Common Mouth Disorders

Dry mouth has various causes. Simple measures such as drinking frequent sips of water and chewing sugar-free gum will often help. This may be all that is needed in many cases. Artificial saliva or medication to stimulate the salivary glands are sometimes used.
 
Oral Thrush is an infection caused by a yeast germ called candida. Small numbers of candida commonly live in a healthy mouth. They are usually harmless. However, certain situations may cause an overgrowth of candida which may lead to a bout of oral thrush. These include a dry mouth, and if you are in general poor health. The classical symptom is for white spots to develop in the mouth.

However, often there are no white spots and areas within the mouth may just become red and sore. Most cases are treated with drops, lozenges or a gel which contains an anti-thrush drug such as nystatin, amphotericin or miconazole. Anti-thrush tablets such as fluconazole are sometimes used.
 
Aphthous mouth ulcers are the most common type. They are painful, and can recur from time to time. Each bout of ulcers usually goes away in time without treatment. Mouthwashes and steroid lozenges may ease the pain, and may help the ulcers to heal more quickly.

Halitosis: In most cases of persistent bad breath, the smell comes from a build up of bacteria within the mouth in food debris, plaque and gum disease, or in a coating on the back of the tongue. Good oral hygiene will often solve the problem. Other causes of bad breath may develop in people who are unwell. For example, oral thrush, a dry mouth, and tumors in the mouth can cause bad breath. If these can be treated then this may clear the bad breath.

Mucositis is a painful inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the mouth (the mucous membranes). Mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially radiotherapy that involves the head and neck. It occurs because the rapidly dividing cells on the inside lining of the mouth are affected by the treatment that is directed a the rapidly dividing cancer cells. Mucositis tends to get better 2-3 weeks after the course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment has finished. However, while you have mucositis you are more prone to develop other mouth problems such as infection and dry mouth.
 
Mouth Pain, there are many different causes of mouth pain. Sometimes the pain is localized to one area. Sometimes it is more general inside the mouth. Treatment depends on the cause and may include: treating the underlying cause (if possible), local anesthetic sprays, painkilling tablets, and locally applied painkilling gels and mouthwashes.