What Are Mouth Lesions? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Sometimes it happens when you’re eating and, suddenly, you bite the side of your cheek. Or you notice a stinging and redness on your upper or lower lip and you know what’s coming: a cold sore. Or maybe you have a canker sore — one painful enough that it makes enjoying a meal difficult. You wouldn’t be alone.

Cold sores — also called发热水泡- 由herpessimplex virus 1. You might hear them called oral herpes, and they occur around and in the mouth. They’re contagious.

Unlike cold sores,canker sores, which occur mainly inside the mouth, aren't contagious. They develop on the tissues in the mouth or at the base of the gums, and they can be quite painful.

但whatever their type or origin, most of us have experienced painful sores on the mouth, lips, tongue, and inner cheek. And while they rarely call for a trip to the doctor, they can be embarrassing, especially if they are visible.

Here’s what you need to know and what to do about these mostly harmless lesions.

A person with a mouth or tongue lesion may have lumps, bumps, littleulcers, or cuts inside or outside of their mouth and lips. The first thing to do is to identify the problem, since there are many different types of sores.

使用明亮的灯光和放大镜检查嘴里的内部，甚至伸出舌头以检查顶部，底部和侧面是否有撕裂或肿胀。您可能需要检查嘴，牙龈或舌头上或舌头上是否有发红，发光或肿胀。您可能还会在嘴里看到白色斑块或脓液。

You’ll know you have a canker sore if you see a red ring around a white or yellow center. They tend to be small — less than 1 millimeter — but may be up to 1 inch in diameter. Canker sores form on or under your tongue, inside your cheeks or lips, at the base of your gums, or at the back of the roof of your mouth.

唇疱疹是充满液体的水泡。在他们出现之前，您通常会感到酸痛。您会感到该地区有些麻烦或燃烧，否则您可能会感到sore throat。

Related:How Do I Know if I Have Herpes or Something Else?

Sores on the tongue or inside the mouth may also be caused or exacerbated by other infections, inflammation, stress, or, very rarely, cancer. If the sore is deep, or if it gets irritated or infected, it may also bleed.

某些口腔疮和病变可能会有更明显的原因，例如尖锐或骨折的牙齿或带突出的电线的牙套。

咬或咬牙，尤其是在睡觉时，可能会在脸颊的内部叮咬。牙龈疾病和炎症也可能导致口香糖和周围的出血。

Biting your tongue or chewing your lips can cause pain, swelling, and even small cuts. Drinking hot liquids, smoking cigarettes and cigars, and consuming alcoholic beverages can also lead to mouth lesions, as can brushing or flossing too vigorously or using a hard toothbrush.

唇疱疹是因为它们是疱疹的一种形式，它是通过口腔到口腔接触和通过唾液传播的，这意味着您可以通过亲吻或与患有冷酸痛的人共享餐具来开发它们。这个type of herpesvirus can also be transmitted to the genitals through oral-genital contact and cause genital herpes. (Herpes simplex virus 1 causes oral herpes and a different form of the virus — herpes simplex virus 2 — causes genital herpes.)

虽然唇疱疹是由病毒引起的，但确切cause of canker soresis unknown. But there are several things than can trigger an outbreak. These includefood allergies，压力，荷尔蒙变化，维生素缺乏，甚至辛辣食物。酸性水果和蔬菜也可能引发溃疡疮。

Often, people with recurrent canker sores have a family history of the disorder. They are also linked to rheumatologic conditions likelupus。（有关其他相关条件，请参见下文。）

您的医生或牙医只能通过看着嘴来识别哪种病变或疮。如果您经常发生，非常大或疼痛的疮，则可能需要进行测试以确保没有潜在的健康问题。对于唇疱疹，您的医生可能会测试您的血液是否有疱疹的抗体，但这并不是通常的，因为测试结果可能会产生误导。

如果您患上发烧，请确保与您的医生联系。

口腔病变的预后

Treatment isn't typically needed for sores, which tend to clear up on their own in a week or two.

As noted above, bothcanker sores and cold sores倾向于自己消失在一到两周。但complex canker sores last longer, may take several weeks to heal, and may cause scarring.

Always check with your doctor or dentist if you have unusually large or painful canker sores or sores that don't seem to heal.

You can usually treat most common mouth sores or blisters yourself, at home, by taking a few simple steps or modifying your habits.

药物选择

非甾体类抗炎药（NSAIDS）， 喜欢aspirin或者ibuprofen, can help alleviate pain. Medicated lip balms, especially those formulated for herpes 1 and canker sores, can also help.

取决于酸痛的类型和大小，或者是否自行愈合，您可能需要抗生素，抗病毒药物，抗菌漱口水或含有类固醇的冲洗地塞米松to ease pain and swelling.Lidocaineis another pain-reducing option.

Occasionally, a procedure known as cautery may be necessary, where the tissues of your mouth are burned and then sealed up by chemicals or another instrument.

替代和互补疗法

Baking sodarinses might help to alleviate pain. Applying ice, cold towels, or cooling ointments to afflicted areas may also soothe discomfort. As can applying small amounts ofmilk of magnesiaon canker sores a few times a day.

Prevention of Mouth Lesions

It’s never a good idea to share lip balms, razors, toothbrushes, towels, or beverages, but it’s especially important to avoid doing so if you have a cold sore or feel one coming on. And while it may be tempting, try not to touch them. If you do, wash your hands.

Related:Icky Mouth Mysteries Solved

Those with diseases of the immune system may be at risk of developing canker sores. These conditions include:

• Lupus
• 艾滋病病毒
• 腹腔疾病
• Crohn’s disease

Deficienciesof the following nutrients may also lead to canker sores:

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6
• Folate
• Iron
• Zinc

If you have recurrent oral lesions despite trying home remedies and waiting to see if they go away, it’s best to have a visit with your primary care doctor.

美国牙科协会的嘴健康websiteis a trustworthy and thorough source of information about dental hygiene.