What Causes Tongue Ulcers

You don't have to be a stressed-out CEO of a large corporation to develop an ulcer. Even those spicy foods won't cause an ulcer. In the past, it was believed stress and diet caused peptic ulcers. Later, researchers stated stomach acids (hydrochloric acid and pepsin) contributed to the majority of ulcer formation. Today, however, research shows that most ulcers develop as a result of infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Research studies have shown that most ulcers are caused by an infection by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori -- also referred to as H. pylori. While the other factors listed below can also cause ulcers, H. pylori is now considered the cause of most ulcers. The H. pylori bacterium is found in the stomach, and along with acid secretion, can damage the tissue of the stomach and duodenum, causing inflammation and ulcers.''

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Bleeding Tongue

Bleeding Tongue

Tongue is a muscle which consists of soft tissues. There is a dense network of blood vessels inside the tongue. Tongue, being one of the most utilized muscles of the body, is susceptible to various injuries. Due to the heavy network of blood vessels underneath, the damage easily causes them to rupture. This results in profuse bleeding of the tongue. Although, the cause of bleeding tongue can be as minor as biting a tongue, the presence of large number of bacteria in mouth makes it an issue of concern. More often than not, it leads to infections of serious consequence, if not treated in time.''

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What is Gumboil? (Cause Swollen Gums)

Gumboil, known medically as Parulus is defined as a drainage point for abscessed teeth. This is a dental infection that occurs around the root of the tooth. It can be caused by a number of reasons, the most common among them being tooth decay, gum infections or a failed root canal. Gum boil appears as a small red bulging in the gum which when pressed drains out pus or occasionally blood. This condition is very painful and may also cause fever, swelling of the face and earache. The patient may experience a foul salty taste in his mouth and bad breath due to the pus draining out.''

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Saliva Production

This article is about the substance produced in the mouths of humans. For genus of a plant Salvia, see Salvia. For other uses, see Saliva (disambiguation). Saliva is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands. Hundreds of other minor salivary glands also contribute to the production of saliva. Human saliva is composed of 98% water, while the other 2% consists of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds such as secretory IgA and lysozyme. The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Furthermore, saliva serves a lubricative function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from desiccation. Various species have special uses for saliva that go beyond predigestion. Some swifts use their gummy saliva to build nests. Aerodramus nests are prized for use in bird's nest soup. Cobras, vipers, and certain other members of the venom clade hunt with venomous saliva injected by fangs. Some arthropods, such as spiders and caterpillars, create thread from salivary glands.''

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Thrush in Babies (Hazards Thrush in Babies)

A hungry baby who finds it painful to eat is a very sad sight, and a bout of thrush can be very trying — but it's usually short-lived. Give your baby all the comfort he needs and follow your pediatrician's instructions for pain relief and medication, and this infection, too, shall pass!

Uncontrolled, a mild case of oral candidiasis (the medical term for thrush) can quietly spread to your digestive system, infiltrate your blood, and even invade your brain!

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Myth: Saliva Dogs Can Heal Wounds & Answer The Fact

People often ask about dogs licking their wounds, and whether that promotes healing or gets in the way of proper healing. There’s nothing quite so pitiful as an injured dog wearing one of those big conical collars to prevent them from doing what they most want to do by nature lick their wounds.''

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The Tongue Senses the Ability to Detect a Sense of Substance

Taste (also called smatch or gustation; adjectival form: gustatory) is one of the traditional five senses. It refers to the ability to detect the flavor of substances such as food, certain minerals, poisons, etc. Humans receive tastes through sensory organs called taste buds, or gustatory calyculi, concentrated on the top of the tongue. Taste is sensed through taste cells, which are known as taste buds. There are about 100,000 taste buds that are located on the back and front of the tongue. Others are located on the roof, sides and back of the mouth, and in the throat. The sensation of taste can be categorized into five basic tastes: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami. “Umami” is originally the Japanese word for “meaty” or “savory”. Not surprisingly, it is

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Wild Dogs In Danger of saliva

