Mouth sores and canker sores - how to treat?

[Gingermom]

Hi everyone,

I've been a bit absent but always seem to turn here for help and support, I love you guys! Anyway, my son is 13, dx CD 12/12. He constantly has what looks a little like thrush in his mouth but I know it's not thrush. He will get a white thin coating on his tongue, frequent swollen taste buds that can be painful and white strips down the sides of his tongue (like he has been biting his tongue but he isnt and its on both sides). He also gets kind of raw on the inside of his cheeks.

I switched him to and SLS free toothpaste but no change. The doc and dentist have no idea what it is, go figure, so I'm on my own to figure it out and treat it.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of this? He is currently on 6-MP and Sulfazine but had the tongue/mouth issues before so not a side affect.

Thanks!
Michelle

 

[Farmwife]

The raw look of the inside of the cheeks could be ulcers. Grace gets these and her doc prescribe "Magic Mouth Wash". We love it. Works good. It doesn't cure the problems it just makes it more livable.

 

[ChampsMom]

Hey Ginger,

What a bother when doctors and dentist are no help...:confused2:

Does your son have sinus issues? The reason I ask is because our family has a long history of sinus issues and the white mouth, throat, tongue thing runs rampant in those of us with the issue. They say it can be bacteria (that's the white coating) and have recommended varies mouth washes to assist in helping with it.

One thing I found that helped is a natural ginger tea - it is such a healthy root - I typically boil about a 2 inch peeled and chopped stalk to make the "tea" and then I add brown sugar to taste. As ginger is typically easy on the digestive track it doesn't hurt my IBDer either.

You may want to talk to an ENT - or at least search in that area if the GI & dentisit don't have other ideas.

Good luck!!!

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

Hi, my best guess would be ulcers related to the Crohn's, too. But if the doc is stumped, then I don't know. Maybe rinsing a few times a day with warm, salt water, or adding some probiotics to his diet would help. Could it be a reaction to something he is eating or a medication he is on? All the best as you try to find him some relief!

 

[dannysmom]

My son liked Biotene when he had mouth sores. Hope something helps!

 

[Ands]

My DS's first symptom were ulcers. Got to point where he also had thrush and couldn't eat or talk! We use predisolone as a mouth wash now, works to keep them at bay but not sure if we can continue long term?

Hugs to your ds, they are not nice. X

 

[Samboi]

Have his neutrophil levels checked - low white blood cell count can result in mouth ulcers.
Some CD treatments can effect neutrophil production.
Chlorohexidine mouth wash.
Bonjela gel. SM-33.
Cepacaine.
Salt water gargles do not treat the problem - they just minimize the risk of infection.
That usually means a whole lotta pain for no real outcome.
Benzoate free diet.
Mouth ulcers are a common EIM of CD.

 

[EthanClark]

Wild oregano oil works for me however it is very strong and doesn't taste good so I am not sure if you could get your son to drink it. My 3 yr old also gets canker sores with his crohn's. I just dab a q tip in the wild oregano oil and hold it on the sore for a bit. Clears them up in a day or two.

 

[DustyKat]

Before I knew Matt had Crohn's...I do now believe that the mouth ulcers he was suffering were an early EIM of the condition.

I did research extensively at the time and decided to put him on a B Complex supplement. It worked for him and he did not suffer with them again.

I know Dexky tried a B complex supplement a particular mouthwash but I don't know what it was called so hopefully he will pop by and let you know.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Dexky]

EJ's ulcers were always on the tip or sides of his tongue so they couldn't be mistaken for swollen taste buds. We did put him on an extra B-complex and started using Scope White(hydrogen peroxide based) mouthwash. Either Scope stopped making the mw or the store stopped carrying it, but we can no longer find it. My son's body seems to hoard B vits so we've stopped that as well. He still gets more than the rda from his usual multi-vit.. We've not had a problem with mouth ulcers in quite a while, knock on wood!!