Appearing on the mucosa of the oral cavity, mouth sores or oral ulcers are lesions. They could appear anywhere on the inner surface of the cheeks, lips, tongue, soft and hard palates, and gums. Usually, these are ulcer-like small lesions with diameters ranging from millimeters to centimeters. Mouth sores do not stay for long, disappearing from our mouths after a week or two.
Most people don’t care about mouth sores because they think that sores aren’t harmful to them. Well, they are right to some extent. But still, some sores may need attention. This is because at times we have seen that some mouth sores are indicators of something serious happening in our body. So let’s take a brief look at different types of mouth sores and the ones you should watch out for.
Canker Sore
This is a very common type of mouth sore. It usually appears in red with a spot of gray, white, or yellow in the center. It can be ignored and it usually disappears within 1 or 2 weeks.
Cold Sore
Herpes simplex virus is responsible for cold sores. Complications from this are very rare but might happen if the virus spreads to other parts of your body. It usually disappears within 1 or 2 weeks.
Gingivostomatitis
These occur as a result of viral infection and poor oral hygiene. It’s commonly found in children under the age of five. If this type of sore persists even after 2 weeks, you should consider visiting a doctor.
Leukoplakia
This is a condition in which thick grayish or white patches appear on the soft tissues inside the mouth. The major cause of this type of sore is smoking cigarettes. Even though it disappears on its own, sores with high irritation might be an indication of oral cancer.
Oral Lichen Planus
This is a disease that affects the skin and the mucosa lining of your mouth. They can be seen in different patterns in your mouth and the cause of this sore is still unknown.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancers show soreness that does not go away. If the soreness doesn’t go away in 2 weeks, then visit a dentist for treatment.
Thrush
Overgrowth of bacteria called candida is responsible for thrush. It’s a fungal infection that grows in your throat, mouth, and other parts of the body.
Contact Covington Signature Dentistry for expert consultation. Come visit us at 27121 174th Place SE, Suite 202, Covington, WA 98042. Get in touch with us at (253) 638-9955 for appointments.