SalivaSaliva : The patient was admitted to a Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal hospital on the 2nd May 2012 with migratory pain in his arm and shoulder, unilateral ptosis, fever, confusion, and progressively hypersalivation and hydrophobia. The patient was already unwell on the 29th April 2012. Rabies was considered as a differential diagnosis when the patient reported contact with a stray dog that died and with which he had contact two months prior to his illness. The patient provided shelter for the animal which was initially well, but reportedly developed signs and symptoms consistent with rabies within a couple of days. The animal was buried on the farm. The patient did not report any bites or serious injuries from the animal and therefore did not receive any rabies post exposure prophylaxis at the time. It is however likely that the patient was in contact with the saliva of the dog (which may be a source of infection on broken skin or mucous membranes). Once rabies was suspected in the human patient, the dog was exhumed and tested positive for rabies. On admission the patient received rabies immunoglobulin (human origin at 20IU/kg) and rabies vaccination in the Emergency Department. Once the diagnosis of rabies was likely, the patient was managed according to a modification of the Milwaukee protocol . Pending laboratory confirmation of rabies he was treated empirically with acyclovir for possible herpes infection and quinolones for rickettsial disease. Laboratory tests for rabies were carried out at the Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service (NICD/NHLS) in Johannesburg. Ante- mortem tests using PCR on multiple samples of saliva, skin and cerebrospinal fluid over the course of his illness were consistently negative. Rabies specific IgG was positive in serum likely reflecting the recent passive and active immunization of the patient. Initial serological tests on cerebrospinal fluid were negative, but rabies specific IgG was detected at low titers on repeat samples, without an increase in titre over 4 weeks. Extensive testing for other infectious causes of encephalitis yielded negative results (including testing for West Nile fever, Rift Valley fever, herpes, malaria, enteroviruses).

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Myth: Saliva Dogs Can Heal Wounds & Answer The Fact

People often ask about dogs licking their wounds, and whether that promotes healing or gets in the way of proper healing. There’s nothing quite so pitiful as an injured dog wearing one of those big conical collars to prevent them from doing what they most want to do by nature lick their wounds.''

And while it’s certainly good to keep your pet from licking freshly stitched cuts (he might pull out stitches and end up with a bigger, uglier scar), once the stitches have been in place for a few days and begin to dissolve or are very soon to be removed, letting the dog go ahead and lick may even promote healing. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, it’s true that dog saliva has antibiotic properties. Specifically, dog saliva contains lysozyme, an enzyme that lyses and destroys harmful bacteria. This means the enzyme attaches to the bacterial cell wall – particularly gram-positive bacteria – and weakens it, leading to rupture.''

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Diseases & Disorders of the Tongue

The tongue is a powerful muscle involved in the critical functions of speaking, chewing and swallowing. Taste buds cover the upper surface of the tongue. A variety of diseases and disorders can affect the tongue including infections, injuries, chronic irritation, abnormal tissue growth and congenital conditions. Many tongue disorders are short-lived; others may cause long-term difficulties, requiring ongoing medical management.

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a painless grey or white patch on the tongue that develops in response to chronic irritation. These patches can also develop on the inner cheek regions of the mouth. Cigarette or pipe smoking and use of chewing tobacco increase the risk for development of leukoplakia. Irritation caused by poorly fitting dentures or rough spots on the teeth can also lead to leukoplakia. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reports that approximately one-quarter of leukoplakia patches are cancerous or precancerous. A variant of this disorder known as hairy leukoplakia is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and mostly commonly occurs in people with a weakened immune system

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Causes of Tongue Discoloration

Is a resource for those of us who suffer from tongue discolorations. It has references for possible causes as well as natural and homeopathic remedies to cure orange tongue as well as other oral issues. The tongue is a group of strong muscles which are important part for chewing and the breakdown of food. The muscles are surrounded by a mucous membrane that contains small bumps called papillae. Normally, the tongue and the papillae are pinkish red in color. Color changes of the tongue can occur as a result of a number of conditions that cause changes in the structure or the papillae.''

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White Bumps Around the Tongue

The tongue is covered with a mucus membrane and mainly is composed of muscles. The tongue naturally is covered with small white bumps called papillae. The tongue serves the purpose of moving food around your mouth as you eat and helps you form words appropriately. Taste buds are situated between the papillae. Changes in the appearance of the tongue may be due to a number of conditions.''

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Raised and Tender Bumps on the Tongue

ome raised and tender bumps on the tongue are relatively minor and require no medical intervention, other than helping to relieve the associated pain. Yet there are conditions that trigger these bumps that require medical treatments, making it important to consult with a doctor when the lesions don't go away after a week or two.''

Canker Sores

These are some of the more common raised and tender bumps on the tongue. They're characterized by the Mayo Clinic as small, shallow lesions that can result from factors including food allergies, tongue injuries, vitamin deficiencies and an underlying medical condition. When they develop, these sores usually resolve themselves in a week or two. However, you can treat the lesions with corticosteroids, nutritional supplements and heartburn medications. Topical pastes of debacterol, benzocaine, amlexanox and fluocinonide can also speed recovery.''

