Stomatitis – Symptoms & Treatment of Oral Mucositis

The mouth is exposed to various influences, such as hot food, complex food components or microorganisms. The oral cavity is lined with mucous membranes to meet the special requirements. As in many other areas of the body, mucous membrane inflammation can also occur in the mouth. This is then referred to as stomatitis or inflammation of the oral mucosa. What causes inflammation of the oral mucosa, what symptoms indicate stomatitis and what medications and home remedies can help with treatment?

 

Definition: what is stomatitis?

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa. The term is derived from the Greek, with “stoma” denoting the mouth and the ending “-itis” denoting an inflammatory disease in the medical field.

The oral mucosa is well supplied with blood; the cells divide quickly and frequently. For this reason, wounds in the mouth area also heal much faster than in other parts of the body. Nevertheless, various stimuli can lead to inflammatory changes there.

A distinction is made between inflammation of the gums ( gingivitis ) and inflammatory diseases of the periodontium ( periodontitis ).

 

Symptoms of stomatitis

Possible symptoms of stomatitis are listed below:

• Redness, swelling, itching, burning and pain can occur, especially after contact with hot, acidic or spicy foods.
• Sometimes, yellowish deposits can be seen, and bad breath occurs.
• Increased salivation (or, conversely, dry mucous membranes) and possible bleeding are unpleasant side effects of stomatitis.
• Small children, in particular, can experience swollen lymph nodes in the neck and fever.
• Aphthae can also develop, i.e. painful defects of the oral mucosa with a white coating, which are surrounded by a red areola and occur singly or in groups.
• Severe damage can result in parts of the mucous membrane dying off. The result: the oral mucosa loosens in the affected areas.
• Loss of appetite often occurs due to the pain. Changes in taste can also affect appetite in the context of stomatitis.

Causes of stomatitis

The causes of stomatitis are very diverse. Infections with bacteria, viruses or yeast fungi are usually responsible. In many cases, there is also an underlying disease that weakens the immune system and thus makes an infection possible in the first place.

It is widespread for the yeast fungus Candida albicans to lead to oral thrush. A whitish coating on the oral mucosa is characteristic of stomatitis.

Bacteria also like to settle if the oral mucosa is already damaged or the general condition is weakened. As a rule, these bacteria occur naturally in the mouth and then multiply unnaturally.

In the case of viruses, the first contact with the herpes simplex virus leads to an excruciating inflammation. In medicine, one then speaks of gingiva herpetica or mouth rot (stomatitis aphthosa). During such a disease, mainly in children, small, painful blisters appear in the oral cavity, which itch, burn or tighten, accompanied by heavy salivation. In addition to herpes viruses, papillomaviruses can also trigger stomatitis.

 

Other causes of stomatitis

In addition to infections, there is a whole range of other causes of inflammation of the oral mucosa:

• allergic reactions, for example, to certain foods, prosthesis material (contact allergy) or oral hygiene products, but also allergies to medication (stomatitis medicamentosa), often to penicillin
• Plaque, tartar or tooth decay
• ill-fitting dentures or braces (denture stomatitis)
• Burns from food or drinks that are too hot
• Vitamin deficiency (vitamins A, B and C), iron or folic acid deficiency
• Poisoning and damage to the oral mucosa (nicotine, metals or alcohol)
• Dry oral mucosa (especially in old age), as this is more susceptible to infections
• Irritations and injuries (bite injuries caused by improper chewing, a toothbrush that is too hard)
• Hormonal fluctuations (puberty, pregnancy or menopause )

Stomatitis also occurs as an accompaniment to skin, metabolic, and blood disorders and as a side effect of radiation or chemotherapy for cancer.

Is stomatitis contagious?

Stomatitis can be contagious, but it doesn’t have to be. The risk of infection depends on the cause. If a fungus, bacteria or virus is behind the disease, infection via saliva or contact with the infected mucous membrane is possible. Infection is impossible in the case of other triggers, such as allergies, mechanical irritation or hormonal fluctuations.

