkillers at home:

• How to rinse your mouth for stomatitis in adults

• "Analgin";
• "Tempalgin";
• "Panadol";
• paracetamol;
• aspirin.

Important ! The latter is also good as a means to combat inflammation.

To relieve discomfort, it is recommended to use painkillers

Symptoms of inflammatory diseases

Inflammation in the oral cavity is manifested by both general and local symptoms [1]. Even before the onset of local manifestations, general malaise, pain, irritation, rashes in the mouth, increased body temperature, and decreased appetite are noted [1]. In addition, inflammation in the mouth itself can act as a symptom of another disease or general pathology [1].

Symptoms of certain inflammatory diseases

Stomatitis is a wide group of diseases that can be caused by individual pathogens, for example, fungi (candidal stomatitis) or the herpes simplex virus (herpes stomatitis), and systemic diseases, for example, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (aphthous stomatitis) [2] .

Most often, stomatitis appears as rashes (ulcers, blisters or other forms) on the oral mucosa. The nature of the rash is a striking distinctive feature that plays an important role in diagnosis. For example, with aphthous stomatitis, the ulcers never appear on the outer surface of the lips, as is the case with lesions caused by the herpes simplex virus [2].

Herpetic stomatitis, as a rule, accompanies a general infection of the body and is characterized by rashes on the inner surface of the cheeks, tongue, palate, and lips [2].

With insufficient oral care, bacterial microflora may develop and cause deeper lesions of the mucous membrane.
If the necessary treatment of acute herpetic stomatitis is not carried out, a recurrent form occurs, which is accompanied by regular rashes on the oral mucosa of vesicles and aphthae "Microbiology, virology and immunology of the oral cavity", ed. Doctor of Medicine V. N. Tsareva.

Catarrhal stomatitis occurs quite often and develops due to the lack or poor hygiene and the presence of chronic foci of infection in the oral cavity. Symptoms of this type of stomatitis are swelling of the mucous membrane, the appearance of plaque on it, first white, then brown, and bad breath [1].

Candidiasis (candidal stomatitis, thrush) is caused by fungi of the genus Candida, which are normally always present in the mouth in small quantities [2]. Factors contributing to the sharp growth of fungi are long-term use of antibiotics and some other drugs, hypovitaminosis, endocrine and other disorders.

A striking symptom of candidiasis is the appearance of a white or yellowish-white coating on the tongue and the mucous membrane of the cheeks due to the development of inflammation in the mouth. The plaque is easily removed, revealing reddened, inflamed and eroded areas of the oral mucosa underneath.

Leukoplakia refers to chronic inflammatory diseases. It develops in response to constant irritation of the oral mucosa, for example, from a part of a denture, a sharp edge or chipped tooth, hot drinks or food, alcoholic beverages, or smoking [1]. Leukoplakia manifests itself in the form of whitish thickenings, usually in the cheek area along the line of closure of the teeth, in the corners of the mouth, on the back and on the lateral surfaces of the tongue.

