Tongue Ulcer
Care and Treatment of the Common Tongue Ulcer
A tongue ulcer sounds severe but it is actually a fairly common occurrence. You probably know a tongue ulcer by its more pedestrian name, a canker sore. Despite their commonness, canker sores are relatively under-researched. For this reason, medical professionals still can’t identify the exact “cause” of canker sores. Despite this hole in the research, medical professionals have developed a repertoire of treatments for the common tongue ulcer.
The Main Cause of the Tongue Ulcer
The common tongue ulcer (known scientifically as an aphthous ulcer) usually occurs after either some form of trauma or as a result of certain types of diet. Because studies have not isolated the processes by which this happens, medical types tend to describe trauma (such as accidental biting) as contributing causes of tongue ulcers rather than as the primary causes. For those of us not in the medical community, we can simply say trauma is the most common cause of our canker sores.
Of course, trauma and certain acidic or spicy foods like oranges or peppers are not the only contributing factors to canker sores. Canker sores also occur as symptoms of a series of other conditions. For example, canker sores occur as a result of vitamin B12 deficiencies or as a side effect in chemotherapy treatment. Canker sores are also one of a set of symptoms in diseases like Crohn’s disease and Behcet disease (to name just a couple). Even stress and sleep deprivation may contribute to the development of canker sores.
Treatment of Tongue Ulcers
For the most basic forms of canker sores, however, doctors usually prescribe a three-part treatment. First, you want to avoid re-injuring the canker sore. Since the most common cause of canker sores is trauma, you want to avoid the traumatic experience. If braces caused the trauma, then you should notify your orthodontist so that she can make the proper adjustments so your braces don’t continue to irritate the canker sore site. Sometimes, of course, the central cause is not known or the result of a fluke accident (e.g., accidentally biting your tongue while eating).
In order to avoid further trauma, you can purchase topical ointments that will help create a protective barrier between the sore and further trauma. However, you should take special while brushing and eating so that you do not rub against the canker sore and further exacerbate the trauma.
Second, you should alter your diet to avoid acidic and spicy foods until your canker sore has healed. This means that you should avoid fruits like oranges, tangerines, and lemons and spicy foods like Indian foods or certain types of Chinese or Mexican foods containing hot spices. These dietary changes, even if acidic or spicy foods were not the primary cause of the canker sore, will help to quicken the healing process.
Finally, when looking for a protective ointment you should try to find one that contains Vitamin B-12. Studies have shown that B-12, even when you don’t have a vitamin deficiency, can help in the healing process. This is probably because when you apply B-12 directly to the site of the canker sore it increases the healing potential of the vitamin, which is otherwise too dispersed in the blood to be of much help.
Prevention Tips
There are few actions you can take to avoid tongue ulcers. For example, studies have shown that mouthwash often prevents canker sores in most users. If you do get tongue ulcers, one of the hidden causes could be your toothpaste, so try a new one. Finally, if braces are causing problems, you can sometimes cover them with wax to make them less irritating.
If, despite your treatments, you continue to get canker sores or if your canker sores are accompanied by other unexplained symptoms such as sudden weight loss, you should consult a physician right away to make sure that you do not have an undiagnosed underlying condition. Generally, however, a tongue ulcer is a common occurrence and not something to get overly concerned about.