Diseases of the oral mucosa: diagnosis and treatment

Causes of diseases of the oral mucosa

Diseases of the oral mucosa occur throughout life in an average of 5-10% of the population.

Their cause may be:

Traumatic damage to the tissues of the oral cavity and other traumatic effects (chemical, thermal, etc.) with the development of traumatic erosion, ulcers, leukoplakia or leukokeratosis (keratinization of an area of the mucous membrane capable of malignant degeneration).
Infectious diseases that affect the oral mucosa due to the penetration of viruses, spirochetes, bacteria, and fungi.

Quite often, the occurrence of pathological changes in the oral mucosa is associated with disruption of the functioning of various organs and systems of the body: allergies, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine disorders, systemic connective tissue diseases, blood diseases, dermatoses, tuberculosis, AIDS and some other conditions. It is often quite difficult to identify the true cause of pathology of the oral mucosa - a lot of experience, high professionalism, and the ability not only to carefully collect information, but also to interpret it correctly and draw appropriate conclusions are required. Experienced medical dentists will quickly understand the intricacies of the existing manifestations of the disease in relation to a specific patient, determine the cause of the disorder and prescribe highly effective treatment.

Gastritis (gastroduodenitis)

This is one of the most common gastrointestinal pathologies, often occurring in both adults and children. With gastritis, due to changes in secretion, the acidity of gastric juice increases, and since all organs of the digestive system are directly connected to each other, such acidity cannot but affect the health of the oral cavity.

Dental symptoms of this disease include pallor and swelling of the mucous membranes, hypertrophy of the tongue papillae, dry lips, gingivitis, bad breath and sour taste.

Chronic gastroduodenitis is characterized by mild forms of stomatitis and gingivitis.

, herpes on the lips.

In both cases, disturbances in the production of saliva occur, which most directly affects the acid-base balance of the oral cavity and the intensity of bacterial growth: with a lack of saliva, the risk of carious and periodontal diseases

Treatment:

as a rule, individual, aimed at normalizing gastric secretion, increasing the protective properties of the mucous membrane of the stomach and oral cavity.
Dental treatment may include taking a course of antibiotic drugs (as recommended by a doctor), treatment of gingivitis and caries
, enhanced
oral hygiene
using special toothpastes to strengthen the gums and
professional oral hygiene
performed at least once every six months.

The main manifestations of diseases of the oral mucosa

There is a common name for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa - stomatitis. When the pathological process is localized on the tongue, they talk about glossitis, on the gums - about gingivitis, on the lips - about cheilitis. A characteristic manifestation of stomatitis is the appearance on the oral mucosa of foci of redness, blisters, erosions (afts) or ulcers covered with plaque. These lesions are most often detected on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard palate, and tip of the tongue. Often there is pain at the location of erosions and ulcers, enlargement of nearby lymph nodes, and sometimes an increase in body temperature. The average duration of the disease is 7-14 days. Stomatitis can recur with decreased immunity, poor diet, hypovitaminosis, infectious diseases, and exacerbations are more common in spring and autumn.

Treatment of gumboil with folk remedies

In order not to harm the body, folk remedies for treating flux can only be used for temporary pain relief or as a supplement during the recovery period.

Infusions of oak bark, sage, St. John's wort, and calendula are used to rinse the mouth (strictly warm solutions).
Chamomile flower tea is taken orally and is also used as a mouth rinse.
Honey or honey propolis products are used to lubricate the gums.

In case of treating periostitis at home, you should consult a doctor. In any case, you should not postpone a surgical visit to the dentist when the first symptoms of gumboil appear on the gums or replace medical therapy with self-medication. When treating flux only with folk remedies, inflammation can spread further or develop into chronic periostitis.

With a timely and comprehensive approach to the treatment of periostitis, the disease is successfully cured. However, full recovery will require the help of a qualified dentist, medical procedures and medications.

Diagnosis of oral diseases

Diagnosis of stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity is based on a thorough clinical examination of the patient by a dentist, which makes it possible to determine the stage of the pathological process and its prevalence, and the presence of a general reaction of the body to inflammation. It is very important to establish the true cause of the disease (trauma, infection, allergy, pathology of internal organs, hypovitaminosis, etc.), because the effectiveness of treatment and the absence of exacerbations in the future will depend on this. To do this, in a medical clinic, when recurrent stomatitis is detected, if necessary, a thorough additional examination is carried out with the involvement of relevant specialists - an allergist-immunologist, gastroenterologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, and laboratory and instrumental studies are performed.

What diseases does a periodontist treat?