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Tongue Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies

Saliva : The muscular tongue functions in chewing, tasting and swallowing. Because of its nearly continuous use throughout the day, abnormalities become obvious very quickly, making the tongue a helpful marker of disease. If your tongue shows signs or symptoms of a vitamin deficiency, testing will most often reveal one of the B vitamins as the culprit, explains MedlinePlus. Less commonly, levels of other vitamins that are low also cause changes of your oral cavity, including the tongue.

Glossitis: Loss of the tiny, fingerlike projection on the tongue  the papillae -- develops after an ongoing deficiency of any of several members of the B vitamin family, explains "American Family Physician," in its March 2010 issue. Folate, vitamin B12 and niacin can all claim responsibility for the abnormally smoothed tongue called "atrophic glossitis," depending on your clinical situation. If you are vegan or have certain digestive system illnesses such as Crohn's disease, you risk a vitamin B12 deficit. Alcoholics lack niacin, another B vitamin that leads to glossitis. A dark red discoloration of the tongue accompanies B vitamin induced glossitis. Replacing the missing vitamin allows rapid regrowth of the papillae.

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Symptoms of a Cracked Tongue

Discover a Natural, Inexpensive Geographic Tongue Treatment and Transform your Painful Geographical Tongue Back Into a Healthy Tongue in as Little as One Month.

"Natural Geographic Tongue Treatment - Geographical Tongue Pictures" Geographic tongue is a condition of the tongue affecting approximately 3% of the population. It is characterized by painful, discolored regions of taste buds. The condition is usually chronic, but only manifests after eating specific exacerbating foods.

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Causes and Treatments for an Itchy Throat, Stop Allergy

Stop Allergy

Saliva :  We all get a tickle in our throat from time to time and generally this is considered a minor irritation that will pass. Usually we associate it with an infection such as a cold or consider a cough part and parcel of being generally ill. However if an itchy throat persists it can become quite distressing, causing us to lose sleep, hurt our throats through excessive coughing and lose concentration. Getting to the cause of an itchy throat then is important to enable you to treat it and thereby get some respite from the itch. The inside walls of the throat are coated with a mucosal membrane which contains nerves that can be irritated by air, food, virus or allergies. The purpose of this mucus however is to lubricate the throat and to allow air and food to pass easily through. When this mucus dries out due to infection, dehydration or another cause then this will leave the sensitive flesh underneath exposed and susceptible to irritation. Alternatively if the mucus membranes begin producing too much fluid this can cause the throat to become ‘clogged’ which again will tickle the throat and require constant ‘clearing’. A common cause of an itchy throat then is dehydration which causes the throat to become dry and hoarse as the body can no longer produce mucus. The obvious solution to this dehydration is to drink water. However if your dehydration persists or you seem unable to quench your thirst then this could be a result of another condition, for example it might be a result of diarrhea which can leave the body dehydrated due to the expulsion of liquid. Alternatively it might be a sign of diabetes, where constant thirst is one of the symptoms (caused by frequent urination intended to expel the additional glucose in the blood). Other viruses can cause a tickling in the throat due to constant coughing, while there are a wide range of those that will leave you constantly dehydrated.''

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Symptoms of Dry Mouth Include

We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don't produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth. Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in your mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while - if they are nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.''

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The Facts About Swallowing Difficulties

Difficulty with swallowing is the sensation that food is stuck in the throat, or from the neck down to just above the abdomen behind the breastbone (sternum).
Considerations, Swallowing is a complex act that involves the mouth, throat area, and esophagus (the muscular tube that moves food to the stomach). Many nerves and muscles control how these body parts work. Part of the act of swallowing is under voluntary control, which means you are aware of controlling the action. However, much of swallowing is involuntary.''

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How do You Get Tonsil Stones (Cryptolysis)

Tonsil stones also known as tonsillolith are small white calcareous clusters that accumulate in the crypts of your tonsils. Tonsil stones can commonly be identified by the volatile sulfuric gasses that the bacteria in these whitish yellow particles produce. Individuals commonly discover tonsil stones when they experience discomfort in the back of their throat and unexpectedly cough up what appears to be a squishy white mass. Most people readily identify tonsil stones by the smell and up until the last 2 -3 years have been unable to identify what they are.''-

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Mouth Care Basics for Type 2 Diabetes Dr. Barker, ND

These tips on good oral hygiene can help you avoid type 2 diabetes-related problems like gum disease and tooth decay. ype 2 diabetes is a dangerous disease because, if uncontrolled, it can lead to complications throughout the body, from the heart to the kidneys to the eyes. Diabetes can even affect the mouth, causing gum disease and tooth decay.''

Diabetes and Oral Hygiene: A Double Whammy

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