Lacerations from braces, abrasions from dentures, minor procedures, burns – these are injuries in the oral cavity that, although minor, are painful and effectively make eating and drinking difficult. How to relieve oral discomfort? We suggest.
The mucous membrane covering the inside of the mouth is very delicate and prone to injury. Minor injuries happen to everyone, all it takes is an accidental bite on the cheek or pulling too hard with dental floss. Oral injuries are almost a daily occurrence for those wearing braces and dentures. The resulting injuries, although not very extensive, are painful and, through frequent trauma, are often difficult to heal.
What causes damage inside the mouth?
Injuries in the oral cavity affect not only the inside of the cheeks, but also the tongue, palate, gums and floor of the mouth. Abrasions and small wounds result in the appearance of pain, sometimes also bleeding. Bacteria from inside the mouth enter the damaged tissue, and usually after a short time inflammation, swelling and redness develop.
Among the causes of oral trauma are:
- Mechanical damage – these are the most common causes of injury
- thermal factors – burns from eating or drinking hot drinks or foods
- Microorganisms – causing inflammatory lesions such as thrush or lesions caused by oral fungus.
Minor injuries in the oral cavity are most often due to:
- Injuries while eating (hard or crunchy products)
- accidental biting of the tongue or the inside of the cheek; sometimes these types of injuries can also be chronic and have a neural basis
- brushing your teeth too hard or using floss or flossers incorrectly
- wearing braces – here the risks are twofold: on the one hand, braces can mechanically irritate the mucous membrane of the cheeks or lips, and on the other hand, orthodontic treatment is usually associated with impaired dental and oral hygiene, which contributes to the development of lesions
- the presence of dentures – they mechanically irritate the cheeks and gums; constant contact with the inside of the mouth weakens the mucosa and makes it more susceptible to damage
- dental procedures (e.g., surgery, tooth extractions) that cause temporary problems and pain in the mouth.
Treatment of minor injuries in the oral cavity
The ease with which oral wounds heal is influenced by age – by far the damage heals faster in younger people, while it usually takes longer in older ones.
To help and speed up the treatment of oral injuries, you can turn to over-the-counter pharmacy preparations for oral ailments. Abrasions and other minor injuries are treated primarily symptomatically. Medicines for oral injuries are available that have simultaneous analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and antimicrobial effects that also promote wound healing. Preparations of this type, on the one hand, relieve pain and calm inflammation, and on the other, isolate the lesion from the environment.
How to prevent oral injuries?
The discomfort resulting from even minor damage to the mucous membrane is bothersome and impedes such ordinary activities as eating. Here, too, the principle that prevention is better than cure applies. People with hypersensitive teeth and gums, diabetics, people with braces and those wearing dentures should be particularly careful in this regard. Keep in mind that susceptibility to oral damage increases during colds and when immunity declines. People with hyperacidity of the stomach and gastroesophageal reflux are also at risk.
So how do you prevent injury to the oral mucosa?
- Avoid hard and sharp foods (nuts, crisps, rusks, etc.) or divide them into smaller pieces before eating.
- Take special care of daily oral hygiene, using soft-bristled toothbrushes or cleaning teeth with a sonic toothbrush (avoid rotary toothbrushes, which are not recommended for people with tooth sensitivity). If flossing or flossing causes your gums to hurt and bleed, you may want to try dental irrigators.
- Wear well-fitting dentures and braces. If there are any problems, see a dentist right away, use wax for braces, and to improve the condition of the mucosa, you can reach for vitamin-based strengthening preparations.
- React at the first symptoms in the mouth. Use dental gels and medications for minor injuries for topical application available at the pharmacy without a prescription.
Injuries and minor traumas in the oral cavity are a common ailment. Despite their small size, they are troublesome, painful and often difficult to heal. In such cases, it is worthwhile to support treatment with herbal preparations from the pharmacy, which relieve symptoms and contribute to faster healing of wounds, or reach for an over-the-counter drug designed for this type of ailment.
