Common Causes of Mouth Pain
It’s uncomfortable when your mouth hurts. Even worse, mouth pain makes it painful to eat, especially acidic food, and can even make it hard to talk or brush your teeth. There are a number of reasons why the inside of your mouth might hurt or develop sores. Some are self-limited and will go away on their own while others may require medical attention.
In this article, we discuss the common causes of mouth pain.
What Causes Mouth Pain?
Several conditions can cause mouth pain or discomfort. Sometimes mouth pain comes from an infected tooth, gum disease, or other dental problems. If it’s due to gum disease, your gums might swell or bleed and it may be painful when you eat or brush your teeth. Another common cause of dental pain is an abscess. Dental abscesses can form at the base of a cracked tooth of filling and cause severe pain and swelling of the gum in that area. Rarely, such infections can extend into the sinuses.
Mouth sores, anywhere in your mouth, cause your mouth to hurt or burn, especially when you eat something acidic. You can often see the sores when you look inside your mouth, although sometimes they’re so small that you miss them.
One common type of mouth sore is canker sores. This type of sore is also called an aphthous ulcer. No one knows exactly these painful blisters to form. They tend to show up when you’re run down, tired, or stressed. Eating certain foods that you’re sensitive to or injuring your mouth by biting the side of your cheek can sometimes bring one on.
If you have other medical conditions, you may be more prone to getting canker sores. Cankers differ from cold sores. Cold sores are caused by a virus and usually show up on the outside of your mouth, next to your lips. Like canker sores, they are usually tender or painful.
Red, Irritated Mouth or Tongue
Another condition that can cause your mouth to feel tender is oral thrush, a type of fungal infection that affects the mouth. If you have oral thrush, you might see raised, white spots on your tongue. These spots may be tender to the touch. Oral thrush is caused by a tiny organism you can only see under a microscopic called a fungus. You’re more likely to get oral thrush when you have a weakened immune system or another health problem, like diabetes.
Having a dry mouth can sometimes cause mouth pain and irritation as well. Dry mouth occurs when the glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva and is more common when you have other medical conditions, particularly autoimmune diseases. One called Sjogren’s syndrome, more common in women, causes severe dry mouth. If you’re a woman, menopause can sometimes make a dry mouth worse. Certain medications can also cause your mouth to feel dry, sticky, and uncomfortable. If you have a dry mouth, it’s important not to smoke and drink enough water.
How does a dry mouth feel? With this condition, your mouth feels dry and irritated most of the time. Plus, you may have difficulty swallowing or talking and have a red, irritated tongue. In addition, your lips may become dry and cracked as well. Dry mouth increases the likelihood of dental problems, like cavities, too.
Getting Relief for Oral Discomfort fom the Common Causes of Mouth Pain
These only are a few of the conditions that cause oral discomfort and pain, but they’re among the most common. Some conditions that cause mouth pain, like canker sores, go away on their own, but if a mouth persists for more than a few days, see your physician or dentist.
If you are looking for a dentist near you that is reliable and has been rated a top NJ dentist for the past 8 years and still going strong, then you are at the right place. Contact Dr. Paul Feldman at Suburban Essex Dental. Our comfortable dental office with warm, welcoming and friendly staff is located in West Orange, New Jersey, in Essex County.
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