Healthy Teeth for Life fact sheet

Mouth sores

Mouth sores can be caused by , It is relatively common in children, and is injury or oral cancer. This fact sheet explains unrelated to the animal diseases with similar some common mouth sores, their symptoms names. Symptoms include blisters inside the and treatment. cheeks, and on the side of the , as well as hands and feet. Children with hand Mouth and ulcerations foot and mouth disease may have a fever, be listless and may not eat well for a day or two. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis The blisters usually persist for seven to 10 Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is a highly days, and are contagious while they contain contagious viral infection. It causes fever, fluid. Consult your dental or medical irritability, headache, pain on and professional for advice and treatment. swelling of the lymph glands. Within a few days, the mouth and gums become painful The best form of protection is good hygiene: and very inflamed. The , tongue, inside the cheeks, , and throat may become ƒ wash hands with soap and water for at sore. Yellow fluid-filled sores then develop, least 15 seconds and dry thoroughly burst and form shallow, ragged and extremely before handling food, after going to the painful ulcers covered by a greyish skin. toilet and changing nappies Consult your dental or medical professional ƒ implement good cleaning procedures for advice and treatment. ƒ allow blisters to dry naturally and do not deliberately pierce blisters as the fluid is Cold sores infectious. Cold sores, or herpes simplex, usually occur on the lips and tongue, although they can Abscesses also occur on the eyes, nose and hands. Dental abscesses are pus-filled swellings Take care not to infect another person while caused by infection inside a , infection of the sores are open and weeping. Cold sore the gum and/or injury to the tooth. Abscesses ointments available over the counter from are often painful, but not always. Dental pharmacies may relieve some discomfort. abscesses can cause facial swelling and/or enlarged lymph glands. In rare cases, dental Thrush abscesses can cause more widespread Thrush, or candidiasis, is a fungal infection infection and may be life threatening. that initially presents as red areas of tissue in the mouth. As thrush progresses, a white To treat dental abscesses: flaky layer may appear on the tongue, gums or inside the cheeks. Although the white flaky ƒ Control moderate pain using over the layer can be easily wiped away, the tissues counter pain medication. underneath often look ‘raw’. To avoid ƒ Use cold compresses to help control transmitting the infection, practice good swelling. hygiene by washing your hands and not ƒ Take antibiotics if prescribed to reduce sharing utensils. Consult your dental or infection. medical professional for advice and ƒ Seek prompt dental treatment – an treatment. abscess will not heal itself, and antibiotics will not fix the problem. Hand foot and mouth disease Hand foot and mouth disease is highly contagious, but not serious.

Last reviewed April 2008 Page 1 of 2 Healthy Teeth for Life fact sheet

Angular chelitis tissue without realising it. The traumatised Angular chelitis can be caused by fungal area often looks like a chemical burn. When and/or bacterial infection, poor nutrition or feeling returns, this injury may be very sore immune deficiencies. Angular chelitis appears and look unsightly. Swelling and infection as cracked, red crusting at the corners of the may also occur. Warm saltwater used as a mouth, which often bleeds when the mouth is mouth rinse may aid healing. If an infection opened. To prevent the infection, keep lips occurs, consult your dental professional. moist with balm, practice good oral Traumatic ulcers and sore spots hygiene and keep hydrated by drinking lots of water. Consult your dental or medical Ulcers and sore spots can be caused by professional for advice and treatment. damage to skin, and can occur anywhere in the mouth. Dentures, braces, plates, Trench mouth toothbrushes, chemicals, allergies, poor Trench mouth, or acute necrotising ulcerative nutrition, infection and hormones can all gingivitis, is extremely painful. It appears as cause ulcers. Ulcers can be very painful. yellow-white ulcers that bleed easily. The Warm saltwater used as mouth rinse may aid infection is caused by poor oral hygiene, but healing and provide relief. Over the counter stress and smoking often contribute. Patients products from the pharmacy may provide often report a metallic in their mouth temporary relief. If ulcers are persistent, and the sensation of their teeth being wedged consult a dental professional for advice and apart. In some cases, patients also have treatment. swollen lymph glands, fever and fatigue. Consult your dental or medical professional Oral cancer for advice and treatment. The majority of ulcers and swelling in the Mouth injuries mouth and neck are not cancer, and early examination and treatment will heal most Mouth injuries can cause bleeding, ulcers and conditions. In the early stages, most oral sore spots. If you injure your mouth: cancers are not painful. The first symptom is usually discomfort produced by the mass of ƒ Apply a clean bandage or folded tumour tissue. If you experience any of the handkerchief to the wound and apply firm following warning signs, seek urgent medical pressure. advice: ƒ Sit down and maintain the pressure for at least ten minutes. Don’t lie down flat. ƒ any sore or ulcer on the tongue, cheek or ƒ If the bleeding cannot be controlled, seek gums that does not heal within two weeks immediate medical attention. ƒ red or white patches in the mouth or on ƒ Apply a cold compress to relieve swelling the lips and pain. ƒ a swelling or lump anywhere in the mouth ƒ Seek dental or medical advice so your or neck teeth and mouth can be checked for ƒ difficulty swallowing and speaking serious injury. ƒ repeated bleeding in the mouth, and/or ƒ numbness or loss of feeling in any area of The mouth cannot be sterilised so there is the mouth. always a risk of infection to a mouth wound. Warm saltwater used as a mouth rinse may For more information aid healing. ƒ Contact your dental professional Bitten lip or cheek ƒ Visit www.health.qld.gov.au/oralhealth A bitten lip or cheek can occur during eating ƒ Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for or as a result of a fall. More serious bites are confidential health advice 24 hours a day, sometimes seen after a patient has a local seven days a week anaesthetic. If the patient sucks, bites or rubs ƒ Email [email protected]. the numb area, they can damage the © The State of Queensland, Queensland Health, 2008. Last reviewed April 2008 Page 2 of 2