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Stomatitis in adults
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
Reasons
Stomatitis in adults is caused by bacteria and viruses, unbalanced nutrition, when the body lacks zinc, mechanical injuries from hard food, crackers, eating unwashed fruit. Stomatitis in adults can also be caused by taking medications that suppress saliva secretion. Other causes of stomatitis in adults: cancer, isotope treatment and chemotherapy, gastrointestinal diseases, gastritis, HIV, hormonal disorders.
Symptoms
Symptoms of stomatitis in adults are redness and round ulcers in the oral cavity. It becomes difficult to eat, it further injures the wound. One ulcer or several large ulcers may appear. The patient's temperature rises and a headache begins.
Is stomatitis contagious in adults?
The answer to the question of whether stomatitis is contagious in adults is clear: if it is caused by viruses, then yes, it is contagious. Do not share toothbrushes with other people, do not drink from the same bottle - and you will be able to avoid infection.
How long does stomatitis last in adults?
It is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of how long stomatitis lasts in adults. Usually all symptoms disappear within 8-14 days.
Aphthous stomatitis
Aphthous stomatitis in adults is a manifestation of allergies and rheumatic diseases. Aphthae are small ulcers of gray-white color. With this form of inflammation of the mucous membrane, the temperature often rises.
Herpetic stomatitis
Herpetic stomatitis in adults is caused by the herpes simplex virus and manifests itself in the appearance of several blisters, which resemble aphthae. The mucous membrane of the mouth is bright red. The blisters are located in groups, burst after 2-3 days and form erosions. The erosions are covered with fibrous plaque and heal over time.
Herpetic inflammation of the mucous membrane can provoke an exacerbation of tonsillitis, seasonal vitamin deficiency and stress, caries, gingivitis.
Fungal stomatitis
Fungal stomatitis in adults is caused by a fungus of the genus Candida. When the immune system is weakened, it develops intensively; it can develop after taking antibiotics and against the background of diabetes.
The mucous membrane becomes thinner and becomes covered with a cheesy coating.
Patients with fungal inflammation of the mucous membrane should exclude sweet foods from their diet. Eat more fermented milk products.
Allergic stomatitis
For allergic stomatitis to occur in adults, an allergen must enter the body. The most common allergens are: fillings, braces, lipstick.
Clinical manifestations: burning and itching of the oral mucosa, appearance of ulcers.
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Stomatitis on the tongue
Stomatitis in adults on the tongue manifests itself as itching and a whitish coating, the appearance of ulcers. Stomatitis on the tongue is also called the term "glossitis".
Glossitis accompanies diphtheria and gastrointestinal diseases, caries.
To cope with this disease, it is necessary to eliminate the cause: dental treatment or an infectious disease.
A furacilin solution helps, as well as herbal decoctions for rinsing. Take a tablespoon of calendula herb and pour a glass of water. After infusing for an hour, rinse once every 3 hours.
You can apply raw potatoes as an ointment or drink potato juice. Treat your tongue with rosehip oil - an excellent, proven folk remedy against any inflammation.
Avoid eating hard, salty, or too hot foods.
How to treat stomatitis in adults? First of all, it is necessary to diagnose stomatitis in adults and determine its cause. The remedy for stomatitis in adults is selected based on this. The following effective ointments for stomatitis in adults are often prescribed: oxalinovaya, bonafton, acyclovir. These ointments should be applied to the dried mucous membrane 2-3 times a day.
Drug treatment of stomatitis in adults consists of prescribing antibiotics and antiviral drugs, depending on the nature of the disease.
Treatment of stomatitis in adults with medications is aimed at both healing the oral mucosa and eliminating the most common cause of all types of inflammation of the mucosa. The root of evil lies in our immunity. When it fails, the body can respond to this with inflammation in the oral cavity.
Antibiotics for stomatitis in adults are effective against bacterial infections.
Frequent stomatitis
Frequent stomatitis in adults can be a sign of serious gastrointestinal diseases, HIV, herpes, cancer. If you often have mouth ulcers, you should be wary and look for the cause of your condition. Stomatitis in adults is a signal that there is a failure, a breakdown somewhere in the body. And your immune system has given you a signal in this way.
What's bothering you?
