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Mouth ulcers, IBD &
Aloeride®
People suffering from Coeliac
disease or IBD (Ulcerative
Colitis and
Crohn’s
Disease) sometimes get extra-intestinal symptoms next to
their digestive problem. One of such is small ulcers in the mouth.
Recurrent Aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and recurrent intraoral herpes
(RIH) are the two most commonly presenting oral lesions in dentistry
recurrent. Recurrent Aphthous Ulcerations (RAU) is another form of
mouth ulcer but is considered an immunological deficiency. Why aphts
appear in people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease is unknown but often
it coincides with flare-ups and usually the ulcer(s) heal(s) with
remission of the IBD.
Aloeride®
has proven exceptionally useful in the management of
mouth ulcers, it significantly speeds up healing time and helps with
pain. How to use Aloeride® is discussed further on, first
however a
little more information to put mouth ulcers in context.
Causes of mouth ulcers can be linked to microbial disease (like Herpes,
chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis), to gastrointestinal disease
(Coeliac, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis), to skin disease (like
lichen planus, erythema multiforme), to blood disorders (like
leukaemia, neutropenia), to rheumatoid diseases (like systemic lupus
erythematosus, Behçet’s disease,
Reiter’s syndrome)
or to drugs (cytotoxic agents, Nicorandril, NSAIDs and oral nicotine
replacement therapy). Reading this list you can understand why, if a
mouth ulcer persists for more than 3 weeks, a differential diagnosis
should be made, possibly via biopsy or other investigations to exclude
malignancy or serious conditions.
When not caused by a specific condition, mouth ulcers can be related to
food sensitivities or nutritional deficiencies (Oral Surg, 1982, 54:
388-95; BMJ, 1975; 2: 490-3). In one study of 330 individuals with
recurrent mouth ulcers, 14.2% proved to be deficient in Iron, Folic
Acid and/or vitamin B12. The majority of whom achieved a complete
remission when their deficiencies were eliminated by supplements. (J
Oral Path, 1978; 7: 418-23). For patients who are deficient in Zinc,
taking extra zinc supplements has proved effective (BMJ, 1975; 2:
490-3) and this is because Zinc is required for the development and
activation of T-lymphocytes. For centuries, medicated zinc bandages
have been found to have a soothing and beneficial effect on leg ulcers.
It is well known that people with Coeliac disease, Ulcerative
Colitis
and Crohn’s
Disease suffer from a varying degree of impaired
tolerance to foods and a reduced uptake of nutrients. Gluten and wheat
sensitivity are on the top of that list. Finding well tolerated, highly
absorbable wholefood supplements whilst using Aloeride® both as
a
buffer and to facilitate nutrient uptake will help to overcome such a
deficiency.
While ulcers are present you definitely shall want to change to
Macrobiotic type of meals which are nutritious but bland, soft foods
devoid of spices or salt thus not causing irritation. Medical treatment
can include antiseptic chlorhexidine mouthwashes, hydrocortisone
pellets, antibiotic pastes or topical corticosteroids. Increasingly
people use topical Aloeride® aloe vera to this list.
A randomised controlled trial published in the British Journal of
Dermatology confirmed empirical findings that aloe vera can help mouth
ulcers associated with oral lichen planus (Volume 158, Number 3, March
2008, pp. 573-577(5).
Out of 54 patients, half of whom received topically applied aloe vera
and half of whom received a placebo, 81% of patients treated with aloe
vera had a good response after eight weeks of treatment, while only 4%
of placebo patients had a similar response. Where improvement occurred,
it was on a significantly greater scale in those treated with aloe
vera, a 50% symptom improvement was scored in 63% of the aloe vera
patients but only in 7% of the placebo group. Burning pain completely
disappeared in 33% of the aloe vera patients, compared with only 4% of
the placebo group.
Dentist Dr. Timothy Moore wrote a paper about using aloe vera in over
6,000 of his patients. He stated that both patients and doctors noted
the healing capabilities of aloe vera to far exceed their expectations
in pain control, oedema control and healing time reduction. Next to
intraoral lesions he applies aloe vera to periodontal surgery sites,
traumatized gum tissue, ulcerations as discussed here, chemical burns,
extraction sites (these sites respond more comfortably and dry sockets
do not develop when aloe vera is applied) and around dental implants to
control inflammation from bacterial contamination.
When you use Aloeride®
for mouth ulcers you should appreciate that
contact time is of the essence. Open a capsule and empty its content
onto a spoon, now put the powder in your mouth and add some water to
it. Swill that mixture around your mouth for no less than 5 minutes. If
say, you have a mouth ulcer on the left cheek or gums then of course
you lean your head slightly in that direction so the mixture of water
and Aloeride®
powder is in contact with the lesion. After the 5
minutes you swallow the water with Aloeride®
powder. You can repeat
this procedure upto 4 times a day. Should a mouth ulcer persist for
more than 3 weeks then you are advised to see a physician.
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