Stomatitis, which occurs in the human oral cavity, is a fairly common disease not only among children, but also among adults. This disease manifests itself in the form of single or group rashes of various types on areas of the mucous membrane in a person’s mouth, as well as on the tongue.
Stomatitis formations on the tongue cause the greatest discomfort in a person, since the disease in this case is certainly accompanied by pain not only when eating or talking, but even when making swallowing movements. Therefore, this problem requires an immediate and urgent solution. The LeaderStom network of dental clinics invites you to learn more about how to cure stomatitis on the tongue and eliminate the causes of this disease.
The mechanism of occurrence and symptoms of stomatitis
As noted above, the symptoms of stomatitis are ulcers that appear in the oral cavity (on the palate, in the cheeks or on the tongue), which bother a person, causing him pain. The mechanism of occurrence of such erosions is associated with the response of the human immune system to foreign irritants, which, for example, are viruses or bacteria.
Stomatitis manifests itself in such forms as herpetic, aphthous, allergic, vesicular, catarrhal, etc. In any case, the manifestations of stomatitis disease are expressed in lesions of the human oral mucosa or tongue, only depending on the variety they are of a different nature.
Other reasons for the appearance of red dots in the sky
In addition to stomatitis, there are many diseases that manifest themselves as small rashes on the oral mucosa:
- ARVI (acute respiratory viral infections). This is a rare case, but if the patient suffers from a runny nose and is forced to breathe through the mouth, then excessive dryness of the mucous membrane leads to the appearance of a small red rash.
- Herpetic sore throat. A characteristic symptom of this pathology are vesicles - formed bubbles with white contents. Over time, they burst and painful ulcers form in their place. Vesicles spread throughout the oral mucosa, so red dots on the palate may be the primary symptom of the disease. Additionally, the patient complains of severe sore throat, high body temperature, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system. High blood pressure and fragility of blood vessels sometimes lead to the formation of small red rashes. And not only on the skin! The periodic appearance of the syndrome in question on the oral mucosa may be accompanied by headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, which means pressure instability. You should contact not only a dentist, but also a cardiologist regarding the problem.
- Allergic reaction. It is difficult to determine what exactly caused the appearance of red dots in the mouth. The fact is that the allergen first accumulates in the body and only after a few days can it manifest itself as symptoms. If you suspect an allergy, you need to examine the whole body: rashes will definitely be present on the elbows, behind the ears, and under the knees.
Adults and children sometimes develop a red rash in the mouth due to cancer with localization of the malignant process in the mouth, vitamin deficiency and tuberculosis. But such causes are recorded extremely rarely, although it is worth undergoing a full examination to exclude serious diseases that occur without typical symptoms.
Is stomatitis contagious?
Stomatitis on the tongue itself, as a disease, is not contagious. Infections that provoke its appearance are contagious, including the herpes virus and the human RNA virus, which causes vesicular stomatitis.
In cases of such a disease, a sick person should use separate utensils, hygiene products and personal supplies. These items are disinfected or treated with boiling water after use.
Only an experienced doctor can determine the type of stomatitis and the cause that provoked the appearance of ulcers in the mouth and tongue of a person. Based on the results of the examination and diagnosis, a treatment plan for the disease is drawn up and appropriate remedies are selected.
How to treat red dots on the tongue?
First, you need to listen to your feelings, to how much discomfort the appearance of red dots on the tongue causes. If after a couple of days the body’s condition has not improved and new symptoms have appeared, you need to urgently make an appointment with a doctor. As has already become clear, external signs fit the description of a wide variety of diseases.
Therefore, let the professionals take care of your health. Self-medication can only do harm and blur the clinical picture.
In the simplest cases, the symptom in question can be relieved by ordinary rinsing with decoctions, tinctures and special rinses. Taking antifungal medications will also improve the condition.
Causes of stomatitis and symptoms of the disease
Stomatitis on the oral mucosa and tongue occurs in humans for various reasons. Some of them are local in nature and are associated with the penetration of various bacteria or viruses into the oral cavity. In other cases, the formation of stomatitis ulcers on the tongue occurs against the background of decreased immunity and general weakening of the human body.
Let's name the most common causes of stomatitis in the tongue:
- Oral injuries. They can occur as a result of a person eating hot, hard or sour foods. Damage to the mucous membrane can trigger a stomatitis reaction and cause the formation of ulcers on the tongue, characteristic of this disease.
- Infections. Here we are talking about viral and bacterial diseases of the human oral cavity, which in themselves do not cause stomatitis. It is only the body’s reaction to the occurrence and development of these infections. In 90% of cases in such a situation, stomatitis caused by the herpes virus develops on the human tongue. It manifests itself in the form of small blisters that burst after 3 days, accompanied by severe pain and an increase in the person’s body temperature.
- Weakening of the immune system. Weakening of the immune system as a result of stress, acute illness (for example, a cold) or chronic diseases (helminthic infestation, giardiasis, etc.) provokes the formation of stomatitis ulcers in the human oral cavity.
- Poor oral hygiene. The surface of the human tongue provides an excellent environment for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Therefore, daily brushing of teeth and treating the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions is the best way to avoid the development of infectious diseases that can provoke the appearance of stomatitis ulcers on the surface of the mucous membrane and tongue.
