There is a white pustule in the mouth

Oral hygiene is something that most people ignore. Only when we have some problems do we realize that some diseases have occurred. If you find a white pustule in your mouth, it is likely caused by a mouth ulcer. Although oral ulcers are not serious, they always affect our daily diet. And the treatment methods for different types of oral ulcers are also different.

Oral ulcers, commonly known as "mouth sores", are a common ulcerative injury disease that occurs in the oral mucosa. They are more common in the inner side of the lips, tongue, tongue ventral side, buccal mucosa, vestibule groove, soft palate and other parts. The mucosa in these parts lacks a keratinized layer or has poor keratinization. Tongue ulcers refer to oral ulcers that occur on the tongue and the ventral part of the tongue. When oral ulcers occur, the pain is severe and there is obvious local burning pain. In severe cases, it can affect eating and speaking, causing great inconvenience to daily life. It may be complicated by bad breath, chronic pharyngitis, constipation, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, irritability, fever, swollen lymph nodes and other systemic symptoms.

There are many diseases that manifest as ulcer-like lesions on the oral mucosa, such as:

1. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Also known as recurrent oral ulcer (ROU), recurrent aphthae or cankersores, burning pain is its prominent feature, so it is named "Aphthous" (the Greek word aphthous means "burning pain"). It appears as single or multiple round or oval ulcers of varying sizes, covered with grayish white or yellow pseudomembrane on the surface, with a central depression, clear boundaries, and red and slightly swollen surrounding mucosa. It is characterized by cyclical, recurrent and self-limiting nature. It affects all ages, with the estimated age of onset being between 10 and 20 years old, and is more common in women. It can occur all year round and can heal itself in about 10 days.

2. Behcet's syndrome

The symptoms and occurrence patterns of oral mucosal damage are similar to those of recurrent aphthous ulcers. In addition, this disease involves multiple systems and organs, and has symptoms of extraoral lesions that appear successively. Eye, genital, and skin lesions are also its main clinical features, manifested as recurrent genital ulcers, skin nodular erythema, folliculitis, and uveitis. In severe cases, damage to multiple systems such as joints, small blood vessels, nerves, digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems may occur.

3. Traumatic ulcers

It is closely related to mechanical stimulation, chemical burns or heat and cold stimulation, and its onset site and morphology are consistent with the mechanical stimulation factors. There is no history of recurrence, and the ulcer heals quickly after the irritation is removed; however, if allowed to develop, it may become cancerous.

4. Cancerous ulcers

It is more common in the elderly, with irregular shapes, uneven raised edges, unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues, uneven bases of the ulcer surface, granular, hard to the touch, significantly different from normal mucosa, and no obvious pain. Malignant ulcers have a long course and may not heal or gradually expand for months or even more than a year. Conventional anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs are not very effective in treatment. Patients with benign oral ulcers rarely have systemic symptoms; on the contrary, patients with malignant oral ulcers may have fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, fatigue, etc.

5. Herpes simplex

It is common in infants and young children. In the early stage, the main manifestation is clusters of small blisters, which will fuse into larger erosive surfaces or irregular ulcers after breaking. Relapse has a clear relationship with the triggering factors. Relapse is often accompanied by prodromal symptoms such as sore throat and fatigue, and is often accompanied by obvious general discomfort during the onset.

6. Radiation stomatitis

There is a history of radiation exposure, and the above-mentioned acute and chronic oral lesions are characteristic. When the degree of mucosal damage of radiation stomatitis is mild, the oral mucosa may become red and edematous; erosion and ulceration may occur, covered with a white pseudomembrane, easy bleeding, obvious tenderness, dry mouth, bad breath, etc. It may be accompanied by functional disorders such as difficulty eating and systemic symptoms such as dizziness, insomnia, anorexia, and hair loss. In severe cases, it may be accompanied by systemic damage such as bleeding and secondary infection.