Younger children often get these as part of a viral or bacterial infection.
Older children will sometimes have recurrent mouth ulcers, the cause of which can be difficult to pinpoint.
Mouth ulcers in children can often be diagnosed by a pediatrician or dentist.
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This article explores the different causes of mouth sores in younger and older children.
It also explains how mouth sores are commonly treated and prevented.
These include the child’s age, the appearance and duration of the sores, and any accompanying symptoms.
Younger children are susceptible to many viral and bacterial infections that cause mouth ulcers.
Recurrent Mouth Ulcers
Recurrent ulcerscan be difficult to diagnose because there are many possible causes.
Some are pretty straightforward, like mouth traumas resulting from a dental appliance or habitually biting your cheek.
Recurrence is likely until the underlying problem is not resolved.
By far the most common is recurrence isaphthous stomatitis(also known as canker sores).
Food allergies and vitamin deficiencies are thought to increase the risk of canker sores in kids.
In many cases, no cause will be found.
Another possible cause is the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the virus associated with cold sores.
While most people get cold sores on the lip, others may have them inside the lip.
Recurrence is common with some people getting five to six outbreaks per year.
Treatment
The treatment of mouth sores is mainly focused on relieving symptoms.
There are also medications that can coat the ulcers and make them less painful.
These include dental pastes and liquid antacids like Maalox or Milk of Magnesia.
Prescription steroids are also sometimes used.
Prevention
If your child has recurrent mouth ulcers, it often helps to keep a symptoms journal.
This allows you to identify what may have triggered the outbreak.
Alcohol-free mouthwash is less irritating than regular mouthwash but may still be helpful in limiting the growth of microbes.
This can help prevent injury to the gums and the inside of the mouth.
You may also want to consider visiting the dentist more often.
Regular professional cleanings may be easier on your child’s teeth and gums.
Dry mouthcan also increase the risk of canker sores.
you could reduce the risk by encouraging your child to sip water regularly.
Summary
Mouth ulcers are common in younger and older children for many reasons.
Certain systemic diseases can also cause recurrent mouth ulcers in kids.
These include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, vitamin deficiencies, and periodic fever syndrome.
Mouth ulcers can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers and coating agents.
Prescription topical steroids are sometimes used for hard-to-treat ulcers.
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