- Avitaminosis. Lack of microelements negatively affects the condition of the human body. Therefore, with a lack of vitamins A, B and C, folic acid, iron and other substances, the risk of stomatitis in a person’s mouth increases.
- Using toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate. This substance is included in many products intended for human oral hygiene, since it promotes the formation of abundant foam. But sodium lauryl sulfate dries out the mucous membrane, as a result of which it becomes susceptible to damage, which can cause stomatitis.
Local and general causes of stomatitis are interconnected. One problem leads to another and causes a subsequent reaction. Thus, a weakened human immune system provokes the development of an infection, against the background of which stomatitis occurs on the tongue. Therefore, comprehensive measures are necessary to treat and prevent relapses of this disease.
Preventive measures
Often the problem of oral infections is easier to prevent than to prevent. Here are some simple tips to help you stay healthy:
- Choose your toothpaste carefully and maintain good toothbrush hygiene. Find the right mouthwash for you.
- Find out if you have any allergic reactions to foods. People are often very surprised when they find out that they are allergic to, for example, chocolate or milk.
- Eliminate various spices from your diet. Perhaps food flavored with them is a real test for the mucous membrane of your tongue.
- Cola, Pepsi and Fanta - often these carbonated drinks cause an acute reaction in the body due to the large amount of sugar and dyes.
- Take immunomodulators. This is advice for all times, because a strong body is able to quickly eliminate pathogenic foci in the body.
- Don't skip routine checkups with your doctor.
How to cure stomatitis on the tongue?
At the first signs of stomatitis, specialists at the LeaderStom clinic recommend contacting a dentist for diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment. A person’s attempt to cope with a stomatitis disease that appears on the tongue on his own may not only not lead to the desired result, but on the contrary, increase the symptoms of the disease. The drugs that are used to treat stomatitis on the tongue can be divided into local therapy drugs and medicinal formulations that have a general effect on the human body. Let's take a closer look at each of these forms.
Treatment of stomatitis with local therapy:
- Treatment of stomatitis ulcers on the human tongue with antiseptic gels, ointments and sprays.
- Rinsing the mouth with antiseptic solutions, which can be purchased at the pharmacy (chlorhexidine, miramistin, etc.) or prepared yourself using medicinal herbs such as chamomile or calendula.
- In order to relieve the pain symptom, doctors recommend using local preparations containing lidocaine for a person with stomatitis formations on the tongue.
General therapy for stomatitis:
Depending on the cause that provoked the stomatitis disease, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal or antihistamines are used. Such drugs are prescribed to a person only by a dentist or therapist. To relieve the symptoms of stomatitis, modern antipyretic and painkillers are used.
Taking vitamin complexes allows you to compensate for the lack of essential microelements in the body, which for one reason or another a person does not receive with food, and vitamin deficiency, as is known, is one of the factors that can provoke stomatitis on the oral mucosa and tongue.
For stomatitis, immunomodulatory drugs are also used - drugs that increase human immunity. They can be of both plant and medicinal origin. All patients, regardless of the reasons that caused stomatitis on the tongue, are recommended by doctors to take these medications.
Drugs are also used to treat somatic diseases. The use of such remedies is necessary if the cause of stomatitis on the tongue lies inside the body. Chronic diseases of certain systems, and especially the human gastrointestinal tract, weaken the body and contribute to the launch of an immune reaction, manifested in the formation of stomatitis ulcers on the palate and tongue.
Appearance of the tongue: what is the norm
Ideally, the tongue should be a uniform crimson color, smooth and without plaque. But sometimes you can notice some changes. This can range from barely noticeable to severe plaque. It comes in different shades: from white and yellow to red and even blackish. The spots and their localization are also varied.
If you are concerned about the appearance of your tongue, and you associate this with a general deterioration in your health, then this is a serious reason to make an appointment with a therapist.
Oral hygiene: reconsidering morning rituals
The appearance of red spots on the tongue indicates that routine rules of personal hygiene have been left to chance or have become completely forgotten. Now let's remember everything:
- You need to brush your teeth at least twice: in the morning and in the evening. Often in the evening this hygiene procedure is forgotten, and in vain. During the night, a large number of bacteria accumulate in the oral cavity, and the remains of yesterday's food will only increase them.
- You must use dental floss or an irrigator. Sometimes even the right toothbrush is not able to clean all the gaps between the teeth. Then an irrigator will come to the rescue, washing all hard-to-reach places with water pressure. Regular dental floss will also cope with this task.
- Avoid the habit of biting your nails or writing utensils. If this habit has been with you since childhood, then you should consult a neurologist. Perhaps this is the main problem with the appearance of the disease, especially if relapses occur.
- Rinse your mouth with natural infusions. Pharmaceutical chamomile and calendula have excellent antiseptic properties.
- Reduce your sugar intake. If you know for sure that the cause of the red rashes is a fungus, then sweets should be completely limited. Sugar provokes the fermentation process and this law also works with our body. In addition, sugar damages enamel, which inevitably leads to caries, which again leads to bacteria and bad breath.
- Don't skip routine dental checkups. It sounds banal, but this is the basis of the basics. A specialist will prevent the development of diseases at the earliest stages.
Compliance with basic hygiene procedures and timely consultation with a doctor will relieve discomfort. And new healthy habits will prevent the appearance of red dots on the tongue.
