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Recurrent mouth ulcers
My 16-year-old son suffers regular bouts of mouth ulcers. In recent months, they have become more severe with the ulcers occurring at the back of his throat, as well as his tongue, gums and cheeks. We have used mouth washed and various soothing agents but can find no advice on how to prevent or cure them. He will be sitting his GCSEs this summer and I wonder if the stress of upcoming exams may be making the problem worse? I also suffered mouth ulcers in my teens.
Stress can play a role in triggering mouth ulcers which are, in fact, open and inflamed sores which develop when the mucus membrane inside the mouth becomes eroded. Aggressive tooth-brushing is sometimes cited as a cause - a quickly splayed toothbrush is a sign of this - and they can also be the result of a hidden food allergy.
Mouth ulcers are commonly linked with a deficiency in the anti-stress B vitamins, says Kerrin Booth, a qualified naturopath and herbalist who works at the Apotheke 20-20 naturopathic clinic in Chiswick, London. Prolonged stress depletes levels of B vitamins so with exams coming up, it would make sense to supplement these.
Overacidity in the digestive system may also be causing the problem. Again, says Booth, this is easily corrected by supplementing your son’s diet with sodium phosphate. A combined zinc and vitamin A supplement will work together to heal the mucus membranes inside the mouth. You can also apply aloe vera gel directly onto the sore or take a tip from the Ayurvedic practitioners and chew on a piece of fresh ginger root to accelerate healing and prevent infection of these sores.
You can also make a soothing tincture of the herb myrrh which also acts as a disinfectant. Make the drink with boiled water or, if you prefer, dab a little of a ready-made tincture directly onto the ulcer. It taste vile so dilute it with a little water, use a cotton bud to dab it on the ulcer and hold it there for as long as you can bear it.
Kerrin Booth practises at Apotheke 20-20 (0181-995 2293). Blackmores’ Executive B provides all the anti -stress B vitamins. 84 capsules cost £10.40 Take as directed on the bottle. To boost levels of sodium phosphate, order Blackmores Sodiphos which costs £4.73 and take one, three times a day. BioZinc, from the same company, will provide additional zinc and vitamin A. 84 capsules cost £8.24 and again, take one capsules, three times d ay. Add £2.50 p&p per order. For myrrh tincture, call Farmacia (0171-831 0830.) 50ml costs £3.95.