HIV Mouth Sores

Popularly known by many as ulcers, mouth sores are recognized as one of the prevailing signs of HIV infection. If the illness is left untreated, mouth sores can severely affect how an HIV-positive person deals with his/her daily life activities. While it is known that HIV impairs the body’s immune system, it opens doors for many health concerns, one of these is the appearance of oral complications.

Mouth sores can cause annoying and painful ulcers inside the mouth. It makes eating or swallowing very difficult and challenging. As said above, it can only affect your daily habits, especially with your meal. The following tackles the different causes of mouth sores in people who have been diagnosed with HIV. Also, consider the treatment options available with regards to these causes.

Canker sores

Also identified as aphthous ulcers, canker sores appear as small lesions usually emerged on the mouth’s soft tissues. These types of sores do not develop on the lips and they are not communicable. There is no concrete evidence as to how canker sores develop. However, there are suspected factors leading to the condition.

• Minor injury of the mouth
• Vitamin deficiency
• Stress (emotional stress)
• Weakened or impaired immune system
• Allergic response
• Sensitivity to food

There are certain ways to avoid canker sores, some of these are as follows:

• Following a healthy diet
• Taking vitamins
• Refrain from eating spicy foods

Over-the-counter medicines are available to help in treating canker sores. You can immediately buy it in any pharmacy.

HPV or Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV usually occurs in women. It doesn’t just affect the mouth but also the throat, making it a little difficult to treat. One of the many signs of HPV is the emergence of warts, usually developing inside the mouth or surrounding the lips. This infection can also trigger warts development in the genital region. If left untreated, HPV can cause cancer.

Some of its symptoms are as follows:

• Genital warts
• Common warts
• Plantar warts
• Flat warts

There are certain ways to avoid HPV. Some of these are as follows:

• Receiving HPV vaccination
• Utilizing the safety of condom use during sexual intercourse
• Practicing monogamous sex

Gum infection

One of the major signs of gum infection is the development of swollen and inflamed gums. Oral health becomes compromised when this condition occurs, resulting in bad mouth odor, development of cavities in between teeth, the emergence of one or two mouth sores, and of course, sudden loss of a tooth.

Some of its symptoms are as follows:

• Swollen gums
• Painful and bleeding gums
• Teeth sensitivity
• Painful sensation during eating or chewing

There are certain ways to avoid gum infection. Some of these are as follows:

• Regular brushing, at least twice on a daily basis
• Using floss after eating or brushing
• Preventing bad mouth odor by gargling mouthwash
• Dental checkups regularly