Can eating chili peppers speed up the recovery of oral ulcers? To prevent oral ulcers, you can start from 4 aspects

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Not long ago, I saw a comment under a short video saying, "Our teacher said that if you want oral ulcers to heal faster, you can eat something spicy or stimulating, which will make the immune system pay more attention to this area and heal faster." This comment was recognized by many netizens. As of the time I took a screenshot, it had 5,230 likes. So, is it true that " eating spicy or stimulating food is more conducive to recovery when you have oral ulcers "?

Let’s analyze them one by one today.

analyze

What are mouth ulcers?

Oral ulcer is the most common oral mucosal disease, usually manifested as a round or oval superficial ulcer, surrounded by a red halo, with a gray or yellow pseudomembrane in the center. Because of the obvious pain and recurring characteristics, it is also called recurrent Aphthous ulcer, recurrent aphthous ulcer, etc. Aphthous is the transliteration of the Greek word "burning pain".

What are the types of mouth ulcers?

About 10%-25% of the population suffers from oral ulcers, a disease that has three distinct characteristics: cyclical, recurrent, and self-limiting .

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Oral ulcers are generally divided into three types according to their size, number, distribution and duration:

Mild type: Most patients are of this type at the onset, accounting for about 80%. The ulcers are round or oval, 2-4 mm in diameter, about 1-5 in number, scattered on the lips, tongue, cheeks, soft palate, etc. Generally, there are no obvious systemic symptoms and signs.

Severe: This type of ulcer is large and deep, crater-like, with a diameter of 10-30 mm, deep into the submucosal layer and even into the muscular layer, with raised edges and a hard base, but clear and neat edges, and a grayish-yellow pseudomembrane covering the surface. Initially, it tends to occur at the corners of the mouth, and then migrates to the back of the mouth, often accompanied by low fever, fatigue, and other systemic discomfort symptoms, as well as swollen and painful lymph nodes in the affected area.

Herpes type: also known as stomatitis type aphthous ulcers. Ulcers are small and numerous, with diameters of less than 2 mm. The number can be as many as dozens, scattered like "stars in the sky", or fused into patches. The common sites are the same as those of the mild type. It may be accompanied by symptoms of general discomfort such as headache, low fever, and swollen and painful lymph nodes in the affected area.

What are the causes of oral ulcers?

The cause of oral ulcers is not yet fully understood. It is currently believed to be the result of the combined action of multiple factors, such as abnormal immune function, genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, local trauma, mental stress, endocrine disorders, infection, etc.

Does eating spicy food help oral ulcers recover?

The answer is no.

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Eating spicy food when you have oral ulcers will not only be unhelpful, but will aggravate the symptoms.

▶ First, chili peppers contain capsaicin, which is an irritant that can stimulate the nerve endings of the oral mucosa, causing burning and pain, and aggravating the discomfort of oral ulcers;

▶ Second, capsaicin can also affect the blood circulation of the oral mucosa, leading to a decrease in local immune function, further expanding the area, making it more susceptible to bacterial or fungal infection and delaying the healing process;

▶ Third, capsaicin may also affect the function of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to increased gastric acid secretion, accelerated gastrointestinal motility, causing symptoms such as indigestion, stomach pain, diarrhea, etc., affecting the body's nutrient absorption and immunity, which are not conducive to the recovery of oral ulcers.

It can be seen from this that eating spicy food is not conducive to the recovery of oral ulcers.

How to treat mouth ulcers?

Generally speaking, oral ulcers are self-limiting and can heal themselves within 1-2 weeks, but if they seriously affect the quality of life, certain treatment measures can be taken.

There are many treatments for oral ulcers, and different methods can be chosen depending on the size, location, pain level and cause of the ulcer.

1. Local treatment: Occasional oral ulcers or mild aphthous ulcers with obvious pain, or severe aphthous ulcers that affect eating or speaking, can be treated with local treatment. The main goal is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, promote ulcer healing, and avoid secondary infection.

▶ 1. Use anti-inflammatory drugs: There are many topical anti-inflammatory drugs for oral ulcers on the market, such as films, ointments, gargles, lozenges, powders, sprays, etc. Be sure to use them according to the instructions.

▶ 2. Use analgesics: such as lidocaine, but be careful to only use them when the pain is severe and affects daily speech and eating, to avoid addiction.

▶ 3. Local blockade: relevant drugs can be used for submucosal blockade treatment.

▶ 4. Physical therapy: Use laser, microwave and other irradiation to reduce exudation and promote healing.

2. Systemic treatment: Severe or herpetic aphthous ulcers are mainly treated for the specific cause of oral ulcers. Local treatment may be combined with systemic treatment to control symptoms and reduce recurrence.

▶ 1. Use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants: The former has the effects of reducing inflammatory exudation and inhibiting histamine release, while the latter has anti-infection effects.

▶ 2. Use immunoenhancers: such as levamisole, transfer factor, thymosin, etc., which can promote the body's cellular immune function.

▶ 3. Nutritional supplement: If oral ulcers are caused by a lack of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 or zinc, appropriate supplements can be given.

However, it should be noted that the causes of oral ulcers are many and complex. If oral ulcers are persistent or the anti-inflammatory drugs on the market are ineffective, you should seek medical attention promptly to find out whether there are other complications or whether the primary disease causing the oral ulcers has been missed.

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How to prevent mouth ulcers?

Oral ulcers usually recur, so prevention is more important than treatment. Scientific prevention can start from the following aspects:

1. Keep your oral cavity clean and hygienic. Brush your teeth every morning and evening, rinse your mouth after meals, and clean your teeth regularly to avoid oral infections and bacterial growth.

2. Pay attention to healthy diet. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, eat less spicy, greasy, and sweet foods, and avoid eating hard, overheated, or overly cold irritating foods to prevent damage to the oral mucosa and nutritional deficiencies.

3. Proper supplementation of vitamins and trace elements. Proper supplementation of folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, zinc, etc. can enhance the resistance and repair ability of the oral mucosa.

4. Keep a good mood. Be careful to avoid mood swings and nervous tension that may lead to decreased immune function and endocrine disorders.

If the patient has other comorbidities or physical discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical examination and treatment in time to screen for oral ulcer diseases caused by other reasons.

in conclusion

Oral ulcers are the most common oral mucosal injury, which is painful and annoying. They are cyclical, recurrent and self-limiting. Because the cause of oral ulcers is still unclear, the treatment lacks specificity and has limited efficacy, so effective prevention is the key. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, taking appropriate vitamin and trace element supplements, maintaining a regular work and rest schedule, and combining work and rest can keep us away from the torture of oral ulcers as much as possible.

Author: Meng Yao, Ph.D., Doctor of Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

Reviewer: Si Yan, Chief Physician, Department of Stomatology, Peking University Hospital of Stomatology

Planning丨Zhong Yanping

Editor: Li Mengxin

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