How can recurrent mouth ulcers be managed?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been suffering from mouth ulcers for the past five years. Sometimes, the severity of these ulcers (stress ulcers) is very high. I have irritation and a headache. I have tried taking B-complex, vitamin C chewable tablets, Zinco-vit (multivitamins) tablets, glycerin, and Benzocaine jelly to treat these ulcers, but there has been no improvement.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for trusting us with your health care.

I can understand your concern. Well, the symptoms look like recurrent aphthous stomatitis (a painful, noncontagious sore inside the oral cavity) or recurrent canker sores. They can be caused due to a number of reasons, such as stress, nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid), hormonal changes, acid reflux, tongue trauma caused by sharp teeth or tongue biting habits, excessive intake of sour and citrus foods, uncontrolled diabetes, and other immunocompromised conditions. It is recommended to consult an oral physician or a general dentist to get yourself evaluated and treated. Here are some suggestions for managing aphthous ulcers:

Try warm saline gargles.
Gargle with a 1:1 solution of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) and milk of magnesia.
Do sodium bicarbonate gargles.
Apply a numbing gel over the sore for pain relief, particularly during eating.
Continue taking vitamin B complex supplements and consider adding lysine supplements to your regimen.
Avoid consuming spicy, sour, and acidic foods.

If the condition does not improve, the physician may prescribe a steroid course as the ultimate treatment if other measures do not work. They may also test your vitamin B12 levels and Hb (hemoglobin) levels. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take the medicines with their consent.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.