What causes stomatitis? Why frequent stomatitis appears - reasons. Stomatitis is classified depending on the pathogen

How to treat stomatitis in adults: effective drugs and medications

Stomatitis is a disease of the oral cavity, which is an inflammatory process that is localized on the tongue, gums, and inner surface of the cheeks. The manifestation of stomatitis is small wounds-ulcers. The disease is infectious in nature and requires treatment.

Treatment of stomatitis in adults lasts 4-14 days, depending on the type and extent of the disease. The healing of ulcers usually proceeds calmly, and practically no traces remain at the site of the wounds. People who have had stomatitis at least once in their lives are at risk of re-infection. The frequency of occurrence of the disease is very variable.

Some patients suffer from this disease 3-4 times a year (a typical case); in others, after ulcers that have not yet completely healed, new ones immediately appear, which makes it possible to position stomatitis as a chronic disease.

What it is?

Stomatitis is a disease of the oral cavity, inflammation of the mucous membrane on the inner surface of the cheeks, gums, and tongue. The disease is accompanied by the formation of wounds and ulcers. The disease is infectious, so the symptoms of inflammation do not go away on their own.

Stomatitis in adults can be cured quickly at home; for this you need to use effective medications. Which ones exactly? Read the article in the “treatment” section.

The mechanism of development of stomatitis and causes of occurrence

The mechanism of stomatitis has not yet been fully identified, but most likely it is due to the reaction of the immune system to irritants. It is believed that stomatitis occurs in cases where, for reasons that are not yet clear, the human immune system reacts to the appearance of molecules that it cannot recognize.

The appearance of such molecules provokes an attack by the lymphocytes of the immune system (a type of white blood cell), in much the same way that the human immune system reacts, for example, to an organ transplant. The “attack” of lymphocytes on these unidentified molecules leads to the appearance of ulcerative formations in the mouth, which are called “stomatitis”.

The cause of its occurrence is also considered to be local factors: poor oral hygiene. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as, and also, can cause catarrhal stomatitis. With this disease, the oral mucosa becomes swollen, painful, hyperemic, and may be covered with a white or yellow coating. Hypersalivation (increased salivation) is noted. Bleeding gums and bad breath may occur.

Stomatitis itself is not contagious. With herpes, stomatitis can occur as a consequence, but this is already one of the options for a person’s reaction to the herpes simplex virus.

Classification

Mouth ulcers, causes and treatment are determined primarily depending on the causative agent of the disease. There is a certain classification of the disease depending on what pathogen caused the white spots to appear. What stomatitis looks like in the mouth also depends to some extent on the pathogen.

Type of stomatitis	Description
Viral	A consequence of infection by the herpes simplex virus (herpes stomatitis) Epstein-Barr (herpetic stomatitis). Such pathogens provoke the appearance of vesicular rashes containing clear liquid. Later, the addition of a secondary bacterial infection is noted. Then they open up and erosions appear. Similar ulcers in the mouth also appear with. How to treat wounds is determined by the doctor, having found out the cause of the disease.
Bacterial	Manifests itself due to the action of staphylococci or streptococci. With this form of the disease, a purulent rash appears (easy to see in the photo), which subsequently quickly opens. As a result, ulcers and erosions form in the mouth.
Fungal	As a rule, it appears after a course of antibiotics with which the patient is trying to cure other diseases. Fungal stomatitis in the mouth, the photo of which clearly demonstrates a dense white coating, appears due to the action of the Candida fungus. After removing the white plaque in the mouth, painful erosions are observed on the tonsils.
Erosive	It appears after illness and is characterized by the occurrence of erosions.
Chemical	Consequences of burns produced by acid or alkali. Later, scarring and deformation of the mucosa occurs.
Ray	A consequence of radiation sickness also develops after chemotherapy. The patient develops erosions in the oral cavity, and the mucous membrane thickens in certain areas.

Also, depending on concomitant diseases, syphilitic and streptococcal stomatitis are distinguished.

Symptoms of stomatitis in adults

For any type of stomatitis, the symptoms are almost the same (see photo). In adults, the disease usually begins with slight redness. It can be single, it can be multiple. Then the area around the lesion swells and becomes painful. The next day, an ulcer with smooth edges and a red halo around it forms in this place. If there are several ulcers located nearby, they can merge with each other. The central area of the ulcer is covered with a grayish or whitish coating.

The ulcer itself is very painful, but the patient is bothered by increased salivation, bleeding gums and bad breath. The pain from stomatitis can be so severe that it makes it difficult to chew food. Ulcers predominantly appear on the inside of the lips, on the cheeks, on the tonsils, and on the soft palate. Sometimes they may appear on or under the tongue.

The disease resolves over a period of 4 days to a month. There are no traces left after it.

What stomatitis looks like: photo

The photo below shows how the disease manifests itself in adults.

Allergic stomatitis

As the name implies, this type of stomatitis is caused by allergic reactions of the body. The development of the disease can be provoked by: fillings, dentures, contact and food allergens, antibiotics.

Clinical manifestations of allergic stomatitis: swelling of the mucous membranes of the pharynx, soft palate, tongue, cheeks and lips, which interferes with the process of chewing and swallowing food, and also makes breathing difficult. The oral mucosa is irritated, hemorrhage and the presence of erosive areas are noted. The tongue is coated and enlarged. Salivation is weak.

If you are allergic to a prosthesis, a burning sensation is observed at the site of the installed structure. General symptoms: insomnia, irritability, temperature rise to critical levels.

Aphthous stomatitis

– symptoms primarily consist in the appearance of aphthae (erosions) of a round or oval shape, 5-10 mm in size, on the oral mucosa. Usually only one aphthae is formed, less often - two or three. The aphthae are surrounded by a bright red rim of inflamed mucosa, and themselves are covered with a whitish-gray fibrinous coating. Canker sores are usually very painful when touched, which can make eating difficult. The duration of clinical manifestations is about 8-10 days.

The chronic course of the disease in adults with frequent relapses indicates the presence of gastrointestinal or liver diseases. Manifested by the following symptoms: multiple lesions of the lips, cheeks, tongue; painful sensations that interfere with eating; increase in body temperature to 38. Treatment of stomatitis at home includes a set of measures related to symptomatic signs and strengthening the immune system.

