Stomatitis is basically an inflammation of the mucous lining of the mouth. Because there are many causes for inflammation, there are different kinds of stomatitis. All of them can make a person miserable. Stomatitis affects eating and speaking and is very painful. Stomatitis can produce very bad breath and can even make a person look bad. Unfortunately, there are no "instant" cures for any of the forms of stomatitis. Treating it requires attention to detail and persistence.
Instructions
1. Search for a possible cause of your stomatitis. A common cause is a sudden increase in the consumption of fruits like melons or berries when they come into season. Beginning a new vitamin, drinking more hot coffee, drinking more soft drinks, increasing alcohol consumption, having recently been on an antibiotic, or having had recent dental work are other causes. Basically, you must do a thorough "Sherlock Holmes" inventory to see if there has been ANY change in what you put in your mouth.
2. Discontinue any possible causes that you have defined. This should significantly improve your mouth soreness within 3 to 5 days.
3. Practice good hygiene. Improve your symptoms and speed recovery by practicing good mouth hygiene and avoiding trauma. Rinse your mouth 3 to 4 times per day with a salt water solution--not a mouthwash. The goal is to allow the mucous membranes to heal, and mouthwashes can be irritating. Avoid traumatizing foods like peanuts, chips, hard candies, hard vegetables and tacos as well as chewing gum. Use a soft bristled tooth brush. To numb your mouth, you can gargle with a mixture of an antacid and elixir of diphenhydramine (see Tips for specifics).
4. See your doctor. If you cannot isolate a cause for the stomatitis, if it has not cleared in 3 to 5 days, or if it is interfering with your ability to take fluids, you should consult your doctor. This is important because there are many illnesses, some serious, that can cause stomatitis. Your doctor may need to do testing or prescribe specific medications.
5. See your doctor if you have recurrent ulcers. These small ulcers can be exceedingly painful, particularly if they occur on the tongue. They respond well to cauterization.
6. Treat angular chelitis (cracking at the corner of your mouth) with a mixture of an antibiotic cream and 1% hydrocortisone applied frequently during the day. This particular form of stomatitis is most often caused by ill-fitting dentures.
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