It causes fever, irritability, headache, pain on swallowing and swelling of the lymph glands. Within a few days, the mouth and gums become painful and very inflamed. The lips, tongue, inside the cheeks, palate, and throat may become sore. Yellow fluid-filled sores then develop, burst and form shallow, ragged and extremely painful ulcers covered by a greyish skin. Show Consult your dental or medical practitioner for advice and treatment. Cold soresCold sores, or herpes simplex, usually occur on the lips and tongue, although they can also occur on the eyes, nose and hands. Take care not to infect another person while the sores are open and weeping. Cold sore ointments available over the counter from pharmacies may relieve some discomfort. ThrushThrush, or candidiasis, is a fungal infection that initially presents as red areas of tissue in the mouth. As thrush progresses, a white flaky layer may appear on the tongue, gums or inside the cheeks. Although the white flaky layer can be easily wiped away, the tissues underneath often look ‘raw’. To avoid transmitting the infection, practice good hygiene by washing your hands and not sharing utensils. Consult your dental or medical practitioner for advice and treatment. Hand foot and mouth diseaseHand foot and mouth disease is highly contagious, but not serious. It is relatively common in children, and is unrelated to the animal diseases with similar names. Symptoms include blisters inside the cheeks, gums and on the side of the tongue, as well as hands and feet. Children with hand foot and mouth disease may have a fever, be listless and may not eat well for a day or two. The blisters usually persist for 7 to 10 days, and are contagious while they contain fluid. Consult your dental or medical practitioner for advice and treatment. The best form of protection is good hygiene:
Angular cheilitisAngular cheilitis can be caused by fungal and/or bacterial infection, poor nutrition or immune deficiencies. Angular cheilitis appears as cracked, red crusting at the corners of the mouth, which often bleeds when the mouth is opened. To prevent the infection, keep lips moist with lip balm, practice good oral hygiene and keep hydrated by drinking lots of water. Consult your dental or medical practitioner for advice and treatment. Dental relatedAbscessesDental abscesses are pus-filled swellings caused by infection inside a tooth, infection of the gum and/or injury to the tooth. Abscesses are often painful, but not always. Dental abscesses can cause facial swelling and/or enlarged lymph glands. In rare cases, dental abscesses can cause more widespread infection and may be life threatening. To treat dental abscesses:
Trench mouthTrench mouth, or acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, is extremely painful. It appears as yellow-white ulcers that bleed easily. The infection is caused by poor oral hygiene, but stress and smoking often contribute. Patients often report a metallic taste in their mouth and the sensation of their teeth being wedged apart. In some cases, patients also have swollen lymph glands, fever and fatigue. Consult your dental or medical professional for advice and treatment. Mouth injuriesMouth injuries can cause bleeding, ulcers and sore spots. If you injure your mouth:
The mouth cannot be sterilised so there is always a risk of infection to a mouth wound. Warm saltwater used as a mouth rinse may aid healing. Bitten lip or cheekA bitten lip or cheek can occur during eating or as a result of a fall. More serious bites are sometimes seen after a patient has a local anaesthetic. If the patient sucks, bites or rubs the numb area, they can damage the tissue without realising it. The traumatised area often looks like a chemical burn. When feeling returns, this injury may be very sore and look unsightly. Swelling and infection may also occur. Warm salt water used as a mouth rinse may aid healing. If an infection occurs, consult your dental or medical practitioner. Traumatic ulcers and sore spotsUlcers and sore spots can be caused by damage to skin and can occur anywhere in the mouth. Dentures, braces, plates, toothbrushes, chemicals, allergies, poor nutrition, infection and hormones can all cause ulcers. Ulcers can be very painful. Warm saltwater used as mouth rinse may aid healing and provide relief. Over the counter products from the pharmacy may provide temporary relief. If ulcers are persistent, consult a dental practitioner for advice and treatment. Oral cancerThe majority of ulcers and swelling in the mouth and neck are not cancer, and early examination and treatment will heal most conditions. In the early stages, most oral cancers are not painful. The first symptom is usually discomfort produced by the mass of tumour tissue. If you experience any of the following warning signs, seek urgent medical advice: What causes sores in mouth and on lips?While viruses are the most common infectious cause of mouth sores, bacteria can cause oral lesions too. For example, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. But mouth sores like gingivostomatitis can be caused by certain bacteria, such as streptococcus and actinomyces.
What causes mouth sores and swelling?Mouth ulcers can sometimes be caused by certain medical conditions, such as: viral infections – including the cold sore virus, chickenpox, and hand, foot and mouth disease. vitamin B12or iron deficiency. Crohn's disease– a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
When should I be concerned about mouth sores?There are a number of different types and causes, ranging from irritation from dentures or braces to a viral infection or thrush and while they often go away on their own, a mouth sore can also be a sign of oral cancer. Therefore, it is important that you never ignore a mouth sore that lasts longer than two weeks.
What causes sudden lip swelling?Lip swelling can be cause for concern since it often implicates an allergic reaction. When in contact with certain foods or chemical, this can cause sudden lip swelling. In addition, taking certain medication like ACE inhibitors, an injury to the face, or angioedema can cause puffy lips.
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