Candidal stomatitis

The causative agent - Candida fungus - is always found in the human body on its mucous membranes. Its growth and reproduction is inhibited by lactic acid bacteria (bifido, lacto). In some conditions, the balance of microorganisms is disturbed, bifidobacteria die and Candida multiplies uncontrollably on the mucous membrane. The most common cause of candidal stomatitis (thrush in the mouth) is taking antibiotics.

In the initial stage of the disease, warning signs appear:

dryness;
burning in the mouth;
swelling of the mucous membrane;
redness of the mucous membrane;
white or gray coating;
thick white discharge;
bad breath or bad breath;
pain when chewing and talking.

White plaque in the mouth can lie on the mucous membranes completely or in spots. If the plaque is carefully removed (wipe with a cotton swab), then underneath it will be the red, inflamed oral mucosa.

Signs of herpetic stomatitis

The incubation period does not exceed 4 days. Most often, the first manifestation of the disease occurs in childhood, after which the disease periodically recurs even after reaching adulthood. As a rule, the development of herpetic stomatitis is caused by a decrease in the body's defenses caused by a malfunction of the immune system, overwork, stress or other factors.

Characteristic formations in the form of fluid-filled bubbles form on the cheeks, palate and tongue. After bursting, single bubbles merge into painful erosions. In adulthood, the body's reaction is rarely accompanied by symptoms of severe intoxication, but in some cases muscle pain, headaches, and fever are possible (especially if the initial symptoms are ignored).

Ulcerative stomatitis

Ulcerative stomatitis is relatively mild. Signs of inflammation appear in the oral cavity: the mucous membrane turns red, becomes swollen, and a burning sensation occurs in the gum area. After a few days of such manifestations, single ulcers appear on the inside of the cheeks and on the gums, on top of which there is a white-dirty coating. In this case, patients complain of increased salivation and bad breath. Fever may occur. With ulcerative stomatitis, sharp pain is observed, which intensifies when the inflamed areas come into contact with food, teeth and tongue.

Vincent's ulcerative-necrotizing stomatitis is manifested by extensive inflammation of the oral mucosa with a rapid increase in symptoms. Within a few days, the tissues become covered with ulcers with uneven edges, on top of which there are dense films of gray-green color. There are hyperemic tissues around them, and the ulcers themselves often spread to the tongue. Inflamed lesions can merge and affect the deeper layers of the mucous membrane. If you try to remove the plaque, a red bleeding surface will appear underneath it.

Traumatic stomatitis

Occurs as a result of mechanical disruption of the integrity of the mucous membrane due to careless prosthetics or injury. The affected area becomes inflamed, swollen, and the vessels are filled with blood. After some time, erosion appears, then a non-healing ulcer. In severe cases, the disease is complicated by a fungal infection.

How to treat stomatitis in adults?

The basis of treatment of any form of stomatitis in adults is pain relief and inflammation relief with the help of effective drugs. First of all, oral irrigation or local anesthetic applications are used. It is especially important to clean the mouth of children before eating. To stimulate healing and fight microbial infection, herbal solutions (oak bark, linden blossom, decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula), furacillin or miramistin solution are used.

Catarrhal stomatitis, caused by a banal violation of oral hygiene, with a mild course can be treated at home on your own, and after a week the person forgets about its appearance. In this case, you should use antiseptic mouth rinses and follow a diet that excludes spicy, hard, too salty or sour, too hot or cold foods.

If stomatitis is viral in nature, antiviral ointments are used. In order to create a protective film over the ulcers, Vasiline, rosehip or sea buckthorn oil, and aloe juice are used. They help in epithelial regeneration.

For fungal stomatitis, antifungal drugs are used - Candida for local treatment, Miramistin, Hexoral.

Drugs for the treatment of stomatitis

Sometimes the pain of ulcers greatly interferes with the patient’s ability to lead a normal lifestyle and eat. Therefore, the doctor may recommend the use of some effective anesthetic drugs, such as:

Drug name	Mechanism of action
Anestezin	local anesthetic for superficial anesthesia, available in the form of tablets for forming powder and powdering the affected area.
Hexoral tabs	is available in the form of lozenges; the drug contains Chlorhexidine and Benzocaine, which have a local antimicrobial and analgesic effect
Lidocaine Asept	an antiseptic with a local anesthetic effect, quite often used for aphthous stomatitis and for the treatment of erosive lesions of the mucosa.
Lidochlor	a drug of combined action in the form of a gel, which has a local anesthetic and antiseptic effect, pain relief and antimicrobial action occurs 5 minutes after applying the gel.
Folk remedies	A decoction of sage, calendula, chamomile, and colanchoe juice is used for pain relief and the treatment of ulcers.

In addition, treatment must include mouth rinses, ointments, sprays, gels, absorbable tablets, and lozenges with antimicrobial action.

Here is a list of current and effective drugs for treating stomatitis at home:

"Actovegin" is a gel that is used for the initial treatment of ulcers.
"Eucalyptus M" - lozenges.
"Kameton" - spray and aerosol.
"Cholisal" is a dental gel with a combined analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.
“Vinilin gel”, “Lugol spray”, “Hexoral spray”, “Inhalipt spray”.
Hexetidine (Stomatidin) is an antiseptic with weak analgesic and antimicrobial effects.
“Evkarom”, “Ingafitol” - a collection for rinsing the mouth and inhalations, consists of eucalyptus leaves and chamomile flowers.
“Kamistad” is a dental gel with an anesthetic and antiseptic effect; it contains chamomile and lidocaine.

Antiviral, antifungal, antihistamine drugs are used depending on the cause of stomatitis, for herpetic stomatitis in adults, treatment consists of the use of antiviral agents in ointments, tablets, for fungal origin of stomatitis () antifungal agents are used, they should be used both for allergic stomatitis and for other types of lesions of the oral mucosa.

