Author’s Bio: Dharshini Senthilkumar is an incoming college freshman majoring in biology. She is interested in the medical sciences and hopes to provide awareness on serious medical conditions.
Peptic ulcer form when stomach acid damages the walls of the stomach and small intestine. The causes are:
– Bacteria- Although H. pylori is common in most people’s bodies, some individuals react to the bacteria differently in that their stomach acid production quantity increases which leads to the mucus layer breaking down and irritating the digestive tract.
– Certain pain relievers- Frequent Aspirin usage over a long-time period can increase likelihood of a peptic ulcer. NSAIDs like ibuprofen block your body from making a chemical that protects your inner stomach and small intestine walls from stomach acid.
Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol can also increase the likelihood of developing an ulcer. Stress and eating spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but they may perpetuate them.
There is no definite cause behind mouth ulcers, but there are many factors that may include:
A burning pain or discomfort between your belly button and chest which worsens on an empty stomach. This pain may last between a few minutes to a few hours.
There are three types of mouth ulcer that each have various looking sores.
You should see a healthcare provider if you develop any of the following:
Call or Book your online Doctor Visit
Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet
If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, NSAID usage, and medical history. This information along with checking for bloating will tell your healthcare provider enough to be able to diagnose you. However, to be absolutely sure about an ulcer, your doctor must take a look inside. An x-ray or endoscopy will help in this process.
A physical exam will let your healthcare provider know whether you have mouth ulcers or not. If you have frequent or extremely painful mouth ulcer, it is recommended that you test for other medical conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Peptic ulcers tend to heal on their own, but then they may become recurrent. If H. pylori bacteria is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill it. If NSAIDs are the reason, you may be directed to cut down their usage, stop their usage, or just replace them.
Antacids may also be prescribed in order to lessen the stomach acid that your body is creating. Prescription drugs like cytoprotective agents can protect the lining of the stomach or small intestine. This way, the ulcer can heal on its own time.
Mouth ulcer do not generally need treatment. If persistent and painful mouth sores occur, the following treatments may help.
To prevent the spread of bacteria, wash your hands with soap and water regularly. As a step further, wash your food and cook it properly to ensure safe consumption.
Another way to prevent peptic ulcers is to stop or limit the use of NSAIDs. If you need to take painkillers, limit the usage of the pills as much as you can and do not consume alcohol afterwards.
Avoiding foods that irritate your mouth can help prevent canker sores. Instead of acidic foods like pineapple or oranges, choose whole grains and alkaline fruits and vegetables.
Avoid talking while eating to reduce chances of accidentally biting. Also, reducing stress and maintaining good oral hygiene health will also help. Using soft bristle toothbrushes and mouthwashes that do contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
If you or someone in your family have concerns about ulcers, please contact and seek help from our doctors online.
At Home Urgent Care provides telehealth services so you can safely and confidently keep your health in check with our primary and urgent care services and get treatment online.
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Call or Book your online Doctor Visit
Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet
If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy