aphthous stomatitis
Also known as Aphtha (morphologic abnormality), Aphthous ulceration (disorder), canker sore, oral aphthae, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, recurring oral aphthae, recurrent aphthous ulceration, oral ulcer
stomatitis characterized by the repeated formation of benign and non-contagious mouth ulcers
AI overview
Aphthous stomatitis is a condition in which painful ulcers repeatedly form inside the mouth, but these sores are not dangerous and cannot spread to other people. While uncomfortable, the ulcers are benign and typically heal on their own.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Other names
- Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), recurring oral aphthae, recurrent aphthous ulceration
- Specialty
- Oral medicine , dermatology
- Symptoms
- A round, often painful sore inside the mouth that is white or gray with a red border; tingling or burning sensation prior to sore development; fever , sluggishness , and/or swollen lymph nodes (severe cases only)
- Complications
- Cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection); fever ; sores that appear outside of the mouth; pain while brushing teeth, eating, and/or talking
- Usual onset
- 1 to 2 days, before visual appearance
- Duration
- 7–10 days
- Causes
- Behçet's disease ; celiac disease ; food allergies ; HIV infection; lupus ; oral injuries; poor oral hygiene; SLS; stress ; vitamin deficiency
- Risk factors
- Anyone can develop canker sores
- Prevention
- Avoiding foods that irritate the mouth, including acidic, hot, or spicy foods; avoiding irritation from gum chewing; avoiding oral hygiene products containing sodium lauryl sulfate ; brushing with a soft-bristled brush after meals and flossing daily
~29 min read
Article
Aphthous stomatitis, or recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), commonly referred to as a canker sore or salt blister, is a common condition characterized by the repeated formation of benign and non-contagious mouth ulcers (aphthae) in otherwise healthy individuals.
The cause is not completely understood but involves a T cell-mediated immune response triggered by a variety of factors which may include nutritional deficiencies, local trauma, stress, hormonal influences, allergies, genetic predisposition, certain foods, dehydration, some food additives, or some hygienic chemical additives like SDS (common in toothpaste).