Antihistamines - in tablet form “Fenistil”, “Claritin”, “Loratodin”, “Cetrin”, “Suprastin”, “Tavegil”.
Antifungals - “Mikozon”, “Daktarin”, “Mikonazole” gel, “Levorin”, nystatin ointment.
Antiviral - oxolinic, bonaftone ointment, interferon, tebrofen ointment, Zovirax, Acyclovir, Viru-Merz Serol.

Agents that accelerate epithelial healing:

Rosehip and sea buckthorn oil have a healing effect.
Karotolin is an oil solution intended for external use with an antioxidant effect, vitamin A.
Propolis spray is an additional remedy for the treatment of stomatitis in adults, which has a beneficial effect in the presence of various skin lesions, herpes, and ulcers.
Shostakovsky's balm, or "Vinilin" - helps cleanse wounds and accelerates tissue regeneration and epithelization, has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.
“Solcoseryl” is a dental paste that improves tissue trophism and stimulates epithelial regeneration in cases of stomatitis.

Folk remedies

Treatment of stomatitis at home should be carried out as prescribed by a doctor, who will take into account the causes of the disease and the general condition of the body. After eliminating the cause, he will prescribe rinses, ointments, gels, and multivitamin preparations.

Hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your mouth with 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted in the same amount of water 2-3 times a day for one to two weeks.
Blue iodine. Dilute blue iodine in a 1:1 ratio with warm water. Rinse your mouth with a glass of water 3 times a day. Apply gauze bandages moistened with blue iodine to the affected areas for 5 minutes. Treat stomatitis with this method 3 times a day.
Propolis tincture. After eating, rinse your mouth with hot water and then hydrogen peroxide to thoroughly clean out the sores. Some additionally dry them with warm air using a hairdryer. Then lubricate the affected areas with alcohol tincture of propolis diluted with water and dry again with warm air so that a film forms more quickly.
Myrrh oil. As legend has it, ancient Greek warriors did not go on a campaign without a paste of myrrh resin. Thick oil prevents the spread of infection, treats various skin lesions, helps with coughs and colds, and has an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect for bacterial and viral lesions.
Silver water. Used to treat stomatitis in children and adults. Rinse your mouth with warm water several times a day. To prepare silver water, place a silver item in water at room temperature for a day.
Honey. Brew 1 tsp. green tea with a glass of boiling water in a teapot, leave for 45 minutes, strain. Melt 1 tbsp in a water bath. honey, add to green tea infusion. Rinse your mouth several times a day with warm infusion to treat stomatitis.
Blueberry. Brew 0.5 liters of boiling water with 3-4 tablespoons. blueberries, cook for 15 minutes over low heat with the lid closed, let cool. Rinse your mouth with a decoction for stomatitis or irritation of the mucous membrane.
Get 1 tsp. freshly squeezed onion juice, 1 tsp. Kalanchoe juice, add 3 tbsp to the juice mixture. water. Rinse your mouth several times a day.

Prevention of stomatitis

Stomatitis in adults is considered a recurrent disease, that is, it is prone to return and relapse. In order to prevent a recurrence of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of prevention:

treat caries promptly;
treat the gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner;
wash your hands before eating;
remove tartar and plaque in a timely manner;
choose the right toothpaste and mouth rinse;
Provide yourself and your loved ones with a healthy diet, with a balanced combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and microelements.

Stomatitis is not a terrible, but very unpleasant disease of the oral cavity. Its occurrence can be effectively prevented. And timely treatment helps to quickly relieve yourself of painful symptoms.

Stomatitis- inflammatory process of the oral mucosa of various etiologies. It is characterized by redness, swelling of the mucous membrane (catarrhal stomatitis), the formation of blisters and erosions (aphthous stomatitis), ulcerations (ulcerative stomatitis) in the oral cavity, pain and burning, especially when eating. To determine the etiology of stomatitis, smears taken from the affected area of the mucosa are examined. Treatment of stomatitis consists of etiological, analgesic, early cleansing and healing therapy. In mild cases, maintaining hygiene and sanitation of the oral cavity leads to recovery. Recurrent or severe stomatitis indicates the presence of a general disease of the body.

General information

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa. The disease can occur for various reasons, but among young children the incidence of stomatitis is several times higher.

Causes of stomatitis development.

Stomatitis can act as an independent disease and as a symptom of systemic pathologies. Thus, the cause of stomatitis as a symptom may be pemphigus, systemic scleroderma and streptoderma. Immunodeficiency states in the prodromal period most often manifest themselves as long-term, difficult-to-treat stomatitis. But more often stomatitis acts as an independent disease. Mechanical injuries from chipped teeth, hard food fragments or improperly installed dentures are the causes of traumatic stomatitis. After eliminating the traumatic factor, such stomatitis goes away on its own.

Too hot food can cause a burn to the mucous membrane; this stomatitis also goes away without treatment. An exception is chronic inflammation of the oral mucosa due to regular consumption of excessively hot food. Hypersensitivity to food, drugs and components of oral care products can cause prolonged allergic stomatitis, which is difficult to treat.

Infectious stomatitis, including herpetic and candidal stomatitis, occurs in people of different age groups. At the same time, in children, the contact route of infection prevails, and the cause of infectious stomatitis in adults is concomitant diseases, such as bronchial asthma and diabetes mellitus.

It is based on the causes of occurrence that stomatitis is classified. The second classification is based on the depth of the lesion, thus distinguishing between catarrhal, ulcerative, necrotic and aphthous stomatitis.

Clinical manifestations of stomatitis.

Catarrhal stomatitis is the most common form of stomatitis. The oral mucosa becomes swollen, hyperemic and painful. Patients complain of pain when eating, increased salivation, sometimes bleeding and bad breath. In some cases, with catarrhal stomatitis, the mucous membrane is covered with a yellowish-white coating.

Treatment of traumatic stomatitis consists of eliminating provoking factors; symptomatic therapy is carried out according to indications. The prognosis is usually favorable; Only in isolated cases can chronic traumatic stomatitis cause leukoplakia of the tongue or malignancy of oral cells. In case of stomatitis of an allergic nature, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the allergen, after which the symptoms of stomatitis disappear. In severe cases, hyposensitizing therapy and hospitalization are required.

Prevention of stomatitis is proper oral care, promotion of a healthy lifestyle and teaching the rules of personal hygiene starting from childhood.

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa. It is worth remembering that the disease acts as a protective reaction of the immune system to possible irritants. As a rule, mouth ulcers appear more often in children, but in recent years, due to unfavorable environmental conditions, a massive decrease in immunity among the population has begun, which has caused the appearance of this unpleasant disease among adults. How to treat stomatitis in the mouth and what are the causes of its occurrence?

Causes of stomatitis in adults

The main factors that provoke stomatitis include:

Bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas. Since various pathogens of infectious diseases are directly related to the occurrence of mouth ulcers, provoking facts are necessary for their reproduction.
Unbalanced diet. With an inadequate or incorrect diet, there is a high risk of stomatitis. This is especially due to insufficient intake of zinc, folic acid, iron and B vitamins.
Mechanical, chemical and thermal trauma to the oral cavity. As a rule, many patients themselves notice that they have stomatitis, the causes of which are associated with some kind of damage. Violation of the integrity of the oral mucosa occurs in various ways. Quite often, stomatitis in adults occurs after a scratch on the edge of a crown, a bite on the cheek, from a cut, after injury from dried fish, crackers, or nuts. Chemical burns with alkali or acid can also cause inflammation. Minor injuries heal quite easily, but if there are unfavorable factors, then there is a risk of developing an unpleasant illness.
Poor quality dentures or their unsuccessful installation can cause stomatitis. Photos of the disease caused by these factors can be seen in dental offices or in our article in the second photo.
Violation of basic hygiene rules, eating with unwashed hands, eating unprocessed vegetables and fruits.
Alcohol abuse and smoking often contribute to the development of mouth ulcers.
Gastrointestinal diseases, which include gastritis, colitis, helminthic infestations.
Treatments for various malignant neoplasms, chemotherapy or radiation can trigger inflammation in adults.
HIV infection is a serious cause of stomatitis in adults.
Anemia is a significant risk factor.
Dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting, prolonged fever, and significant blood loss are all risk factors that cause inflammation.
Hormonal diseases, menopause.

Stomatitis: symptoms and treatment of the disease in adults

It is important to know that treatment carried out in a timely manner and at an early stage will help prevent relapses. Typically, the signs of stomatitis are the same for different types of lesions. Stomatitis in adults rarely occurs in an acute form, with high fever and symptoms of general intoxication. But when the first signs of an unpleasant disease appear, be sure to seek help from a doctor, since in the absence of proper treatment and identification of the causes, the risk of relapses in the future increases.

The onset of stomatitis is characterized by the appearance of redness at the site of the lesion. Next, the affected area swells, swells, and becomes painful. Sometimes a slight burning sensation is felt.
With the most common bacterial stomatitis, a round or oval ulcer forms, around which an inflamed halo appears. A thin white film forms inside it, the edges of the ulcer are quite smooth.
The pain associated with stomatitis can be quite severe; many cannot chew food normally and are forced to limit movements of the tongue and lips.
In addition to the painful ulcer, increased salivation begins to bother you, sometimes bleeding gums are observed, and bad breath appears.
Sometimes the temperature during stomatitis increases when there is an acute disease, accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes.

How to treat stomatitis in the mouth? If you have a mild catarrhal form of the disease, then treatment with medications in this case may not be necessary. In other cases, therapy involves taking antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs along with medications that are aimed at boosting immunity. When stomatitis occurs in children, treatment with potent medications is prescribed only in extreme cases.

Since there are many causes of the disease (fungus, stress, viruses, injuries, bacteria, chronic diseases), only a qualified specialist can establish the real cause, choose the right treatment tactics and prescribe the right medications.

If you do not have a medical education and you do not know how to properly treat stomatitis, you should not self-medicate.

Treatment methods for stomatitis

There are three ways to treat stomatitis:

Local treatment that will help relieve pain and relieve acute symptoms of the inflammatory process.
Oral treatment with medications, which is carried out to eliminate the causes of stomatitis.
Treatment of stomatitis using laser.

It is worth considering these treatment methods in more detail.

Treatment with drugs

This treatment method is mainly used if the cause of stomatitis is an infectious pathogen. Naturally, this is revealed only by laboratory analysis. How to treat stomatitis in the mouth in this case? The most commonly used antibiotics in the fight against bacterial infections are Gentamicin, Kanatsimin, Lincomycin, and Penicillin. Along with these drugs, antihistamines are prescribed, which are used to avoid an allergic reaction. The course also includes probiotics that help restore intestinal microflora.

Antiviral agents include echinacea tincture and Interferon, since antibiotics do not affect viruses. In addition, it is recommended to increase immunity during viral infections with the help of immunomodulatory drugs and courses of vitamins B, A, C, and in some cases E. Sometimes doctors prescribe taking folic acid.

Local treatment

The most effective is local treatment of stomatitis, since it includes frequent rinsing of the mouth using disinfectant solutions, antiseptics (hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furacilin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate).

Good remedies for stomatitis are in the form of medicinal decoctions, which include calendula, sage, oak bark, and linden. If it is not possible to rinse your mouth, then anesthetic sprays, for example Tantum Verde, can help in this situation. Zovirax, Acyclovir, and Oxolinic ointments can also be prescribed for local treatment. Applications with benzocaine, lidocaine, trimecaine are perfect for pain relief, and for faster healing, liquid vitamins A and E, Kalanchoe juice and sea buckthorn oil are prescribed.

Laser treatment of stomatitis

Every day, the treatment of stomatitis in adults with a laser device is gaining momentum, which acts quickly, absolutely painlessly and disinfects the damaged area as much as possible. But it is used only in large clinics. This method makes it possible to remove nerve endings from the erosive surface, automatically relieve pain caused by the disease, and shorten the recovery period. Since this method has no contraindications, many patients often ask how much treatment with this method costs. The price of the procedure depends directly on the prestige of the clinic, but the brand of the device used is also taken into account.

Allergic stomatitis

Today, among 30% of the population, allergic reactions to plant pollen, animal hair, food, and medications occur. Contact with certain medications or dentures may cause allergic stomatitis in the oral cavity.

