Mouth Ulcers During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes. Some of these changes are positive, like the skin absorbing more moisture resulting in it being healthier and glowing , while some can be challenging and uncomfortable like mouth ulcers. Due to the lowered strength of the immune system and hormonal imbalances, mouth ulcers can commonly affect women during pregnancy. The good news however, is that these ulcers are not serious, nor are they a sign of anything wrong with either the mother or the baby. They can also be managed and cured very easily.

What are Mouth Ulcers?

These open sores ulcers also known as cold sores or Aphthous stomatitis, are small white or yellow spots present in and around the mouth that are surrounded by a circle of red, They can occur anytime during pregnancy. Mouth ulcers during early pregnancy can be an indicator of shortage of vitamins like vitamin b12 and minerals like zinc or iron. Some supplements for canker sore during early pregnancy may have negative side effects too.

Note: We recommend you consult a physician before consuming any kind of supplement.

Types of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are not all the same. In fact, there are three very distinct types of mouth ulcers:

• Minor Mouth Ulcers: This is the most common type of aphthous stomatitis during pregnancy. These ulcers usually look like a wound that has a small diameter, approximately 2-9mm. They manifest at the base of the mouth, gums and tongue. The mouth and gum ulcers usually last 2-5 days among people who are not pregnant, and may take up to 10 days for pregnant women.  Tongue ulcers during pregnancy could take up to 12 days to heal. No medication is recommended for these ulcers.
• Major Mouth Ulcers: This is a little less common than the minor ulcers found in pregnant women, it has a diameter of about 10mm and may take several weeks to a month to heal. They are very visible on the surface of the tongue, gums the base of the mouth and even inside the throat. These ulcers can leave scars and can be extremely painful. It is recommended that you increase hydration to help manage these.
• Herpetiform Ulcers: This type of ulcer is more a virus than a sore, it has a very small diameter of about 1mm. These ulcer spots usually pop out in multiple places in clusters of dozens. It takes 2 or 3 weeks to heal and may leave behind a scar.

Causes

The cause of ulcers can manifest at any time during the period of expectancy for a pregnant woman, this is due to a weaker immune system and major hormonal imbalances. Ulcers are also issues for people who are not pregnant. They can have numerous external sources for both pregnant women and everybody else. It is important to understand the cause so that you can either prevent or manage an outbreak.

• Stress– A key reason for an ulcer to break out is stress.
• Diet– An imbalanced diet can be a reason for a breakout of mouth ulcers, this is because mouth ulcers can manifest due to a lack of vitamins and minerals.
• Sleep Deprivation– Sleep deprivation can cause hormonal and chemical imbalances in the body that have many side effects including mouth ulcers.
• Change in Immunity– A weak immune system can cause an outbreak of mouth ulcers.
• Vitamin Deficiency– Mouth ulcers are a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Zinc Deficiency– These ulcers are also a sign of deficient levels of zinc in your body.
• Hormonal Changes– A rapid change in hormones can alter the chemical composition of the body leading to mouth ulcers.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of an ulcer is the wound inside the mouth. These are common for anyone regardless of whether they are pregnant or not. You can identify ulcers during pregnancy with symptoms like:

• Fever
• Itchiness of the tongue, gums, and base of the mouth
• A burning pain inside the mouth, especially on the tongue and base of the mouth
• Bad breath or mouth odor
• Difficulty processing or eating food
• Difficulty drinking liquids

Mouth ulcers during the third trimester of pregnancy can also cause a loss of energy, lethargy and in rare cases, it may cause bleeding of the gums.

Treatments

There are numerous different ways to treat mouth ulcers. You can treat them both naturally and with medication. The kind of medication depends on the seriousness of the ulcer and how far along you are during your pregnancy. Before trying any medication always remember to consult a physician and understand the risks of the same if there are any, the dosage and the physician’s recommendations. Using ulcer ointments can be the easiest medicated way to treat ulcers but be careful when using these, some contain steroids that may impact the pregnancy.

It is recommended a doctor diagnoses and treats your ulcers personally as the immuno-requirements for pregnant women is much higher. Whether natural or medicinal treatments, consult a physician for a complete plan of treatment.

Natural Ways to Treat Mouth Ulcer

Apart from natural preventionsand medicine based treatments, there are also natural cures for mouth ulcers, these should be administered with care.

• Turmeric– Turmeric is a great natural antiseptic and is anti-inflammatory too. It is a commonly used ingredient in Asian foods and is known in parts of India, Thailand, and Sri-Lanka for treating ulcers. There is no certainty how the effect of turmeric on ulcers has not been studied extensively outside this region.

• Aloe Vera– This is a great ingredient, known to help prevent many diseases and infections as well as purifying the skin. Some believe that aloe is an outstanding cure for mouth ulcers, much like turmeric. However, there are not enough studies to guarantee this.

• Salt Licorice– Licorice root is an impressive natural ingredient that has a large number of health benefits. The Nords believe that the sweet licorice purifies the digestive tract and salt licorice purifies the blood. Icelanders and Norwegians believe that salt licorice is also a great cure for mouth ulcers, there are no studies that back this up yet.

How to Prevent Mouth Ulcers?

Aside from the medicated treatment or natural treatment, integrate these habits to help you prevent ulcers:

• Gargle with luke-warm salt water
• Hydrate and ensure you sleep well
• Avoid spicy foods
• Use mouthwash regularly to kill bad bacteria
• Floss regularly
• Take your vitamins, especially b12 supplements
• Mineral supplements count too.

Dental hygiene and a good diet will help support and improve the immune system. Managing stress is also an important factor in combating mouth ulcers when pregnant. Doing prenatal yoga and spending some time meditating is an excellent way to balance out your hormones temporarily as well as managing stress long term.

Remember to talk to your doctors before starting a new routine, implementing any alternative treatments or integrating new activities and foods into your diet. Never exceed dosages of medications or self-medicate. Communicate with any caregivers if they are around and keep them informed about the doctor’s instructions and recommendations regarding the mouth ulcers. If you have any questions regarding the side effects of medications or herbal/ natural therapy for mouth ulcers, have open discussions with your primary health care physician and address your fears. This will help decrease stress levels.