If the cause of the symptoms is not yet known, the infected person should exercise caution when interacting with others to be on the safe side. The usual hygiene rules, such as washing your hands thoroughly and avoiding close physical contact, also help here.

Diagnosis of oral mucosal inflammation

The right place to go if you have stomatitis is either your family doctor or your dentist’s office. Based on a conversation (anamnesis), the doctor will try to get to the bottom of possible triggers for the symptoms. In addition to the exact symptoms, diet, medication or other existing illnesses can provide clues to the cause. Based on the results of this conversation, the further investigation method is then chosen.

For example, if there is suspicion of a fungal infestation or a bacterial or viral infection, a swab of the oral mucosa can be taken to determine the pathogen. An allergy test provides clarity if an allergy is suspected as the trigger. On the other hand, a blood test can provide an indication of possible deficiency symptoms. If these measures cannot determine a clear cause, a tissue sample is often taken.

 

Stomatitis: what treatment is there?

Various pharmacy remedies are available to treat stomatitis. What other medications and home remedies can help with stomatitis?

Stomatitis: Medication for inflammation of the oral mucosa

There are numerous preparations in pharmacies with synthetic or herbal active ingredients that can be used to treat stomatitis. In general, anti-inflammatory agents can often help to alleviate the symptoms. Many of these medicines also have a mild anesthetic effect to reduce acute pain. There are also special antiseptic agents that have a disinfecting effect.

If the entire oral mucosa or a large part of it is affected, sprays or mouthwashes can be used for treatment. For smaller areas of inflammation, locally acting ointments or gels should be preferred. Pharmacy professionals can help you choose over-the-counter medications for treatment.

The following applies: If you have severe pain or symptoms that do not improve after seven to ten days despite treatment, you should seek medical advice, as should recurring inflammation. This also makes sense in order to be able to treat the underlying cause in a much more targeted manner in the case of infections caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi. Then antifungal, i.e. fungi-killing, antiviral or antibacterial agents (such as antibiotics) are used. Any underlying illnesses such as nutritional deficiencies or allergies can only be diagnosed and treated accordingly during a doctor’s appointment.

Home remedies and tips for inflammation of the oral mucosa

For mild symptoms, home remedies and certain behaviors can also help support the healing of stomatitis:

• Gargling with cooled sage or chamomile tea relieves inflammation (Caution: If you have dry oral mucosa, you should avoid chamomile tea as it also has a drying effect).
• Soft food prevents additional irritation. For example, (not too hot) soups and stews or natural yogurt are recommended.
• Spicy, very hot or sharp-edged foods as well as alcohol and nicotine should be avoided.
• A hard toothbrush should be replaced with a soft one. In general, careful oral hygiene helps with the healing process (do not use highly irritating mouthwashes).
• It is advisable to drink plenty of cool drinks, especially if the oral mucous membranes are too dry.

 

Stomatitis: prevention

Prevention is always recommended so that stomatitis does not develop in the first place. The focus is on proper oral hygiene, i.e. all measures that keep teeth, gums, tongue and oral mucosa healthy:

• Regular brushing of teeth and cleaning between teeth
• regular dental check-ups
• the special care of the transitions and niches between natural and artificial teeth, as food particles and plaque can accumulate particularly well there
• drinking enough water to counteract the excessive accumulation of bacteria in the mouth

Risk factors, especially high alcohol consumption and smoking, should be avoided.

Stomatitis prophylaxis in dentures and splints

The following applies to older people: The dentures must be cleaned regularly, i.e., twice daily. Removable dentures should be cleaned under running water with a soft toothbrush after every meal, if possible. It is also advisable to bathe him in denture cleaner once a day. In this way, germ colonization can be eliminated.

A visit to the dental practice is also essential: the correct fit of the dentures should be checked every six months and corrected if necessary. If there are pressure points, medical advice should be sought immediately.

The same advice applies to people who wear braces or a splint (e.g. a bite splint ).