Tag Archives: Aphthous ulcer

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) Part 2

Continued from Part 1

How is recurrent aphthous stomatitis diagnosed?

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Diagnosis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis is based on the history and clinical features, as no specific tests are available. Biopsy is rarely indicted and is only usually needed where a different diagnosis is suspected. However to exclude the systemic disorders, it is useful to undertake investigations on blood (for example full blood picture) and serum (for example ferritin levels and vitamin B12 measurements). Continue reading

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) Part 1

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Although a variety of mouth ulcers may recur, for example those associated with mechanical trauma and skin disease; there is a group of ulcers that arise due to unknown causes whose natural history is characterized by frequent recurrences over a number of years. It is to this group that the collective term recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is applied. Continue reading

An Approach to Oral Ulcers

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Oral ulceration is probably the commonest oral mucosal disease seen and it may also be the most serious. It is important therefore not to underestimate that ulcer in your mouth, especially if it persists for a long time. Continue reading

Causes of ulcers in the mouth

What are the causes of ulcers in the mouth?

oral ulcer

1. Trauma

i) Mechanical trauma

Accidentally biting your lips or cheeks or brushing your teeth too vigorously to the point of accidentally hitting your gums with the head of your toothbrush can lead to oral ulcers; some people are prone to biting himself because of the presence of a sharp tooth in the mouth. Continue reading

How Vitamin B12 deficiency causes Canker Sore

What are canker sores?

Canker sore

Canker sore also known scientifically as aphthous ulcer, is a common type of ulcer found in the mouth, gums, sometimes the upper throat region. It usually involves the breaking down of mucosal surface, which is the inner lining of the mouth, and this exposes the underlying tissue, leading to immense pain especially with contact or movement.

What are the oral signs and symptoms of canker sores

Depending on the size of the ulcers, they can be categorized under minor or major aphthous ulcers. Minor ulcers are anything less than 1cm in diameter while major ulcers extend beyond 1cm in diameter and can be extremely painful. They both usually have a yellow or whitish base where the tissue is exposed and a fiery red border is found around the ulcer. Minor ulcers usually only takes a few days up to a week to heal and major ulcers take much longer, sometimes up to two weeks. Minor ulcers can coalesce to form one big ulcer in which healing will again be delayed. Multiple small ulcers found in a cluster are usually herpetic form of ulcerations with a viral origin. Continue reading