All Smiles Center for Dental Implants and Cosmetic Dentistry (Bangalore,Karnataka,India)

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Articles by Dr. Sruti in Vijay Times (National Daily News paper) :
A 'Sorey' state of afairs
SRUTI Srikanth was all set for his interview. He had been preparing for it for almost a week. That he was stressed up was an understatement. His knowledge and application was to see the acid test in the half hour of verbal torrent he was expected to deliver. But that was not to be! Srikanth woke up to an aching tongue thanks to the ulcer that had developed beneath it affecting speech and other normal oral activities. At the appointed hour, he could neither speak coherently nor recall the facts due to the pain. According to studies conducted, at the pain. According the studies conducted, at any given point of time 20% of the general population suffers from mouth ulcers also knows as canker sores. How does it happen Canker sore otherwise called the recurrent aphthous ulcer minor is the most frequently occurring ulcer in the mouth. The exact mechanism behind the formation of the ulcer is not known although it has been positively linked to the individual's immune system. Foreign chemical molecules, which are not recognized by the body's immune system, are attacked by it by the production of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) and the carnage that ensues results in the formation of the ulcer. A dental crown (or a cap) is a form of dental restorationwhich cups over the portion of a tooth	which lies at and above the gum line. In Comparison, fillings are used to fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth Whereas a dental crown encases the entire visible aspect of a tooth and in effect becomes the tooth’s new outer surface. Why do we get it There are ever so many reasons why we get mouth ulcers. The important ones are Emotional/Psychic steers, mechanical trauma and irritation such as those caused by ill fitting or broken dentures sharp teeth, broken filling etc., Allergies and sensitivities We could be allergic to any of the myriad things we put in the mouth. It could be foodstuffs such as cereal grains, fruits, vegetables, shellfish, soy, vinegar, diary products or sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) containing tooth paste and mouth wash. Nutritional and Vitamin deficiencies Hormonal changes in women as in menstruation, pregnancy etc. Medical Conditions Canker sores are found in Behest's disease, neutrophil dysfunction diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (Celiac or Crohn's) and HIV-AIDS. Medications like NSAIDs, beta blockers sometimes cause ulcers. How does it look like? It begins as a reddish area which goes on to become the ulcer the center of which is covered by a white or grayish membrane with regular edges and surrounded by a red halo. No systemic features like fever accompany the ulcer. Its location is typical; it occurs only on the loose tissues of the mouth like the lips, cheeks, floor of the mouth, underside of the tongue and soft palate (in sharp contrast to the herpetic ulcers which occur on the tightly bound tissues of the mouth like the hard palate and the gums). The ulcers recur every 1-3 months, they are not contagious, they heal in 4-14 days and don't leave scars (unlike the recurrent aphthous ulcermajor). They may occur in numbers of	2-6 at a time and are extremely painful. Treatment modalities The canker sore has no cure, the remedies only decrease the pain and discomfort. Treatment can be divided into 3 broad categories. Common Sense Remedies As the name suggests, these are things you can avoid or correct like using SLS free toothpastes, managing steers, identifying and eliminating allergic food stuffs and correcting nutritional deficiencies with a proper diet and multivitamin tablets. OTC medications First of all, these over the counter (OTC) medications can be taken only if you have identified your ulcer one hundred percent. This suits best for people who have been getting the ulcers recurrently over a period of years and know for sure that its a canker sore. Secondly, its absolutely mandatory that you follow the instructions provided with the medications to a T. The available medications are barrier for the ulcer in the form of gel and paste numbing agents like lidocaine, benzocaine (which contain local anesthetic property), cleansing agents, which contain carbamide peroxide, or sodium which contain chickweed, vioet or rockrose. The good old dentist It's best to see your dentist even before you try OTC medications. Not only will he identify your ulcer accurately for you, but will also prescribe medication, which will take care of the ulcer where other remedies have failed. The dentist wills either put you on an anti bacterial mouth wash or an anti-inflammatory agent or a synthetic corticosteroid gel like Kenalog. Nobody is spared of it. The first ulcer is noticed between twelve and fifteen years and is found to decrease with age. Be sure to identify it correctly, tackle it is too late!