Can eating chili peppers speed up the recovery of oral ulcers?

Recently, some netizens claimed that if you want oral ulcers to heal faster, you can eat something spicy to stimulate the immune system, which will then pay more attention to this area and heal faster. So, is it true or false that "eating spicy or stimulating food when you have oral ulcers is more conducive to recovery"?

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 its obvious pain and recurring characteristics, it is also called recurrent aphthous ulcer, recurrent aphthous ulcer, etc.

About 10% to 25% of the population suffers from oral ulcers, which have three characteristics: periodicity, recurrence and self-limitation. According to the size, number, distribution and duration of oral ulcers, they are generally divided into three types: mild, severe and herpes.

Mild type. Most patients with the disease are of this type at the beginning, accounting for about 80%. The ulcers are round or oval, with a diameter of 2-4 mm, 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. The ulcers are small and numerous, with a diameter of less than 2 mm. The number can be as many as dozens, scattered like "stars in the sky", or fused into pieces. 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.

Eating spicy food when you have oral ulcers will aggravate the symptoms

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

First, chili peppers contain capsaicin, a pungent substance 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, causing it to further expand in 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.

The first is local treatment. Occasional oral ulcers or mild aphthous ulcers accompanied by obvious pain, or severe aphthous ulcers that affect eating or speaking, can be treated locally. The main goal is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, promote ulcer healing, and avoid secondary infection. You can use topical anti-inflammatory drugs for oral ulcers, such as films, ointments, gargles, lozenges, powders, sprays, etc., and be careful to use them according to the instructions; you can also use analgesics, such as lidocaine, etc., but be careful to limit them to severe pain and affect daily language and eating. Use to avoid addiction; related drugs can also be used for submucosal closure treatment. In addition, physical therapy can also be used, such as laser, microwave, etc., to reduce exudation and promote healing.

The second is systemic treatment. Severe or herpetic ulcers are mainly treated by targeting the specific cause of oral ulcers. Local treatment is combined with systemic treatment to control symptoms and reduce recurrence.

For example, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants can reduce inflammatory exudation and inhibit histamine release, while immunosuppressants can resist infection. Immunoenhancers, such as levamisole, transfer factor, thymosin, etc., can promote the body's cellular immune function. In addition, if oral ulcers are caused by a lack of certain nutrients such as folic acid, vitamin B_6, vitamin B_12 or zinc, appropriate nutrients can be supplemented.

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.

How to prevent mouth ulcers?

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

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

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

Proper supplementation of vitamins and trace elements. Proper supplementation of folic acid, vitamin B_6, vitamin B_12, zinc, etc. can enhance the resistance and repair ability of the oral mucosa.

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.

(The author is a doctor and doctor of medicine at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)