This type of stomatitis is not considered as a separate disease, since it is part of a general allergic manifestation. Its treatment, as a rule, comes down to taking antihistamines such as Cetrina, Suprastin, Tavegil, which help eliminate the allergen.

Ulcerative stomatitis

This type of stomatitis has a more severe clinical picture, since it can develop either independently or take an advanced form of catarrhal stomatitis. Most often, this disease is observed in people who suffer from chronic enteritis, gastric ulcers, blood diseases and infectious diseases. With ulcerative stomatitis, there is an increase in temperature, which rises to 37 o C, headache, weakness, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Stomatitis in children

The development of stomatitis in children occurs for several reasons. The baby cannot always express his feelings, explain the nature and location of the pain, or the time at which it appeared. When stomatitis occurs in children, its symptoms include elevated body temperature, sleep disturbances, refusal to eat, and changes in stool. All this is connected with the peculiarities of the course of all metabolic processes and the reactions of the child’s body.

Classification of childhood stomatitis and causes

A certain type of stomatitis relates to a specific age of the child, but, of course, there are exceptions:

In children from birth to three years of age, the most common is candidal stomatitis.
For children from one to three years old, herpetic stomatitis is typical.
Aphthous and allergic stomatitis most often occurs in school-age children.
Children of any age suffer from bacterial stomatitis, which occurs against the background of mechanical or thermal trauma to the oral cavity, eating unwashed fruits, violations of hygiene rules, and eating with unwashed hands. Often in children, stomatitis occurs during the period when teeth are coming out.

The reasons for frequent childhood stomatitis are that the mucous membrane of the oral cavity of children is more delicate, and its injury occurs quite easily. In this case, the child’s immune system cannot cope with infections that enter the mouth.

Remember that if stomatitis occurs in children, treatment should be carried out competently and as quickly as possible - at the first manifestation of symptoms of this disease.

Treatment of fungal stomatitis in children

For treatment, it is necessary to perform local procedures, which consist of creating an alkaline environment, since it is its absence in the oral cavity that contributes to the active proliferation of bacteria and fungus. How to treat stomatitis in a child’s mouth?

It is necessary to treat the oral cavity about six times a day using a soda solution: two teaspoons of soda per glass of water. A two percent boric acid solution is also suitable for rinsing.
There is a special gel, solution and cream of the Candide brand, which contains clotrimazole: it has good antifungal effects.
You can use nystatin ointment, Clotrimazole cream, Pimafucin cream when treating affected areas. The bulk of all fungal agents accumulate directly in the area of the teeth, so special attention when treating the oral cavity should be paid to the area of the cheeks and gums.
For older children, it is possible to prescribe antifungal agents in suspensions or tablets, which include the drugs Fluconazole and Diflucan.
For any stomatitis, it is necessary to follow a diet: for candidiasis, you need to exclude sour drinks and fruits, rough and hard foods, too cold and hot water, reduce the consumption of sweets, confectionery, and carbohydrate foods.

Herpetic stomatitis

This is one of the most common forms of stomatitis among children and adults. This is due to the fact that 95% of the population is infected with the herpes virus, and the development of a herpes reaction primarily depends on the immune system.

The danger of this virus is that it does not completely disappear from the body, remaining in a latent state. If a child has a weak immune system, the disease becomes chronic and relapses are possible.

Treatment of stomatitis among children

How to treat stomatitis in the mouth if a child experiences an exacerbation with severe symptoms? With mild to moderate inflammation, the child can be treated on an outpatient basis. If fungal stomatitis is detected in children, therapy involves excluding acidic foods from the diet (especially citrus fruits), salty and spicy foods, and canned food. Treatment of stomatitis involves the use of general therapeutic measures:

Treatment of ulcers with propolis.
Children are recommended to treat the affected areas with medicinal decoctions, which include chamomile, sage and Kalanchoe juice. To do this, you need to use cotton pads soaked in the broth. The procedure is carried out 3-4 times a day.
The healing of wounds is facilitated by the drug "Katrotolin" - an oil solution that contains vitamin A and rosehip oil.
For frequent relapses of herpetic stomatitis, doctors prescribe oral antiviral drugs, for example, Acyclovir, Valtrex.
Vitamin therapy is indicated: you can use Imudon absorbable tablets. They should be taken about 8 pieces per day, the course of treatment is one week.

Treatment of stomatitis with folk remedies

In order to cure stomatitis quickly enough, it is necessary to make the correct diagnosis and use the right medications. In addition to drug treatment, when a doctor prescribes medicine for stomatitis, you can use traditional methods, most of which are often recommended even by dentists themselves.

So, you have stomatitis. Reviews about this disease are not the most encouraging, so start treatment quickly. For example, daily rinsing of the mouth with a baking soda solution heals ulcers perfectly. This procedure reduces the acidity in the mouth, which is a favorable environment for the growth of fungi and bacteria.

To prevent an increase in the number of erosions and aphthae, treating the mucous membrane with a solution of hydrogen peroxide helps. It disinfects the wound surface and relieves pain well.

If the patient is not predisposed to allergic reactions, propolis tincture will provide invaluable assistance in the fight against stomatitis. The film that forms in this case perfectly heals the wound and does not allow pathogenic bacteria to enter there.

Stomatitis can be eliminated with the help of herbs. Decoctions of sage, calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, and eryngium flatifolia help. You need to rinse 3-4 times a day. To remove stomatitis on the lip, use lotions and rinses with decoctions prepared from oak bark, as well as crushed cinquefoil root.

A good remedy for healing canker sores can be found at home - freshly squeezed cabbage and carrot juices. They are useful not only for rinsing the mouth, but also for taking orally.

Another remedy for treating stomatitis is grated potatoes. Since potatoes contain high levels of starch, even a small piece applied to the inflammation relieves swelling and promotes healing of the injury.

Prevention of stomatitis

The basis for the prevention of stomatitis is compliance with all hygiene rules related to the oral cavity. You should brush your teeth twice a day and be sure to see a hygienist every six months.

In addition to this, it is necessary not only to monitor the cleanliness of your teeth, but also their condition. To prevent caries and stomatitis, visit the dentist at least once every six months.

Wearing dentures and braces requires special attention, as they can injure the mucous membrane.

