Mouth ulcers also known as canker sores are normally small, painful lesions that develop in your mouth or at the base of your gums. They can make eating, drinking, and talking uncomfortable. Women, adolescents, and people with a family history of mouth ulcers are at higher risk for developing mouth ulcers. Mouth ulcers aren’t contagious and usually go away within one to two weeks. However, if you get a canker sore that is large or extremely painful, or if it lasts for a long time without healing, you should seek the advice of a doctor.
What triggers mouth ulcers?
There is no definite cause behind mouth ulcers. However, certain factors and triggers have been identified. These include:
- minor mouth injury from dental work, hard brushing, sports injury, or accidental bite
- toothpastes and mouth rinses that contain sodium lauryl sulfate
- food sensitivities to acidic foods like strawberries, citrus, and pineapples, and other trigger foods like chocolate and coffee
- lack of essential vitamins, especially B-12, zinc, folate, and iron
- allergic response to mouth bacteria
- dental braces
- hormonal changes during menstruation
- emotional stress or lack of sleep
- bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
What symptoms are associated with mouth ulcers?
There are three types of canker sores: minor, major, and herpetiform.
Minor
Minor canker sores are small oval or round ulcers that heal within one to two weeks with no scarring.
Major
Major canker sores are larger and deeper than minor ones. They have irregular edges and can take up to six weeks to heal. Major mouth ulcers can result in long-term scarring.
How To Use Kenalog Cream For Mouth Ulcers
Kenalog in Orabase is a paste that contains the medicine triamcinolone acetonide. Triamcinolone acetonide belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, including triamcinolone acetonide, are used to relieve itching, burning, inflammation and allergies. Kenalog in Orabase is used for relieving tenderness, pain, inflammation and ulceration of the inside of the mouth or the gums. This can include sores caused by injury or by dentures (false teeth) rubbing on the gums.
Apply a small amount to the affected area and rub it gently into the skin. Avoid using Kenalog on your face, near your eyes or mouth, or on body areas where you have skin folds or thin skin, apply the medication in a thin layer, just enough to cover the mouth ulcer.
Kenalog in Orabase is a sticky paste which keeps the medicine on the sore area, and protects it while the medicine relieves the soreness, reduces the swelling and accelerates the healing process.
Kenalog in Orabase is not addictive or habit forming. It may be prescribed by your doctor or bought at a pharmacy when recommended by your dentist or pharmacist.
After applying the medication, wash your hands unless you are using this medication to treat the hands. When applying this medication near the eyes, avoid getting it in the eyes as this may worsen or cause glaucoma. Also, avoid getting this medication in the nose or mouth. If you get the medication in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with plenty of water. Read: How Long Does it Take For a Kenalog Shot to Take Effect?
