Are you feeling frustrated while dealing with symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Is Crohn’s disease increasing your risk of mouth ulcers? Are they similar to canker sores? Let us understand in detail the steps you can take to reduce the symptoms and the discomfort you may face.
Why Does Crohn’s Disease Cause Ulcers?
Every organ system in your body is interdependent. Did you know that Crohn’s disease can create a lot of complications because your digestive tract is big and is systemic in nature! That is when it is likely to cause mouth ulcers.
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include swelling, redness, sores anywhere in your digestive system and also inside your mouth.
What are the Different Causes of Ulcers in People With Crohn’s Disease?
- Chronic inflammation – Inflammation increases your chances of ulcer development inside your mouth.
- Improper diet – If your appetite is not proper, then you may find it challenging to consume food to receive full nutrition. Deficiency of nutrition or insufficient calories intake can lead to infections in your teeth and gums.
Types of Mouth Ulcers
According to the ADA (American Dental Association), mouth ulcers are developed from those affected by Crohn’s disease. These are technically different but are similar to canker sores.
Aphthous ulcers, also known as canker sores, are usually smaller, ovular, and have a red border. They are not contagious and form on the mucous membranes. A few varieties of mouth ulcers which can result from Crohn’s disease are:
- Minor aphthous-like ulcers – These types of ulcers can cause a little discomfort and are less than 5mm in size.
- Major aphthous-like ulcers – Generally, painful and larger in size usually more than 5mm.
- Herpetiform canker sores – These types of sores occur when smaller lesions all combine to form a bigger and an irregular ulcer.
How to Manage Mouth Ulcers?
Mouth ulcers can be relieved within 1-2 weeks. However, with Crohn’s disease, you may find that the canker sores are really slow to heal. You may either experience irritation or discomfort before an ulcer starts forming.
Adding to your annoyance, ulcers also increase the chances of infection. Although there is no potent cure for mouth ulcers, there are some slight changes that you can make for an easy life:
- Brush with a soft-bristle toothbrush for at least two minutes and twice daily.
- Stay away from hot, spicy, junk, foods and drinks.
- Ensure that you are scheduling at least two regular visits with your dentist in a year.
- Skip chewing gums.
- Consult your dentist about any antimicrobial mouth rinse, or herbal toothpaste.
Treatment & Outlook
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are positive steps that you can imbibe to help control its symptoms and also reduce inflammation.
But if you are having trouble managing symptoms on your own, then it is recommended to speak with your dentist for any treatment recommendations. Because Crohn’s disease can have lethal complications, it is very essential to not neglect the disease. Luckily, the most important tool that can help you overcome the disease is your lifestyle choices.
Steps you need to inculcate in your daily life to reduce your symptoms:
- Include a balanced, low-fat diet with loads of nutrients and positive calorie intake.
- Quit smoking or stay away from any type of tobacco product.
- Conduct exercises regularly.
- Manage your stress levels and stay active for a longer period.
- Avoid NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Conclusion
Even though there is no cure available for Crohn’s disease, at the moment, you can still have tremendous control over your lifestyle choices. Imbibing healthy habits in the form of exercise, diet, stress, can help empower your ability to manage and fight back symptoms. So educate yourself and also let others know how mouth ulcers can be related to Crohn’s disease and how they can overcome it.
You can still imbibe a healthier choice by opting for herbal toothpaste-like Smyle Herbal Toothpaste which helps in providing 100% oral care solution for your teeth and gums. Formulated with ayurvedic composition, this toothpaste is very safe and healthy for the entire family, including pregnant women and kids. So, give the best health for your family with Smyle Toothpaste. For further details, regarding the product, you can go through the link below: