What to Know About Oral Lesions

Put simply, an oral lesion is a wound inside your mouth on the mucous membrane (gums, cheeks, etc.). The lesions are usually round and shallow. Minor ulcerations are usually less than 10 mm in diameter, and the condition only presents with one to five ulcers.

If you have multiple oral lesions that are larger than 10 mm in diameter, you have a major ulceration. These lesions can get deep, and they may occur in cycles. Regardless of the type of lesion, they are often red, greyish or white in appearance.

The leading cause of oral lesions is trauma. For example, if you are playing a sport, and get hit with a ball in the face, the force may cause your tooth to scratch the soft tissue inside your mouth. Overtime, this small scratch can turn into a painful lesion. Broken or chipped teeth can also rub against the soft tissue, causing irritation. Other patients may have certain oral infections or systemic conditions like anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency.

In some cases, if you consume a lot of acidic foods and beverages, the acid can irritate the skin, causing it to break down and develop a lesion. Some patients suffer with oral lesions because of a related illness, such as oral herpes. Finally, in rare cases, the oral lesion may be a sign of oral cancer, but this is only likely if the oral lesion won't heal or keeps returning frequently.

You may be able to avoid these lesions, depending on the cause of yours. If the cause is an underlying illness or cancer, you may be unable to prevent the sores. However, if trauma is the underlying cause, you can take preventative measures to prevent your risk. First, avoid acidic foods and beverages to keep the acid levels in your mouth low.

If you are participating in sports, always wear a mouth guard. For lesions caused by damaged teeth, speak with your dentist about oral restoration procedures like fillings, crowns and veneers. If the condition is related to an underlying problem that can be fixed, such as a B12 deficiency, talk with your doctor about how to get healthy.

Many lesions simply heal on their own. For example, a minor canker sore will heal in about a week. To help with the pain, you can use special topical products that numb and cover the sore. If your lesion isn't going away, the dentist may recommend stronger oral medications for intestinal ulcer treatment. In rare cases, oral steroids may be prescribed.

If you are in severe pain, talk with your dentist about cautery of the sore. This procedure involves a special solution used to chemically cauterize the canker sore. While this doesn't immediately fix the sore, it does reduce healing time.

 Oral lesions aren't usually a cause for concern, but if you have reoccurring canker sores or other lesions, you may have an underlying condition that is causing them to appear. In most cases, however, you can avoid lesions by protecting your mouth. For more information about oral lesions or to seek treatment for your lesion, contact us at Advanced Dental Care today.