Causes | Inflammation of oral mucosa

Causes

The causes of inflammation of the oral mucosa are very different. The different causes can be divided as follows: Infectious causes Inflammations of infectious cause are caused by certain pathogens. These are microorganisms that normally occur in food etc.

and with which humans have contact. One group of pathogens are bacteria (for example: Borrelia vincentii). In addition, inflammation of the oral mucosa can be triggered by viruses (for example by herpes viruses (HHV-1 and HHV-2)).

Initial contact with the herpes simplex virus in particular leads to so-called gingivostomatitis herpetica (synonym: oral thrush), a very painful inflammation of the oral mucosa, in the course of which blisters form. The blisters itch and burn. In addition, high fever and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck occur.

Another group of pathogens are fungi. Usually the yeast fungus Candida albicans is responsible. This fungus belongs to the normal oral flora of humans and can cause the so-called oral thrush.

With the mouth thrush the mouth mucous membrane is covered with whitish coatings.As a rule, oral thrush only occurs in people whose immune system is weakened due to disease or certain therapies. Viral and bacterial inflammations also usually develop due to an already existing weakening of the immune system or due to a previous damage of the oral mucosa. Other Causes Here the non-infectious causes of various origins are summarized.

An allergic reaction can lead to so-called contact stomatitis. This is caused by contact with a substance that does not trigger such a reaction in healthy people. Furthermore, an inflammation of the oral mucosa can develop due to the effects of toxins.

Triggers here are, for example, acids that can trigger a chemical burn or metal compounds that can trigger poisoning. Another source of danger are physical effects. Drinks and food that are too hot cause burns, which can then develop into an inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Mechanical damage can also be caused by excessively hard or sharp-edged food (crispbread, popcorn, chips, hard candy, etc.) or, for example, the improper use of a toothbrush. Such injuries to the mucous membrane can then turn into an inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Bacteria can also settle in such openings in the mucosa and promote the development of an inflammation of the mucosa. Diseases that affect the whole person (systemic diseases) can also manifest themselves in the form of an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Examples are diseases of the connective tissue or gluten intolerance (celiac disease) or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease).

Leukemia and coagulation disorders can also trigger inflammation of the oral mucosa. Furthermore, there are diseases that are triggered by bacteria and which, in addition to systemic symptoms, can also manifest themselves through an inflammation of the oral mucosa. The sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis can trigger an inflammation of the oral mucosa.

The oral mucosa can also manifest itself through a deficiency condition. Vitamin deficiencies are the most important ones. For example, people with vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) have bleeding gums and inflammation of the mucous membranes.