Aphtae and herpes in dentistry

What Is Aphthae?

Aphthae are oval or round sores in the mouth that are painful, have a red centre with white edges and form in sensitive areas such as the gums, tongue, cheeks and palate. Aphthae can cause the person to feel sensitivity and pain. Because of this, the person may have difficulty performing functions such as speaking, eating, fluid intake and even controlling their saliva. Aphthae, one of the most common oral diseases, can occur for immunological, genetic, haematological and microbiological reasons.

Why Does Aphthae Occur?

– Vitamin and iron deficiency: Particularly low levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 can cause sores in the mouth.

Chemical irritation

– Genetic predisposition

– Food intolerances: Sensitivity to chocolate, gluten, milk, hazelnut, peanut, almond, fig, tomato, lemon, cow’s milk, strawberry, cucumber, vinegar, hot, salty and spicy foods may develop.

– Immunodeficiency: Diseases that attack the body’s immune system, such as lupus or HIV, can cause aphthae.

– Stress and anxiety

– Physical trauma: Bumping the mouth, biting the cheek, irritating the inside of the mouth with a sharp object, eating very hot drinks or food, braces and dentures can be mentioned as examples.

– Changes in hormone balance

– Smoking

– Allergy

– Diseases: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease (chronic disease of the mucous membrane of the small intestine), Behçet’s disease (vascular inflammation), hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

– Viruses and bacteria

– Oral cancer

Aphthae Treatment

Aphthae are usually harmless and not contagious. The recovery time depends on the size of the aphthae, but it usually heals by itself. Small aphthae take 1-2 weeks to heal, while large aphthae can take months. After large aphthae have healed, scars may be seen in the oral cavity.

To relieve the discomfort and pain caused by aphthae in a shorter time, some simple solutions can be applied:

• Avoiding hard foods such as nuts, toast, acidic drinks and salty and bitter foods.
• Reduce the consumption of alcoholic and carbonated drinks.
• Avoid stress as much as possible.
• Take mineral and vitamin supplements.
• Use creams or mouthwashes made to treat aphthae before meals.
• Cleaning the aphthous area with cotton wool or gauze soaked in “2% hydrogen peroxide” solution.

What Is Herpes?

It is an infectious condition manifested by sores on the lips, mouth, tongue, cheeks or gums and occurs due to the herpes simplex virus. It is called “herpes labialis” or “oral herpes” in the medical literature. These sores usually appear in clusters around the lip, as fluid-filled and painful blisters. They can also appear anywhere on the skin, including the tongue. There is no definitive cure and it can be seen again in and around the lip from time to time.

Why Does Herpes Occur?

The virus can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or through the use of infected objects such as lip balm, cutlery and razors.

Most people encounter and become infected with the HSV-1 virus in their 20s. After the initial infection, the virus is dormant in the nerve tissue of the face. In later periods, it may become active from time to time and cause recurrent infections. The presence of a visible wound on the patient is an example of the most contagious form of the virus. But even without symptoms, the virus can be transmitted to others.

Some causes that cause herpes to recur are: prolonged or intense sun exposure, fever, emotional stress, hormonal changes, surgery, physical injury.

Herpes Treatment And Ways To Avoıd Herpes

Treatments vary depending on the symptoms experienced, the age of the person and their general health. Some methods that can be used in the treatment:

• Keep the infected area clean and dry
• Probiotics: Foods like apple cider vinegar, yoghurt, sauerkraut strengthen the immune system. If consumed regularly, herpes can be prevented.
• Aloe vera gel with antioxidant vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids and various hormones that prevent infections.
• Antibiotic therapy for any secondary bacterial infection.
• Topical antiviral creams
• Oral antiviral medications
• Eating foods rich in vitamins E and C
• Avoiding contact with strangers, avoiding sharing towels, etc.

What Are The Dıfferences Between Aphthae And Herpes?

• Herpes rarely occurs inside the mouth, usually outside the mouth.
• Aphthae only occurs in the mouth.
• Herpes is contagious, while aphthae is not.
• The formation of aphthae is not yet fully understood; herpes is a virus infection.

 

We wish you healthy days