NON-HEALING ORAL ULCER : MAY BE AN EARLY SIGN OF ORAL CANCER

Oral Ulcer is a breach in the oral mucous lining. Commonly called mouth sore.

Presentations of oral ulcers: This varies with causes, size, number, location, duration, and time of healing. It may appear as a pinhead sized lesion and multiple; referred to as herpetiform ulcers. 

2 to 6 in number of a 2 mm sized ulceration in any part of the mouth; called minor aphthous ulcer. While a single solitary or occasionally 2 large sized ulcer on the tongue, palate or gingiva called major aphthous ulcer. This appears raised with a rolled edge and yellow flow.

Causes of oral ulcers: Oral ulcer can be caused by a wide range of causes, which includes:

1. Nutritional deficiency

2. Stress- academic/physical exertion/emotional

3. Trauma-from teeth or foreign objects

4. Immunological reaction

5. Hormone mediated-menstruation/

5. Familiar tendencies

6. Systemic disease

7. Early cancer

Treatment:

This is based on the cause of the oral ulcer, as removal of causes allows for regression of the sore.

Warm water salt solution mouth rinse 6-8 times daily will heal herpetiform and minor apthous ulcer.

Vitamin C tablets 100 mg, 3 times daily will go a long way to promote healing

For large sized lesions that is not healing within 2 weeks, present to a dentist for assessment and management.

WARNING:

Late presentation of sinister cases can be fatal in case it is a cancer because oral cancer can begin as an ulceration, and early treatment can be lifesaving.

The picture shown below is a case of oral cancer, which started as a small ulceration. It did not heal for weeks and patient did not present to the hospital.

Patient eventually presented when condition was worse after 8 months, then the cancer had destroyed the upper jawbone and floor of the eye. He needs advanced treatment than he would have received if he had presented earlier. 

ORAL CANCER

                                                    A stitch in time saves nine!!!