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of stomatitis in adults includes a blood test and a throat swab. But usually an experienced dentist, just by looking at the patient's oral cavity, can already determine inflammation of the mucous membrane. And if you also have a fever, flu-like symptoms, you can be sure of your conclusions and go to the therapist as soon as possible.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment of various types of stomatitis in adults
In mild forms, treatment of stomatitis in adults is usually local. If the inflammation of the oral mucosa is non-viral, non-fungal and non-allergic, first of all, you need to try to eliminate the inflammation and heal the aphthae. Traditional medicine, known for its healing properties, can help you with this. Make applications of sea buckthorn oil, propolis ointment or rosehip oil, applying them to the dried oral mucosa 2-3 times a day. Be careful if you have a tendency to allergies or individual sensitivity.
An effective local antiseptic for stomatitis is chlorhexidine bigluconate. In dentistry, a 0.05% solution is used 2-3 times a day. They rinse the mouth or irrigate ulcers with inflammation of the mucous membrane. Side effects of the drug: dry skin, itching, rash, dermatitis. Pregnant women can use it. There are no contraindications other than individual sensitivity to chlorhexidine.
Treatment of viral stomatitis
Treatment of viral stomatitis in adults: drink plenty of fluids and eat pureed food, rinse your mouth with soda (1 teaspoon per glass of water), chamomile and eucalyptus decoction (take dry chamomile and eucalyptus herbs in a 1:1 ratio and boil. Rinse your mouth with this decoction). If the inflammation of the mucous membrane is of herpetic origin, Zovirax is effective. Zovirax tablets are taken orally at 200 mg 5 times a day for 5 days. Side effects of the drug: nausea, vomiting. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, diseases of the nervous system. Use with caution, under the supervision of a physician, during pregnancy and lactation. The effect of the drug on a child has been little studied.
Treatment of aphthous stomatitis
Treatment of aphthous stomatitis in adults most often occurs at home by rinsing the mouth with calendula tincture (1 teaspoon of tincture per glass of water).
It is very useful to drink rosehip decoction when the oral mucosa is inflamed – it strengthens the body and destroys bacteria.
Treatment of herpetic stomatitis
Treatment of herpetic stomatitis in adults in recent years has been carried out using gels that are applied directly to the mucous membrane. You can apply the drug Viferon-gel 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days.
Amixin is used to stimulate the immune system. Treatment of stomatitis in adults with Amixin is carried out every day for the first two days (one tablet), then - every other day. The course of treatment is 20 tablets. Amixin helps the body fight the herpes virus. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, childhood, individual intolerance. Side effects include skin itching, rash and urticaria.
Treatment of fungal stomatitis
Treatment of fungal stomatitis in adults includes therapy with antifungal drugs in tablet form, such as Nystatin. Adults are given 500,000 IU 3-4 times a day or 250,000 IU 6-8 times a day. The daily dose is 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 IU. Side effects of the drug include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There are no contraindications other than individual sensitivity.
The drug Imudon for strengthening the immune system is prescribed in the form of lozenges, 5-8 pcs per day. The course of treatment with the drug is 2-3 weeks.
Aloe and Kalanchoe liniment is used to treat fungal stomatitis in adults as follows: apply to the mucous membrane for 20 minutes 3-4 times a day.
Treatment of allergic stomatitis
Treatment of allergic stomatitis in adults begins with limiting contact with the allergen. Antihistamines are used to treat allergic stomatitis: tavegil, fenkarol.
Tavegil is prescribed to adults and children over 12 years old – 1 tablet in the morning and evening.
Side effects of Tavegil: headache, dry mouth, nausea.
In case of individual sensitivity and pregnancy, the drug is not prescribed.
The drug Fenkarol for the diagnosis of "allergic stomatitis in adults" is used at 25-50 mg 3-4 times a day.
Side effects: gastrointestinal disorders.
The drug is not prescribed to pregnant women. It is prescribed with caution to nursing mothers.
Eggs, coffee, and chocolate should be excluded from the diet of a patient with allergic stomatitis. Do not overuse seasonings and spices.
More information of the treatment
Drugs
Prevention
Prevention of stomatitis in adults involves maintaining oral hygiene, limiting contact with allergens and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
Forecast
With timely treatment, the prognosis for stomatitis in adults is favorable, and the healing of the mucous membrane occurs quickly.
Stomatitis in adults is an unpleasant disease that can be caused by many factors. How to treat it depends on what factor provoked the inflammation of the oral mucosa. In any case, this disease should be treated according to the dentist's recommendations.