To prevent stomatitis, it is important to watch what you eat. You can contact a specialist, conduct allergy tests and find out which foods should be excluded from your diet, since they can cause allergies.

It is not recommended to constantly eat foods that can have an irritating or traumatic effect on the oral mucosa. These may be too spicy, pickled, salty and crunchy foods. Limit your alcohol intake and avoid drinking orange and tomato juices. The diet must be balanced, since a lack of nutrients and vitamins can cause not only stomatitis. The photo in our article will clearly demonstrate how unpleasant stomatitis ulcers are. Moreover, relapses that occur will indicate that either a period of weakening of the immune system has begun, or an infectious disease is occurring.

Stomatitis is a disease of the oral cavity, which is an inflammatory process that is localized on the tongue, gums, and inner surface of the cheeks.

The manifestation of stomatitis is small wounds-ulcers. The disease is infectious in nature and requires treatment.

lasts 4-14 days, depending on the type and extent of the disease. The healing of ulcers usually proceeds calmly, and practically no traces remain at the site of the wounds. People who have had stomatitis at least once in their lives are at risk of re-infection. The frequency of occurrence of the disease is very variable. Some patients suffer from this disease 3-4 times a year (a typical case), while in others, after ulcers that have not yet completely healed, new ones immediately appear, which makes it possible to position stomatitis as a chronic disease.

Stomatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

The nature of stomatitis has not yet been fully studied, but scientists’ assumptions boil down to the fact that the disease is a peculiar reaction of the body to certain irritants. In other words, the human immune system reacts in a similar way to the appearance of foreign molecules unknown to it and tries to fight them. The attack of lymphocytes (white blood cells) on these unrecognized molecules leads to the appearance of ulcerative formations in the oral cavity, called stomatitis.

Causes

There are several main reasons for the development of stomatitis.

Mechanical injury. Many patients notice that ulcers in their mouth appear as a result of some kind of damage. This could be a scratch caused by a fragment of a tooth, an uneven edge of a denture or crown, as well as a wound caused by an accidental bite of soft tissues and damage to the mucous membrane in the process of eating any solid food (crackers, chips, etc.). As a rule, such minor injuries disappear without a trace within 2-3 days, however, in case of complications, ulcers may appear at the site of the wounds.

Oral care products containing sodium lauryl sulfate. Based on the results of the studies, it can be assumed that outbreaks of stomatitis most often occur in people who use toothpastes and mouth rinses containing lauryl sulfate. Patients who do not use such cleaning products claim that stomatitis has become much less frequent.

Poor nutrition. Scientists have discovered a connection between an unbalanced diet and the occurrence of stomatitis. In particular, the disease can develop against the background of a deficiency of the following substances:

vitamins A and C;
B vitamins: B1, B2, B6, B9, B12;
some microelements: selenium, iron, zinc.

Emotional stress and psychological stress. Patients suffering from stomatitis note that outbreaks of the disease occur precisely during periods of mental or emotional stress.

Hypersensitivity and allergies. The development of stomatitis can be triggered by the consumption of certain foods that cause an allergic reaction in a person. If an allergy is suspected, the patient is recommended to make notes about the types and composition of food consumed in order to identify substances that provoke stomatitis. If you cannot do this yourself, you should contact a clinic where they will help you determine the cause of the allergy.

An allergic reaction can most often be caused by the following products:

In addition, allergies can be caused by substances contained in chewing gum, dental materials and medications.

As you noticed, the list is very extensive, so to clarify the allergen, you need to undergo an examination.

Microbes and bacteria. Experts suggest that microorganisms found in ulcers may also be involved in the development of stomatitis. Bacteria themselves are not the causative agents of the disease, since there is a fair amount of them in a healthy oral cavity, however, the presence of these microorganisms greatly complicates the course of the process.

Heredity. Research into the nature of stomatitis has shown that there is a genetic predisposition to the disease. Children whose parents often suffer from stomatitis may also suffer from this pathology. In addition, a relationship was found between a balanced diet, oral hygiene by a pregnant woman and the susceptibility of the unborn child to stomatitis.

Hormonal changes. There is an assumption that certain phases of the menstrual cycle in women directly affect the formation of stomatitis. Also, exacerbations of the disease have been observed in women who are pregnant.

Various pathologies. The development of stomatitis, as well as other types of aphthous ulcers, directly depends on the presence of certain pathologies. If you experience stomatitis quite often, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination to detect any systemic disease (cancer tumors in the nasopharynx or neck).

In addition, the following factors can provoke the appearance of stomatitis:

Depending on the nature of origin, stomatitis is divided into several types.

Infectious stomatitis

Viral

The main cause of the development of this type of stomatitis is viruses, hence the name. Most often, the disease is provoked by influenza, herpes, chickenpox, measles, and cytomegalovirus viruses. Mostly, children and adolescents suffer from viral stomatitis.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease:

contact with an infected person;
trauma to the oral mucosa;
immunodeficiency states, decreased immunity;
taking glucocorticoids, antibiotics and cytostatics;
irregular and/or poor oral hygiene.

Symptoms

Incipient viral stomatitis is characterized by a feeling of weakness, lethargy, and sometimes an increase in temperature is observed. Children refuse to drink and eat, become whiny and complain of pain in the mouth. Upon examination, the dentist detects swelling and redness of the oral mucosa.

After a few days, a number of rounded vesicles filled with a cloudy yellowish liquid form on the affected areas. Before this, tingling, burning and itching may occur. Signs of intoxication intensify.

Infectious rashes most often occur in the border areas of the oral mucosa and skin. They can appear on the mucous membranes of the cheeks and lips, sometimes affecting the tonsils and pharynx.

After a few days, pustules appear in place of the vesicles, which then transform into erosions. The duration of the disease is from 7 to 10 days.

Bacterial

Its appearance is provoked by various types of bacteria, mainly those that constantly live in the oral cavity. The mucous membrane of the oral cavity is practically immune to the effects of microorganisms, so the development of the inflammatory process possible due to trauma. The causative agents of this type of disease are staphylococcus and streptococcus.

Often, the source of infection is chronic pathologies of the nasopharynx and tonsils, purulent inflammatory processes in the gum pockets and teeth affected by caries. Often, bacterial stomatitis develops against the background of a previous sore throat, flu or other infection.

The initial symptoms of the disease are a feeling of discomfort in the oral cavity and pain. Eating spicy and sour foods causes itching and burning in the patient.

Erosion appears on the mucous membrane of the hard palate, tongue, cheeks, lips and gums, often merging into a single whole. The erosions are round in shape, clean, have a fiery red color and clear boundaries.

There is swelling and looseness of the gums, the mucous membrane becomes dark crimson in color. Signs of general intoxication appear. In people with immunodeficiency, generalization of the process with further development of sepsis may be observed.

With bacterial stomatitis, enlarged lymph nodes are possible. The duration of the disease ranges from 4 to 10 days.

Candidal

Candiosis (candidal stomatitis) is an infectious disease caused by saprophyte fungi. These microbes become pathogenic due to dysbiosis and decreased reactivity of the body. Very often, infants, elderly people and people with immunodeficiency and accompanying diseases suffer from candiosis.

Factors provoking the development of candidal stomatitis:

Small children can become infected through a toy, pacifier, dirty dishes, mother's nipple, or birth canal.

The initial symptoms of candiosis in infants are spots or a cheesy white coating on the mucous membranes of the palate, tongue, cheeks and lips. Babies may refuse to eat due to a burning sensation and soreness in the mouth. Adults also experience a burning sensation in the mouth and throat and difficulty breathing. Plaque has a denser structure, and attempts to remove it lead to erosions, which can sometimes bleed.

Allergic stomatitis

As the name implies, this type of stomatitis is caused by allergic reactions of the body.

The development of the disease can be provoked by: fillings, dentures, contact and food allergens, antibiotics.

The risk group includes the following categories of people:

women aged 50-55 years;
persons suffering from bronchial asthma;
patients who previously had angioedema;
people suffering from drug or food allergies;
persons with gastrointestinal pathologies.

If you are allergic to a prosthesis there is a burning sensation in place of the installed structure.

General symptoms: insomnia, irritability, temperature rise to critical levels.

Traumatic

This type of stomatitis can occur as a result of thermal, chemical or mechanical trauma to the oral cavity. Chemical injury can be caused by exposure of the oral mucosa to acids or other hazardous substances.

Mechanical injury occurs with an unprofessionally installed crown or prosthesis, and can also be the result of accidental biting. An inflammatory process occurs at the site of the wound, accompanied by swelling and redness. If measures are not taken in time, erosion appears, and then ulcers appear, interfering with normal food intake and causing pain.

There are also the following types of stomatitis:

Toxic. It occurs as a reaction of the mucous membrane to heavy metals contained in dental materials.
Atrophic. Caused by chronic diseases, poor environment, hypovitaminosis, unbalanced diet.

Treatment of stomatitis: general principles

The choice of drug for the treatment of stomatitis is determined depending on the causative agent of the infection. For fungal and bacterial stomatitis, treatment is carried out with antimicrobial drugs, for herpes - with antiviral drugs.

Antiviral drugs can be of local (solutions, sprays, gels) and general (suppositories and tablets) action.

Treatment of any form of stomatitis involves use of antiseptics for rinsing your mouth after every meal.

After rinsing, inflamed areas or wounds are treated with a special gel that speeds up the treatment of ulcers. Traditional creams and ointments are not used in the treatment of stomatitis, since they do not create the desired therapeutic effect and do not adhere to the mucous membrane. When carrying out local treatment, gels are also used.

The use of antimicrobial drugs promotes the healing of wounds that become crusty very quickly. After a couple of days, the crusts disappear and then treatment begins. wound healing drugs are added(rosehip oil, sea buckthorn, aloe juice, etc.). When treating stomatitis, one should also not forget about medications to generally strengthen the immune system.

The general concept of stomatitis combines several different diseases. Correct diagnosis and identification of the pathogen is a guarantee of successful treatment and quick recovery. Most stomatitis in adults is secondary, that is, it recurs at intervals of several months. Basically, their development is caused by a decrease in the body's defenses, so people prone to stomatitis must constantly monitor their immunity and support it in every possible way.

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, lips or cheeks, which manifests itself as a consequence of decreased immunity under the influence of colds and other aggressive factors.

The disease seems to us like an annoying minor ailment, but in fact, stomatitis can manifest itself as a result of serious immunity disorders and systemic diseases.

Causes of stomatitis

There is no consensus on the causes of the disease, but the most common version is this:

As we know, the immune system, when receiving threatening signals (for example, unrecognized molecules), reacts by increasing the production of lymphocytes, which attack the source of danger like soldiers.

So, if a potential focus of infection forms on the mucous membrane (for example, as a result of injury), the immune system launches an attack of lymphocytes and an ulcer with whitish contents forms in this place.

This happens if you accidentally bite your cheek. But the etiology of stomatitis is not exhausted by this simple example.

Opportunistic bacteria in the mouth

The microflora of the oral mucosa throughout life contains opportunistic bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, spirochetes and other microorganisms.

Such a “zoo” is normal for a healthy person. Imagine if the mouth was kept completely sterile. Firstly, this is technically difficult to ensure, and secondly, the accidental entry of one type of bacteria in this situation will lead to total reproduction in the absence of competition from other microorganisms.

Therefore, it is safer and easier for the body to maintain a dynamic balance (constancy) of the system, in which the antibacterial components of saliva inhibit the development of microflora, but do not destroy it.

A significant deviation from the usual, harmonious balance is perceived by the immune system as a danger, which provokes the need to isolate lymphocytes.

Factors that provoke stomatitis

The balance of microorganisms in the mouth may change as a result of:

Decreased immunity (less antibacterial agents are produced and flora multiplies more actively);
Injuries - accidental cheek biting, burns or scratches;
Reduced salivation as a result of overly careful hygiene;
Taking medications that affect saliva production;
Somatic (internal) diseases of the body also affect the composition of saliva and the activity of microflora.
Insufficient cleaning of the oral cavity from food debris, due to which the microflora multiplies more intensively.

