Stomatitis on the Gums and Palate: What It Is and What It Looks Like

You noticed a sore in your mouth that stings from tea and when you talk. Your first thought is what it is and how dangerous it is. Let's take a calm look: what stomatitis on the gums and palate looks like, where it comes from, and when it's time to see a doctor.

What stomatitis is and why it appears on the gums and palate

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and lips. It manifests as redness of the mucosa, single or multiple ulcers, dry mouth, and sensitivity of the soft tissues. With weakened immunity, a secondary infection may set in.

The mechanism is not fully understood. One theory is an immune reaction: lymphocytes attack molecules they failed to recognize, and an ulcer forms at that site. The second group of causes is local: trauma, hygiene, dentures, burns. The oral mucosa suffers from injuries, burns, and irritation.

What stomatitis on the gums looks like

The main sign is an aphtha: a round, painful ulceration with a white or beige fibrin coating in the center and red, inflamed mucosa around it. Aphthae heal in about 1–1.5 weeks without scars and occasionally become chronic.

In the catarrhal form, there may be no ulcers: the mucosa is swollen, reddened, and painful, sometimes with a white or yellow coating. There may be increased salivation, bleeding gums, and bad breath.

In herpetic stomatitis, blisters appear on the mucosa and rupture after about 3 days, often together with gingivitis and viscous saliva. This form lasts about 8 days and often begins with a sharp rise in temperature and drowsiness.

What stomatitis on the palate looks like

On the palate you see the same as on other areas of the mucosa: a round sore with a whitish center and a red rim, or simply a reddened, swollen, and painful area. There may be not just one aphtha but several at once.

Ordinary stomatitis has no general symptoms: high fever and feeling unwell are not typical of it — they appear in advanced forms, especially in children.

Causes of inflammation of the oral mucosa

• Trauma and irritation: biting the cheek, poorly fitting dentures, braces, rough fillings, a sharp tooth, cuts and burns from hard food or hot drinks, a hard brush, an irritating toothpaste.
• Background factors: lack of iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamins B and D, hormonal fluctuations, heredity, fatigue, stress.
• Diseases, medications, and hygiene: gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, helminth infestation, dry mucosa, fungi of the genus Candida, certain medications, smoking cessation.
• Several ulcers at once: sometimes this is how hand, foot, and mouth disease with a rash on the palms and soles, lichen planus, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and weakened immunity in HIV and lupus manifest.

According to statistics, 65% of older people with dentures suffer from stomatitis.

How stomatitis differs from gingivitis and other conditions

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums themselves, and in herpetic stomatitis it occurs as a concomitant process, not as a synonym. In stomatitis, the mucosa as a whole is affected: sores occur on the gum, on the cheek, under the tongue, closer to the throat.

Stomatitis is not contagious, and it should not be confused with simple herpes, which appears on the lips or around the mouth. Herpes begins with tingling, itching, or burning and sometimes produces a cluster of small sores inside the mouth.

Another guide is recurrence: stomatitis typically comes back, and the doctor takes this into account during examination.

When to see a doctor

Ordinary stomatitis resolves on its own within a week or two. You should see a dentist or physician if an ulcer persists longer than 3 weeks, does not look like previous ones — larger or closer to the throat — bleeds, reddens, and hurts more: this may be the start of an infection. A long-healing ulcer is sometimes a sign of oral cancer, so it should be shown to a doctor.

A separate reason is symptoms involving the whole body: ulcers not only in the mouth but also on the skin or genitals, joint pain and swelling.

Diagnosis is simple: there are no special tests such as biopsy or culture to identify stomatitis. The doctor takes a history, examines the oral cavity, and assesses the appearance of the ulcers, their location, and how often they recur.

Stomatitis by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; in case of a sharp deterioration in condition — 103/112.

This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer