Top 5 Reasons for Burning in the Oral Cavity
Ever wondered why is it that we get these sharp scalding and burning sensations in the mouth? Sometimes they are on the roof of the mouth and at times it burns on the inside of our cheeks!
Jees! That feeling when we cannot even eat or drink without bypassing that burn!
Let’s find out What, When, Where, Why, and How of these Painful, Scaling, and Burning Lesions of the Oral Cavity!
Summary of The Lesions Discussed Below.
Wow! Reading that chart can stress one out!
Wait! No! Don’t Get Stressed Out!
It leads to our First Type of Mouth Sore! (Read Below)
Canker Sore
Also known as Aphthous Stomatitis or Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers.
Description:
Can be very sharp at Pain and last anywhere from 1 week to a few months depending on the type of the Aphthous Ulcer (Minor, Major or Herpetiform)
Can Range in sizes and numbers from less than a centimeter single ulcer to a larger cluster of ulcers.
Can be Located on the Roof of the Mouth, Inside of the Cheeks or Lips, or Top of the Tongue
Self-Healing and Recurring Ulcers therefore, no medical consultation may be needed here.
Main Causes:
Psychological Stress (Family Turmoil, Financial Crisis, Academic Exams, etc.)
Weak Immune System due to Chronic Illness (HIV, AIDS, Leukemia, Etc.)
Suppressed Gut Health (Irritable Bowel Disorder, Celiac Disease, Etc.)
Consistent Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
Vitamin Deficiency (Specifically - B12 and Folate)
2. Traumatic Ulcers
Also Known as Mouth Ulcers
Description:
There is always a physical and tangible reason for these ulcers to occur.
Location can be the Gums (Brushing Aggressively), Between Teeth (Tooth Picks) or Side of the Tongue and Inside of the Cheeks or Lips (Broken Sharp Teeth or Orthodontic Brackets)
Extremely Painful and Peeling Whitish-Yellow Ulcer surface surrounded by a Burning Red Halo around it.
Generally Presents as a Single Lesion that hurts more when drinking hot fluids or eating.
Dental Consult may be needed to fix that broken tooth and wait at least 2 weeks before rushing to a doctor. It should resolve on its own after eliminating the cause.
Main Causes:
Vigorous Brushing of Teeth
Tooth Picks Habit
Broken Sharp Teeth
Orthodontics Treatment on-going
Cheek Biting, Tongue Biting Habit
3. Cold Sore
Also Known as Herpes Labialis or Fever Blisters
Description:
Fluid-Filled Pustules and clusters of vesicles that rupture to form an irregular ulcer on the lips!
It is Contagious! Spreads through Contact like Kissing, Sharing Utensils or Cosmetics, Just like the Flu.
Just Like the Flu, there can be Fever, Fatigue, Joint Pain and more.
Sharp Pain Evident when the Ulcers form
These need Medical Attention and Antiviral Treatment for at least 5 days.
Main Cause:
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1)
This is the second time HSV would have shown that it has infected your body.
The first time it is known as Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis and the second time due to any of the triggers listed below, it can come back to surface as Herpes Labialis.
Weakening Immunity
Illness
Excessive Sun-Exposure
Psychological or Emotional Stress
4. Oral Thrush
Also Known as Oral Candidiasis or Pseudomembranous Candidiasis
Description:
White Streaks and Layers of this Infection can cover the roof of the mouth, the tongue, the back of the throat and lead to soreness along with burning sensations.
These films of white fungus at times can peel and lead to extensively painful conditions making it difficult for eating or drinking anything.
Fun Fact! - These infectants are in our mouth at all times but only arise with symptoms when triggered!
The Corners of the Mouth can crack and burn as well.
Loss of Taste is also common when it covers the tongue.
Medical Attention is required here along with a prescribed anti-fungal medication regime for 7-14 days.
Main Cause:
Candida Albicans - Fungal/Yeast Species
Triggers:
Extensive use of antibiotics would lead to death of many bacteria that naturally kept control on these Fungal Species. Once there is no control, Candida can outgrow itself.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) can lead to a significant decrease in the natural cleansing of the oral cavity, leading to an outgrowth of Candida.
4. Leukoplakia (Pre-cancer) or Oral Cancers:
Also known as Premalignant or Malignant Dysplastic Lesions of Oral Cavity
Description:
This is now irreversible, only treatable form of disease.
