Can stomach fire cause oral ulcers?

Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on September 01, 2024
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When there is excessive stomach fire, it can cause oral ulcers. This is because excessive stomach fire leads to poor digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, where food cannot be digested in time and regurgitates into the mouth. It can also cause throat pain and oral inflammation, so it is crucial to treat stomach fire promptly. For severe cases, medication that improves stomach fire should be taken, and for mild cases, the condition can be managed through diet. Eating more watermelon, apples, and similar foods can help reduce stomach fire. Most importantly, avoid alcohol, smoking, and staying up late. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Otolaryngology
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What are oral ulcers like?

Oral ulcers refer to localized lesions occurring on the oral mucous membranes, such as the inner cheeks, the underside of the tongue, and the mucous membrane of the tongue. There are various causes of oral ulcers. Commonly seen causes in clinical practice include repeated dental calculus, irritation from dental caries, prolonged intake of spicy foods, gastrointestinal dysfunction, acid reflux irritation, and endocrine disorders. Nutritional deficiencies due to selective eating can also lead to such mucosal lesions. Upon examination, scattered, isolated, crater-like ulcers can be found in any part of the oral cavity. The pain is significant in the affected areas, and bloody secretions may be observed when pressed. For treatment, patients are initially advised to use watermelon frost spray for external application, which has been found to be effective. Additionally, maintaining a bland diet, abstaining from smoking and alcohol, avoiding spicy foods, and controlling acid reflux with regular meals can gradually lead to improvement. (Note: The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Cui
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What are the signs before the onset of oral ulcers?

Oral ulcers are a type of erosion of the oral mucosa that generally do not show any particular signs before they develop. They may occur when a person’s immune resistance is low, possibly associated with symptoms of "getting heated" (a traditional Chinese medicine concept often referring to inflammation or infection). When oral ulcers occur, the affected area of the mucous membrane becomes eroded and painful, creating a sensation of a foreign object in the mouth that can disrupt the eating and drinking habits of the patient. Eating can become painful, and in severe cases, the patient might be unable to eat at all. Therefore, it is advised that patients seek timely treatment for oral erosion to avoid affecting their intake of food. During this time, nutritional supplementation is necessary for healing. If nutrition is not adequately maintained, it might impede the healing of the eroded oral tissue.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How many days will it take for oral ulcers to heal?

Oral ulcers are a common disease in the department of oral mucous membrane, prevalent among people of all ages, especially in children and the elderly who have lower resistance. If oral ulcers are caused by residues in the mouth or stimulation from sharp teeth edges, known as traumatic ulcers, it is necessary to promptly remove the irritants for the ulcers to heal. If the irritant factors are not removed, the oral ulcers will not improve, and severe cases may lead to cancerous changes. Generally, oral ulcers can heal on their own in about two weeks, or 14 days. If the ulcers do not heal after two weeks and keep recurring without improvement, one should be cautious about the possibility of cancer and further biopsy should be conducted for assessment.

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What should I do about mouth ulcers in children?

When a child has mild oral ulcers, if the baby is not particularly uncomfortable and it does not affect their eating, no special treatment is needed. You can rinse with saline solution morning and evening. Avoid consuming spicy, irritating, overly hard, overly salty, or overly hot foods to prevent damage to the oral mucosa. For infants who are still breastfed, mothers should also ensure cleanliness of the breasts. Of course, if it affects eating and the baby is also crying and restless, it is recommended to go to the hospital for timely treatment. For children's oral ulcers, it is advisable to focus on prevention. Always pay attention to oral hygiene, have a reasonable diet, increase physical exercise, and enhance the body’s own resistance.

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Difference between oral ulcers and thrush

Oral ulcers and thrush are somewhat different. First, oral ulcers can occur in people of any age, but are more common in the elderly and children, mainly due to a low immune system. Thrush, on the other hand, commonly occurs in infants within the first six months after birth, mainly caused by an infection with Candida albicans. Clinically, oral ulcers may present with redness, swelling, and significant pain. Thrush is an infection by Candida albicans that occurs on the newborn's tongue, which may affect the infant's feeding, causing crying or refusal to eat. Generally, thrush is caused by an infection with Candida albicans and is a type of fungal infection, whereas most oral ulcers are due to poor nutrition or unbalanced nutrition.