The area of expertise of a periodontist includes the treatment of gum diseases that have developed in periodontal tissues. The most common pathologies:

Gingivitis is an inflammatory process of the periodontal soft tissues that occurs without disruption of the periodontal ligaments.
Only the gums are involved in the pathology. The first signs of the disease are bleeding and pain in the tissues surrounding the teeth. The pathology can occur in an acute form, which is also characterized by swelling, hyperemia of the mucous membrane, and itching. The chronic course of gingivitis causes virtually no discomfort, so a person is in no hurry to see a periodontist. Despite the asymptomatic course, the inflammatory process gradually progresses, complications arise - ulcerative-necrotic lesions, gum hypertrophy, detachment of mucosal areas, and others appear. The main cause of gingivitis is insufficient oral hygiene, which leads to the proliferation of bacteria. The periodontist usually prescribes conservative treatment, including removing plaque from teeth, using antiseptics, and antibiotics.
Periodontitis. Inflammatory periodontal disease, predominantly of an infectious nature. With periodontitis, destruction of the dentogingival ligaments occurs, and destruction of bone tissue develops. As the disease progresses, teeth begin to loosen and fall out. The disease is classified as polyetiological, since various reasons can lead to its development. Most often, the pathology develops due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque. In addition, periodontitis can occur due to poor heredity or gum injury. It often accompanies diabetes mellitus and is detected in hormonal disorders and other pathologies. A periodontist dentist, examining the mouth and jaw area, identifies the presence of periodontal pockets, bleeding, redness, swelling of the mucous membranes, and a heavy odor from the mouth.
cavities. There is plaque on the teeth. Pus may be discharged from periodontal pockets. There is an exposure of the cervical zones of the segments, displacement of the teeth in the row, and their loosening. Treatment in the early stages is conservative, later - invasive.
Periodontal disease. Non-inflammatory disease of periodontal tissues, characterized by a chronic course. The pathogenesis is based on circulatory dysfunction in the vessels supplying the periodontium. Violation of tissue trophism leads to the development of atrophic processes in the gum and bone tissues. Other causes of periodontal disease: malocclusion, smoking, decreased local immunity, hormonal imbalance, disruption of periodontal innervation, etc. The clinical picture of periodontal disease depends on the stage of the disease. Main symptoms: gum recession, pallor of the mucous membranes, increased spaces between units, their loosening. Bleeding gums are not typical for periodontal disease.

Treatment is aimed at strengthening the periodontium with the help of hygienic measures, drug therapy, and physiotherapy. If the degree is significant, the periodontist will suggest the surgeon

logical, orthopedic correction.

Treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa

Etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease (antiviral, antibacterial therapy for the infectious nature of stomatitis, glossitis, cheilitis, vitamin therapy for hypovitaminosis, treatment of the underlying disease that caused the appearance of a pathological process on the oral mucosa);
Local treatment aimed at eliminating local traumatic factors, the main symptoms of the disease and the rapid healing of existing erosions and ulcers;
A general strengthening treatment that stimulates the body's defenses.

An early visit to a dentist when identifying the first signs of pathology in the oral mucosa is the key to a speedy recovery!

Stages of surgical treatment of flux:

anesthesia (usually local);
opening the focus of suppuration (gum incision);
removal of pus;
drainage (installation of drainage to ensure the outflow of inflammatory fluid);
X-ray (to determine the cause of periostitis);
removal of a diseased tooth or drug treatment.

In addition, for acute purulent periostitis, antibiotics, physiotherapy and painkillers are usually prescribed. Treating periostitis with antibiotics at home without consulting a doctor can cause side effects and resistance of pathogenic bacteria to the drug.

When to contact a periodontist

Patients who come to see a therapist are most often sent to the periodontist's office. After listening to complaints, collecting anamnesis, examining the oral cavity and identifying symptoms characteristic of gum disease, he gives a referral to a highly specialized specialist who is more competent in solving such problems:

mucous membranes bleed during hygiene measures after chewing

food ania;
mucous membranes have changed color and are swollen;
discharge of pus is noticed;
a putrid smell appeared;
the sensitivity of units to external stimuli has increased;
grayish-white spots appeared on the gums;
The intersegmental spaces have widened and food debris has become more likely to get stuck in them;
stony deposits have formed on the enamel of the segments, a soft coating in hard-to-reach areas that cannot be removed with home hygiene products;
there is pain while eating;
The volume of the gums has decreased, the necks of the teeth have become exposed;
periodontal pockets have formed;
the teeth began to loosen;
the position of the segments in the row has changed.

The periodontist will conduct a thorough examination, determine the periodontal status, make a reliable diagnosis, and prescribe adequate treatment. The duration and range of manipulations depends on the neglect of the process.

After completing therapy, it is necessary to visit the doctor according to the prescribed schedule for a follow-up examination and, if necessary, repeat the course of periodontal intervention. Your periodontist will help you maintain the health of your gums so that your smile can once again be admired by others.