A mouth ulcer, also known as oral apathies, is a sore or lesion that occurs in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It is characterized by the erosion and loss of the surface layer of skin (epithelium) above the mucous membrane.

Location wise the can occur on the gums, inner side of the cheeks, lips or even the upper palate. Mouth ulcers can appear as yellow, white, or red lesions on the skin. They can be very painful. They may also be called Canker sores.

Conditions that can cause Mouth ulcers are as follows:

• Local trauma: Mouth ulcers can be caused by local trauma, such as from braces, dentures, biting one’s lip, sharp food objects, or eating hard food Thermal injuries from consuming very hot food or drinks can also result in ulceration of the mouth.
• Stomatitis: It is a very common but idiopathic condition that leads to the formation of recurrent mouth ulcers without any apparent cause. These are benign and non-contagious by nature.
• Iatrogenic: Iatrogenic ulcers can occur after dental work due to abrasions caused during the process
• Oral Cancer: Ulcers that refuse to heal can be a sign of oral cancer.
• Riga-Feed Disease: It is a rare condition seen in infants on the inner side of the lip or the tongue due to newly erupted baby teeth. Repeated trauma can cause a large mass with fibrosis.
• Radiotherapy: This can sometimes cause mouth ulcers.

Infections:

• Viral infections such as Herpes simplex, varicella and HIV can increase the chances of mouth ulcers.
• Bacterial infections include TB, Syphilis, and other opportunistic infections.
• Fungal causes of mouth ulcers can include cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, and valley fever
• Parasitic reasons include Endameba histolytica.
• Hormonal changes during periods and pregnancy
• Vitamin Deficiencies: Vitamin B 12 and nutritional deficiencies such as of Iron, Zinc or Foliate can also cause oral ulcers.
• Citric Fruits: Strongly acidic fruits such as lemons can also trigger mouth ulcers.

Symptoms of Mouth Ulcer include:

• Characteristic lesion with a yellow, white or grey center
• Swelling around the region of the ulcer
• Pain and inflammation
• Soreness in the mouth
• Difficulty in deglutition.

Management of Mouth Ulcers includes:

• Good oral hygiene practices
• Drinking plenty of water regularly is important for maintaining good health.
• Brushing gently and using toothbrushes with soft bristles
• Taking a good diet full of vitamins and nutrients
• Avoiding tobacco completely
• Avoiding foods that trigger oral ulcers such as hot and spicy food.

Frequency of Mouth ulcers if up to 20% in any population with some factors that can cause an increased incidence such as:

• Diabetes can increase the risk of mouth sores due to high blood sugar levels, which can weaken the immune system and make opportunistic infections more likely to occur.
• Behçet’s disease: It is a chronic condition due to the inflammation of vessels or vasculitis in the genital and oral region. Symptoms include recurrent oral ulcers, genital sores, inflammation of the eyes and skin troubles.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: IBD is a chronic intestinal
• inflammatory disease and includes conditions such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis. One of its symptoms is the formation of sores including oral ones.
• Celiac disease: It is a condition causing digestive and multisystem symptoms. Celiac disease is an immune-mediated response in the small intestine triggered by the consumption of gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley, and rye. This response causes damage to the lining of the small intestine, leading to malabsorption of nutrients.
• Immune Disorders: Conditions such as HIV or AIDS and others make mouth ulcers a common occurrence.

Some effective and useful homeopathic medicines for mouth ulcers include:

• Antimonium crudum: Used for canker sores, cracks at the corners of the mouth, and a tongue coated white as if whitewashed.
• Argentum nitricum: Helpful for gums that are tender and bleed easily, a red and painful tip of the tongue, and canker sores.
• Borax: Useful for mouth ulcers with white growth, a hot and tender feeling in the mouth, ulcers that bleed on touch or eating, painful gum boils, and a bitter taste in the mouth. Available in Borax Trituration Tablets.
• Taraxacum: Indicated for a mapped tongue covered with a white film, which feels raw and comes off in patches, leaving red sensitive lesions, along with a bitter taste in the mouth.
• Hydrastis: Ulceration of the tongue, peppery taste in the mouth, tongue swollen large and flabby in appearance, stomatitis and glossitis. B Jain’s Omeo Mouth Ulcer tablets are infused with Borax, Mercurius solubilis, Kalium chloricum and Hydrastis candensis making it the ideal remedy for mouth ulcers providing aid to many.

Teeth and gums are sore, ulcerated, with a fetid odor from the mouth. Stomatitis is present, and the individual can only swallow liquids. Stomatitis, can swallow liquids only.

These are some of the best remedies for mouth ulcers. It should however be remembered that recurring ulcers or ulcers that present with unusual symptoms should be checked by a registered medical practitioner on an urgent basis and not be left to heal on their own.