Unit

3
Mouth Ulceration
Reading

Mouth Ulcerations
A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of part of the delicate tissue that lines the inside of the
mouth (mucous membrane). There are many things that cause mouth ulcers. The most
common cause is injury (such as accidentally biting the inside of your cheek). Other causes
include aphthous ulceration, certain medications, skin rashes in the mouth, viral, bacterial
and fungal infections, chemicals and some medical conditions. An ulcer that won’t heal may
be a sign of mouth cancer. In most cases, mouth ulcers are harmless and resolve by
themselves within 10 to 14 days without the need for treatment.
The symptoms of a mouth ulcer depend on the cause, but may include: 1)one or more painful
sores on part of the skin lining the mouth, 2) swollen skin around the sores, 3) problems with
chewing or tooth brushing because of the tenderness, 4) irritation of the sores by salty, spicy
or sour foods, and 5) loss of appetite. Aphthous ulcers generally occur on the softer mouth
lining of the lips, cheeks, sides of the tongue, floor of the mouth, back of the roof of the mouth
and around the tonsil area. These ulcers are usually no larger than 5mm. You may develop
more than one aphthous ulcer at a time, and sometimes these ulcers are joined together.
Mouth ulcers can be caused by a wide range of factors including accidentally biting the inside
of cheek, injury from a toothbrush (such as slipping while brushing), constant rubbing against
misaligned or sharp/broken teeth, constant rubbing against dentures or braces, burns from
eating hot food and irritation from strong antiseptics, such as a mouthwash. Ulcers may
become worse during periods of stress, illness or extreme fatigue.

Practice 1
Answer the following questions based on the text above.
1. What is mouth ulcer?
2. What are the cause of mouth ulcers?
3. How long do mouth ulcers resolve?
4. What are the symptoms of a mouth ulcer?
5. In what condition do ulcers become worse?
Writing

Practice 2
Complete the text with the words in the box.

Tips to prevent mouth ulcers

You can take steps to 1)………………… the occurrence of mouth ulcers. Avoiding foods that irritate your
mouth can be helpful. That includes acidic fruits like pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, or lemon, as well
as nuts, chips, or anything 2)……………….. . Instead, choose whole grains and alkaline (nonacidic) fruits
and vegetables. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and take a daily multivitamin. Try to avoid talking
while you’re 3)………………………. your food to reduce accidental bites. Reducing stress and maintaining
good oral hygiene by using dental floss daily and brushing after meals also may help. Finally, get
adequate sleep and rest. This not only will prevent mouth ulcers, but a host of other 4)…………………….
as well. Some people find avoiding soft bristle toothbrushes and mouthwashes that contain sodium
lauryl sulfate also helps. Your 5)……………………… can give you wax to cover dental or orthodontic mouth
devices that have sharp edges.

illnesses spicy dentist chewing reduce

Vocabulary

Practice 3

Match the words with its definitions.

WORDS

1. Ulcers
2. Injury
3. Rashes
4. Swollen
5. Tender
6. Mouthwash
7. Fatigue
8. Spicy

9. Resolve
10. Irritation
DEFINITIONS

a. gentle, loving, or kind

b. a lot of small red spots on the skin

c. extreme tiredness

d. a painful or sore feeling in a part of the body

e. a break in the skin, or on the surface of an organ inside the body

f. containing strong flavours from spices

g. to become larger and rounder than usual; to increase in size

h. a liquid used for keeping the mouth clean and smelling fresh

i. physical harm or damage to someone's body caused by an accident or an attack

j. to solve or end a problem or difficulty

Speaking

Practice 4

Practice making sentences orally based on the headlines below. No.1 has been done for
example.

1. Be a tooth two timer!

Brush your teeth twice a day.
2. Fight with floss!
………………………………………………………………………..
3. Rinse germs down the drain!
………………………………………………………………………..
4. You are what you eat!
………………………………………………………………………..
5. Protect your pearly white!
………………………………………………………………………..
 Practice 5

Complete the poster below with the available explanation in the box below for each headline.
No. 6 has been done for you. Then explain this poster in front of your class.

G
 A B C D E
Wear a Rinse using Check your Brush your Visit your
mouthguard an mouth once a teeth at dental
when playing antibacterial month. Know least twice hygienist
or practicing mouthwash what’s a day with a regularly.
sports. Your to kill germs normal. If fluoride Begin visits
dental that cause you have a toothpaste. by age one
hygienist can cavities and sore that and continue
make a gum disease. does not heal throughout
custom fitter within two your life.
one for you. weeks, get it
checked by a
health
professional.

F G H I J
Floss Choose to be Want your Make Drinking
between tobacco free. child to stay healthy sweetened
your teeth. Using cavity free? food beverages
Using dental tobacco Ask your choices. and acidic
floss daily products can dental Nutritious fluids
can help stain your hygienist if food, low in increases
keep gums teeth and pit and sugar, is your risk of
healthy. increase your fissures good for developing
risk of sealants are a both oral cavities.
developing good option and overall
oral cancel. for your health.
child.