Some toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which creates abundant foam when brushing teeth, but at the same time causes dehydration of the mucous membrane, increasing the risk of stomatitis. If you suffer from frequent stomatitis, pay attention to this component when purchasing hygiene products.

Types and classification of stomatitis

Let us recall that the formation of stomatitis is associated with the body’s immune response to dangerous irritants. The types of stomatitis according to etiology are determined by a specific irritant.

Types of stomatitis by etiology:

Infectious;
Allergic;
Traumatic;
Symptomatic.

Infectious stomatitis is divided into viral, bacterial and fungal.

A common example of a viral type is herpetic stomatitis.

Chronic herpetic stomatitis

A subtype of stomatitis is caused by the activation of the herpes virus, or Epstein-Barr virus, the presence of which is expected in an average of 90% of the population. Favorite places to localize herpetic stomatitis: cheeks, lips, palate, tongue.

A characteristic sign is the formation on the surface of the mucous membrane of bubbles containing a clear liquid and united among themselves into groups. The areas of inflammation are very painful. Recurrences of herpetic stomatitis may be accompanied by fever and general malaise.

Photo of herpetic stomatitis

Allergic stomatitis

This is a local manifestation of allergies in the oral cavity. Substances entering the body are recognized by the immune system as acceptable or dangerous.

In some cases, the immune system reacts to harmless molecules (for example, plant pollen) as if it were dealing with a harmful virus - it produces antibodies. Antibodies attack target cells and also cause the release of histamine and destroy their own healthy cells. Histamine causes spasms of smooth muscles, burning, swelling and redness of tissues.

Toxic denture stomatitis

On the oral mucosa, allergic stomatitis can be caused by substances contained in fillings, dentures and medications. Treatment of allergic stomatitis is most often prescribed on the basis of antihistamines, which reduce the body's hypersensitivity. A type of allergic stomatitis is aphthous stomatitis.

Symptoms of stomatitis

Based on the type of course and symptoms, catarrhal, ulcerative and aphthous stomatitis are distinguished.

Chronic aphthous stomatitis

It is characterized by the formation of purulent aphthae - ulcers on the surface of the mucous membrane with a diameter of up to 1 cm. Aphthae are localized on the lips, cheeks, and tongue. The average duration of the full cycle of the disease is 8-10 days.

Catarrhal stomatitis

Characteristic symptoms:

the oral cavity swells, pain and hyperemia appear (outwardly manifested as redness).
there is increased salivation (hypersalivation);
additional signs are bleeding gums, bad breath.

Ulcerative stomatitis

The symptoms of ulcerative stomatitis at the initial stage are similar to catarrhal stomatitis, but later they become more severe.

The disease is accompanied by deep necrosis (destruction of cells) throughout the entire thickness of the mucous membrane. Additional symptoms are inflammation of the lymph nodes and a slight increase in temperature.

Unlike the aphthous form, the damage and breakdown of cells is not point-by-point in nature, but can form large areas covered with a light coating.

Features of stomatitis in children

If a child is capricious and refuses food, it is a good idea to make sure there is no stomatitis. To do this, slightly pull your lower lip and check for inflammation and white spots in your mouth.

It is typical that a day before the formation of ulcers, the child’s tongue is sprinkled with small bubbles (the so-called geographic tongue).

Correlation of the type of stomatitis and the age of the child:

infants under one year of age are more susceptible to candidal stomatitis;
for children from one to 3 years of age, there is a high risk of Bednar’s aphthous stomatitis;
School-age children are more likely to suffer from aphthous and allergic stomatitis.

Treatment of stomatitis

Anesthesia

Inflammations on the mucous membrane are quite painful, so the patient’s condition is greatly alleviated by anesthetics. The action of painkillers, lozenges, ointments and sprays is based on the main modern anesthetics: anesthesin, dicaine, promecaine, lidocaine.

Anestezin is included in the composition of Hexoral-tabs lozenges. Based on lidocaine with the addition of chamomile, Kamistad gel is used to relieve pain symptoms. Another drug with this anesthetic is Lidocaine Asept.

Antimicrobial therapy

To reduce foci of inflammation, treatment of aphthae with local antiseptic drugs is indicated - chamomile, a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or furatsilin.

In the first days, Miramistin and Cholisal gel are also suitable for treatment.

Gels can be applied with a cotton swab several times a day, after drying the affected area with a gauze pad.

Antiviral, antifungal and antihistamine drugs

The medicine is selected by the doctor based on the specified diagnosis. Popular antihistamines for the treatment of allergic stomatitis: Tavegil, Suprastin, Claritin.

Means for the treatment of herpetic stomatitis:

Famciclovir - targets the herpes virus and cytomegalovirus. The drug is strong, the therapeutic effect is noticeable within the first day of use.
Valaciclovir acts directly on the DNA of the virus, causing its destruction. The result of use is noticeable 1-2 hours after the first dose.
Acyclovir is ineffective against most strains of the virus, and is many times cheaper than the two previous drugs.

Prices for stomatitis treatment

Treatment of stomatitis will cost from 150 rubles in public clinics from 500 rubles in private dentistry. Consultation with a periodontist in most clinics is free.

Treatment with folk remedies

Ointments

Ointment forms of drug release for stomatitis are not effective, since the ointment “rolls off” from the oral mucosa without providing a therapeutic effect. Acyclovir is used for herpes stomatitis, but only in the form of a gel, not an ointment.

Vinylin

Another name for the drug is Shostakovsky balm. Vinilin has an antiseptic and wound-healing effect and is suitable for the treatment of aphthous stomatitis. Given its low toxicity, it can be used in children. Choose an aerosol dosage form.

Solcoseryl

For ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane, the use of Solcoseryl-gel and Actovegin-gel is justified as an additional means to accelerate tissue regeneration. For the same purposes, dentists use Methyluracil, but this drug has contraindications, so it is better to consult a doctor.

Holisal

Dentists often prescribe this particular remedy for stomatitis. Cholisal gel has pronounced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, is well absorbed by the mucous membrane and has an analgesic effect. The disadvantage of the gel is the taste of anise oil, which increases salivation.

For minor forms, you can use home remedies to treat stomatitis. But if the condition does not improve, seek professional medical help from the best dentists in the city - rating on our website.