Literature

1. Banchenko G.V. Combined diseases of the oral mucosa and internal organs. - M.: Medicine, 1979. - 190 p.
2. Banchenko G.V., Maksimovsky Yu.M., Grinin V.M. Language is the “mirror” of the body: Clinical guide for doctors. - M., 2000. - 408 p.
3. Borovsky E. V., Danilevsky N. F. Atlas of diseases of the oral mucosa. — 2nd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Medicine, 1991. - 320 p.
4. Danilevsky N. F., Leontyev V. K., Nesin A. F., Rakhniy Zh. I. Diseases of the oral mucosa. - M., 2001. - 271 p.
5. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dental diseases / V. I. Yakovleva, E. K. Trofimova, T. P. Davidovich, G. P. Prosveryak. — 2nd ed., revised and supplemented. - Mn.: Higher. school, 1994. - 494 p.
6. Dmitrieva L. A., Glybina N. A., Glybina T. A. et al. Experimental substantiation of the use of a new antioxidant drug in the treatment of erosive and ulcerative lesions // Periodontology. — 2012, No. 3 (64). - pp. 52-58.
7. Diseases of the mucous membrane of the mouth and lips / Ed. prof. E. V. Borovsky, prof. A. L. Mashkilleyson. - M.: Medicine, 1984. - 400 p.
8. Diseases of the oral mucosa: Textbook / Ed. L. M. Lukinykh. - N. Novgorod: Publishing House of NGMI, 1983. - 212 p.
9. Karakov K. G., Vlasova T. N., Oganyan A. V., Pisarev G. Yu. Optimization of complex therapy of lichen planus of the oral mucosa // Dentist-practitioner. - 2012, No. 1. - P. 35-37.
10. Karakov K. G., Vlasova T. N., Oganyan A. V., Polyakova O. V. The role of complex therapy in the treatment of herpetic infection of the dental system // Practitioner dentist. - 2012, No. 2. - P. 48-49.
11. Practical guide to anti-infective chemotherapy / Ed. L. S. Strachunsky, Yu. B. Belousov, S. N. Kozlov. - M.: Borges, 2002. - 384 p.
12. Rybakov A. I., Banchenko G. V. Diseases of the oral mucosa. - M.: Medicine, 1978. - 232 p.
13. Therapeutic dentistry: textbook: 3 hours / ed. G. M. Barera. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2055. - Part 3. - 288 p.
14. Tretyakovich A. G., Borisenko L. G., Pishchinsky I. A. Differential diagnosis and principles of treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa: educational method. allowance. — 2nd ed., revised. and additional - Mn.: BSMU, 2005. - 66 p.
15. Udzhukhu V. Yu., Minatulaeva M. A., Kubylinsky A. A. Pathogenetic rationale and clinical effectiveness of the use of Lavomax in patients with exudative erythema multiforme // Farmateka. - 2008, No. 9. - P. 60-62.
16. Tsepov L. M., Nikolaev A. I. Medical tactics for erosive and ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane of the mouth, tongue and lips (Training manual). - Smolensk: SGMA, 2005. - 16 p.

How to get rid of stomatitis and other inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity

Treatment of stomatitis and other inflammatory diseases is usually comprehensive, aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition, eliminating the root cause and risk factors.

Often, inflammation of the oral cavity is painful, accompanied by itching, irritation, and swelling of the mucous membrane. Because of this, patients have difficulty eating. To alleviate the condition, the affected areas are treated with various anesthetic and antiseptic rinses, powders, and solutions. This also prevents possible complications of diseases, for example, the transition of aphthae or foci of inflammation into ulcers, which require more time to heal.

Another important area of ​​treatment is the elimination of local causes of inflammation of the oral mucosa. These include local foci of infection, for example, caries , dental plaque (tartar), traumatic chipped teeth, protruding parts of fillings or dentures [1]. For this purpose, appropriate treatment and professional hygiene are carried out.

And finally, a significant part of therapy is devoted to the diagnosis and elimination of a general disease that can provoke inflammation of the oral cavity (for example, endocrine disorders or chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract) [1]. In special cases, antiviral drugs [5], antimycotics [6] and antibiotics [1] are used.

Prevention of stomatitis and other inflammatory diseases includes [7]:

• treatment of major systemic diseases;
• strengthening general immunity: adherence to the principles of a healthy lifestyle, nutrition, giving up bad habits, eliminating hypo- and avitaminosis;
• strengthening local immunity: regular careful hygiene, avoiding injury and irritation of the mucous membrane in the mouth.

Regular individual and professional oral hygiene is a key way to prevent intraoral inflammation. It must include:

• brushing your teeth twice a day, after breakfast and before bed, with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste;
• the right choice of toothpaste: if you are prone to inflammation of the mouth and gums, as prescribed by a specialist, you should give preference to pastes with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties;
• use of antibacterial rinses with anti-inflammatory effects;
• cleaning interdental spaces with dental floss or tape;
• regular visits to the dentist (once every 6 months) for a preventive examination and professional removal of dental plaque.

Prevention

In general, it is quite difficult to avoid this disease in the presence of predisposing causes; you can only take some general measures to possibly prevent the disease or complication in the form of stomatitis.

Since the herpetic virus, especially in acute primary forms, is extremely contagious, a certain isolation of the patient is required to prevent the spread of infection by airborne droplets and contact. The difficulty here is that there is a rather long incubation period, up to 26 days, and the first signs of stomatitis may escape attention.

Other preventive measures are of a general nature and consist of proper and complete oral hygiene, regular professional cleanings in a dental clinic (removal of soft and hard plaque), timely treatment of mucosal injuries, and measures to generally strengthen the immune system.

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