About Different Types of Mouth Ulcers
1. Canker Sores/Minor Ulcers
These Sores occur in 8 out of 10 cases. They are 8 mm to 10 mm in diameter. Canker sores usually last for about 10 to 15 days. They are the most common type of ulcer. Aphthous ulcers are not contagious, as they do not develop because of a bacteria or a virus. Instead, they are caused by weak immunity, physical damage to soft tissues inside the mouth, food allergy and stress. However, as these are open wounds, they make the lining of the mucosal membrane more vulnerable to secondary infections.
Minor mouth ulcers generally occur on the cheeks, just under the lips and the tongue. They are pale yellow or white in color. If the outer edge of the sore is swollen, it appears red in color and is extremely painful. .
2.Major Ulcers
mouth ulcers - mouth sores
They are similar to canker sores. They form on the mucosal mouth tissues around the cheeks, gums and below the lips within the mouth. They are also white or pale yellow in color. Usually appear red when inflamed. The only difference is that they are very painful. This may cause difficulty in eating; drinking, swallowing and it may even affect speech. Compared to minor sores these are 10 mm or bigger and could take several months to heal. Major Aphthous usually leave a scar behind. Unlike minor canker sores major lesion occur only 1 in 10 individuals.
Major mouth ulcers causes are also due to stress, mechanical damage, chemical damage, pregnancy (hormones levels) and reaction to certain medication.
3. Cold Sores/Fever Blisters/Herpetiform Ulcers
Akin to minor ulcers, fever blisters are also pale yellow or white in color and have a red border due to inflammation. In addition to this, they may have liquid pus filled in them and they tend to burst at times. Once they burst a crust forms over the blister. Cold sores develop over the lips, on the soft palate of the mouth and nose area.
Cold sores are contagious as they are caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus. It belongs to the HSV-1 category. Nevertheless, fever blisters are not related to the herpes disease regardless of the name. As they are filled with liquid and form a scab, once the wound ruptures they tend to leave a pockmark. Fever blisters usually activate under hormonal changes, weakened immune system, prolonged serious illness, diseases and stress.
Apart from these common sores, some rare type can develop due to a disease called Leukoplakia. It mostly develops as tongue ulcers but may crop up on the gums as well as the cheeks. If it erupts on the tongue, it causes chronic pain. Generally, Leukoplakia sources from excessive cell augmentation in the mouth. It may lead to cancerous ulcer if ignored. The underlying cause may be use of ill-fitted dentures, smoking or tobacco chewing.
Thus Mouth ulcers are of various types. Three most common forms are canker sores, major Aphthous and Herpetiform ulcers.Continue here for mouth ulcers treatment.