sore roof of mouth
Sore Roof of Mouth
A person gets sore roof of mouth mostly by eating hot food items. However, there can be other hidden causes like deficiencies which could be causing soreness on the roof of mouth in a person. Keep reading to know about the causes for this condition, and home remedies to treat the swollen and sore palate.
A sore roof of mouth is an uncomfortable, raw and often a dry feeling in the roof of the mouth. Mouth sores are another reason which can cause a sore feeling on the roof of the mouth.
Mouth sores can occur anywhere inside or outside the mouth. The areas where a person can get mouth sores are lips, roof of the mouth (palate), gums, tongue, and inner cheeks.
Swollen roof of mouth can be discomforting and can cause a raw, uneasy feeling. It is important to treat the soreness on roof of mouth, because the condition can further worsen and a person can get bumps and abscess.
One can treat sore palate by observing some home care measures. However, in case you don't get relief from these measures, seek medical help.
Listed below are the causes which can cause a soreness on the roof of mouth.
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
Causes
- Drinking or eating some hot foodstuffs, which can give a person mouth sores and ulcers
- Habit of smoking
- Tobacco chewing also leads to swollen roof of mouth behind front teeth or other areas of palate
- Low immunity
- Deficiencies of B12 and folate can result in sore palate
- A person may feel as if his roof of mouth is swollen in case he is suffering from palatal cancer
- Viral or bacterial infection can also lead to a sore palate
- Hormonal changes and stress also contribute to the condition of roof of mouth being swollen
Home Care Measures
Roof of mouth sores heal within a period of 10 - 12 days, and a sore roof of mouth will take even less time to heal. But, sometimes mouth sores last for a period of 6 weeks. Use these home care measures to get relief from sores on the roof of the mouth and the soreness of palate to retain dental health.
- Avoid Spicy & Hot Foods: The first thing you need to do is to stay away from any hot or spicy foodstuffs. Eat something light and restrict yourself to easy-to-chew food. Eating hot pizza can cause pizza burn. So, avoid eating a hot slice of pizza.
- Cool Water: In case the sore roof of the mouth troubles you a lot, keep gargling with cool water if you have sores due to burns.
- Milk: Swishing milk in your mouth will help soothe the affected area, and prevent it from further damage.
- OTC Pills: Over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen can be taken 2 times a day, if you are suffering from pain due to sores on roof of mouth.
- Supplements: Intake of vitamin B-complex supplements can also help in healing the sore roof of the mouth faster.
- Salt-water: In case you have a sore palate due to canker sores, gargle your mouth with salt-water.
- Lysine & Ice: If you are having fever blisters, then take lysine tablets and apply ice to the affected area.
- Fluocinonide Gel: You can also apply fluocinonide gel (Lidex) to the sore roof of the mouth, in case of canker sores.
- Chewing: Chew your food slowly to avoid further irritation to the affected area.
- Soft Toothbrush: Use a soft toothbrush for brushing. Replace your toothbrush every month for better dental hygiene.
- Control Stress: You can perform yoga or meditation everyday to control your stress level, and reduce the occurrence of sores in the mouth.
- Aloe: Take a leaf of aloe vera and slice it lengthwise. Scoop out the gel inside the leaf and apply it on the affected area couple of times a day. This will soothe the soreness.
- Alcohol & Smoking: As you already know that smoking can cause mouth sores, it is better that you quit smoking. Also, alcohol can irritate the mouth sore and make it worse, so avoid alcohol till the sore is cured.
- Ice Pop: In case you have a mouth sore due to a burn, slowly eat an ice pop. This will help to reduce the soreness.
When to Seek Medical Care
Contact a doctor in the following cases for mouth sores cure.
- If you have tried the remedies for more than 2 weeks and are still suffering from soreness on the roof of mouth.
- If it has become difficult to drink enough fluids.
- If you have developed roof of mouth sore, after you started taking new medication.
- If the sore is spreading.
- If you are suffering from a compromised immune system condition like HIV or cancer.
- If you have white patches which are large and visible on the roof of the mouth or tongue area.
- If your symptoms worsen, and you are experiencing skin rash, difficulty in swallowing or fever along with sore palate.
- If you have intolerable pain.