minor ailments of the mouth

Question 1

what are the causes of dry mouth?

Answer 1

medication, anxiety , dehydration

Question 2

what are symptoms of dry moth and referral criteria?

Answer 2

Symptoms - discomfort, halitosis, tooth decay

Refer - severe, medication, unknown cause, difficulty swallowing

Question 3

Treatment option of dry mouth?

Answer 3

Sugar free sweets/ gum
Keep hydrated
Artificial saliva

Question 4

what are the causes of halitosis?

Answer 4

Dental or other health problems, food, poor hygiene

Question 5

what are the symptoms and referral criteria of halitosis?

Answer 5

Symptoms- unpleasant odour
Refer - unknown origin

Question 6

What is the causes of gingivitis?

Answer 6

Plaque
Smoking
Diabetes
Medicines

Question 7

what is the symptoms and referral criteria of gingivitis?

Answer 7

symptoms - gums swollen, sore, bleeding on brushing

refer- bleeding , foul taste, severe symptoms

Question 8

what are the causes of dental caries?

Answer 8

plaque
damage
sugary foods

Question 9

what are the symptoms and referral criteria?

Answer 9

Symptoms - toothache, pain (hot and cold drinks), discolouration

refer - all require dental treatment

Question 10

what are the causes of mouth ulcers?

Answer 10

Unclear

possibly: stress? injury? foods? trauma? genes? nutritional deficiencies?

Question 11

what are symptoms and referral criteria?

Answer 11

symptoms - small painful sores on tongue, inside of cheek or inner surface of lips

Referral - Child < 10, adult > 40
Crops of 6+, larger than 1cm, duration longer than 14 days

Question 12

what are the causes of oral thrush?

Answer 12

medications
dentures
diabetes
smoking
people with inhalers not washing mouth after use

Question 13

what are symptoms of oral thrush and referral criteria?

Answer 13

white, irregularly shaped patches, soreness, altered taste, burning tongue

refer - longer than 3 weeks, pain, no risk factors, diabetes , immunocomprimised

Question 14

what is the treatment of oral thrush?

Answer 14

miconazole

Question 15

what are cold sores?

Answer 15

a viral infection which is highly contagious

present as blisters around nose and mouth

causes by herpes simplex virus

untreated takes 7-10 days to clear

Question 16

what are common trigger factors of cold sore?

Answer 16

stress
fatigue
uv light
reduced resistance following illness

Question 17

what are the four stages of a cold sore?

Answer 17

1) tingle stage - title/itch around mouth or nose
2) blister stage - small raised blotch which sweeps and forms a blister
3) weeping stage - blisters collapse and join together to form a large weeping sore
4) scab stage - scab forms and later falls off

Question 18

what are the four stages of a cold sore?

Answer 18

1) tingle stage - title/itch around mouth or nose
2) blister stage - small raised blotch which sweeps and forms a blister
3) weeping stage - blisters collapse and join together to form a large weeping sore
4) scab stage - scab forms and later falls off

Question 19

at what stage would you apply aciclovir to a cold sore?

Answer 19

The tingle stage
- no longer required at the weeping (use white soft paraffin to moisturise area) or scab stage

Question 20

what is impetigo?

Answer 20

a bacterial infection
can be treated with hydrogen peroxide cream or fucidic acid cream