The word Dysplasia above means that the natural tissue of our tissues in the mouth has been invaded by abnormal and harmful cells.
These cells will invade further and deeper without any empathy unless stopped.
The mysterious works of these conditions are that the lesions can be white-patchy, painless initially and may come to a surprise at a random dental examination but one month or year, it can become an sharp, hard burning and extremely painful ulcer that digs in further into our body leading to the terror we casually call - Cancer!
It can be present on the side pockets of the cheeks, on the inside of the cheeks or lips, on the gingiva or floor of the mouth under the tongue, on the roof of the mouth or the back of the throat near the tonsils. Like I said, Surprise, Surprise!
Medical Attention is a Mandate! Treatments can vary from simple removal of the lesion by surgery to chemo/radio-therapy of the oral cavity.
Main Cause:
Tobacco Consumption in any form (Chewing or Smoking) is directly related to the cause of Leukoplakia (Oral Precancerous stage) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Most Common Form of Oral Cancer).
Alcoholism can contribute further if not mere development of these conditions.
Suppressed Immunity helps these dysplastic cells to invade deeper without resistance.
When to visit the dentist?
Pain and Ulcers last longer than 2 weeks
Sharp Teeth or Orthodontic Braces are the cause
Fever and Lethargy is accompanying the ulcers
Swallowing, Chewing or Drinking leads to soreness
Bad taste in the mouth
Unknown White patch that is painless is observed
Any Ulcer seen on the Floor of the Mouth under the Tongue
How to Prevent these from occurring?
Stress management and Connection to the Nature
Appropriate Oral Hygiene Care (Correct Brushing Methods)
Hand Hygiene after Public Place Exposures
Regular Dental Visits for accurate diagnosis and initial treatments
Complete Stoppage of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption!
Increasing the consumption of green leafy vegetables for Vitamins and Immune System Development
Download your FREE PDF here!
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Download your FREE PDF here! 〰️
My Personal Prescription to you All:
Daily Disciplined Routine with the following Doses:
10 mins deep breathing exercises (preferably outdoors)
Warm glass of Green-Tea infused with lemon and apple cider vinegar
Separation from Phones and Computers 1 hour prior to sleeping
Reading a physical book rather than a news-feed on a phone
Inculcating music in daily activities
15 mins Cardiovascular exercise that raises your heart beats and breaks a sweat
One portion of fresh fruit and fresh green vegetable per day
All of the above mentioned points are noted from self-experience and backed by scientific evidence as well.
Remember! Health is Wealth!
〰️
Remember! Health is Wealth! 〰️
Let us work together and guard our oral health so that none of these harmful ulcerations would harm us.
Let us work together and Burn these Ulcers Themselves!
Let us work together to save them smiles!
Researched and Written by:
Dr. Kanan Shah
BDS
Co-Founder, C.E.O.
The Tooth Factory - 2019
Evidence-Based Dentistry:
Plewa MC, Chatterjee K. Aphthous Stomatitis. [Updated 2022 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431059/
Chi CC. Herpes labialis. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Oct 30;2015:1704. PMCID: PMC4632913.
Patel U, Shah R, Patel A, Shah S, Patel D, Patel A. Effect of tobacco in human oral leukoplakia: a cytomorphometric analysis. Med Pharm Rep. 2020 Jul;93(3):273-279. doi: 10.15386/mpr-1439. Epub 2020 Jul 22. PMID: 32832892; PMCID: PMC7418830.
Morse DE, Psoter WJ, Cleveland D, Cohen D, Mohit-Tabatabai M, Kosis DL, Eisenberg E. Smoking and drinking in relation to oral cancer and oral epithelial dysplasia. Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Nov;18(9):919-29. doi: 10.1007/s10552-007-9026-4. Epub 2007 Jul 24. PMID: 17647085; PMCID: PMC2139900.
Taylor M, Brizuela M, Raja A. Oral Candidiasis. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545282/
Patil S, Rao RS, Majumdar B, Anil S. Clinical Appearance of Oral Candida Infection and Therapeutic Strategies. Front Microbiol. 2015 Dec 17;6:1391. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01391. PMID: 26733948; PMCID: PMC4681845.
