Lip Ulcer
Your Lip Ulcer and You: A Guide
A lip ulcer can be painful, annoying and embarrassing. There’s no way around that. When you have one of these little guys suddenly pop up, it can make you want to crawl right back in bed and try again the next day. But it need not be this way. Many kinds of lip ulcers can be prevented or at least mitigated, so they are not quite such a nuisance. So let’s consider some of the causes for lip ulcers and the possible treatments for these unpleasant little visitors.
Self-Inflicted Trauma
One of the main causes for such ulcers is in your mouth already, your teeth. Sometimes a person will accidentally cause trauma to the inside of their mouth by inadvertently biting the wall of the mouth. Although this sort of accidental trauma could occur at any time, it is more likely to occur when the situation in the mouth has recently been altered.
A visit to the dentist is one of the most typical reasons why you might find yourself accidentally biting your own mucous membrane. If, for example, you have just had braces installed or just had several fillings, you may not yet have mentally acclimated to the new dimensions of your teeth and you may accidentally bite yourself. Similarly, while you are still undergoing the effects of the local anesthetic, you are more likely to misjudge the location of your lip and accidentally cause trauma in the mouth cavity. The dentist herself might accidentally injure you during the process, as well.
Other changes, like having a fat lip from a fight, or having a cold or other type of inflammation, can cause accidental abrasions to the inner lining of the mouth leading to a lip ulcer.
Finally, of these self-induced causes, one of the often overlooked caused is when an individual intentionally damages the lip. Sometimes a person will start biting his lip as a nervous tick or because of the pleasurable feeling that comes from the slight pain this sort of biting causes. Many individuals find the taste and sensation of biting into their own interior mouths pleasurable. This can quickly become an unhealthy habit and like other forms of self-mutilation can develop into a psychological syndrome that the individual needs psychological attention in order to break.
Treatment for Self-Inflicted Lip Ulcers: Avoid or remove the cause. Be more careful. Seek psychological help when necessary.
Foreign infestation of the mouth
Several foreign substances can also cause a lip ulcer. Aspirin or certain acidic fruits can begin or increase an ulcer as well as cause discomfort. Many people have allergic reactions to certain substances and when a person places these in his or her mouth, they can cause ulcers. Certain chemicals in you toothpaste can also cause or increase the chances of a lip ulcer.
Treatment: Avoid these substances when you notice them.
Poor Dental Hygiene
Another cause for lip ulcers is poor dental hygiene. If you don’t take proper care of your mouth, it can develop unhealthy levels of bacteria that will also increase the chances of lip ulcers.
Treatment: Brush and floss regularly.
Viruses
Viruses like the herpes virus can also get a foothold in the mouth and then stubbornly set down roots. The herpes virus is perhaps one of the most aggravating causes of lip ulcers, since there is no final cure for herpes. Individual may be born with the herpes virus or they may acquire it through contact (not always sexual, though often this is the case) with another carrier of the virus. Although infection is far more likely during outbreaks, the herpes virus is most often contracted when no visible lesions are present.
Treatment: Although there is no final cure for the herpes virus, there are several drug treatments to help manage the effects of the virus.
Immune System Problems
The medical community has also noticed that recurring lip ulcers is one of the signs of a compromised immune system. If you are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, or have HIV, you are more likely to have lip ulcers when your immune system is weak. If you have recurring cases of lip ulcers, this may be a sign of a more serious problem and you should go to a doctor who can help diagnose an underlying condition.
If you are at all unsure about the condition in your mouth, it is always a good idea to seek the advice and guidance of medical professional. Better to be safe than sorry, as the saying goes.