Red Spots on Roof of Mouth – Causes and Treatment

The reasons why red spots on the roof of your mouth appear are numerous. While in most cases these reasons are minor and there isn’t anything you should worry about, sometimes some serious health problem lies behind these spots. If you notice red spots on the roof of your mouth, you should consult your doctor to discover what exactly caused them and what is the best option for their treatment.

In the following lines you are going to read about the commonest causes of this condition and what are the best treatment options for each of them.

What common causes lie behind red spots on roof of mouth and what are the best treatment options for each of them?

Oral herpes. Red spots on roof of mouth are one of the typical symptoms of oral herpes. Other symptoms may include gray or white ulcer. These spots develop much faster than the ulcer. Oral herpes is usually caused by HSV-1 virus. People are usually contaminated by saliva.

The treatment of oral herpes usually includes ibuprofen in the case of fever and/or muscle ache and painkillers. It’s also recommended drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration. When it comes to people suffering from oral herpes under 6 weeks old, with serious illnesses, or weakened immune system, they sometimes have to go to a hospital.

Canker sores. Red spots on roof of mouth can also occur due to canker sores. Canker sores usually appear on the lips and on the inner side of the cheeks. Many people have had these sores sometime in their life. They are often caused by eating certain food, some irritants and stress. At the beginning canker sores are like red bumps, while later on they have white spots in the centre.

As for the treatrment, in most cases canker sores will go over by themselves in 7-10 days. You can use various painkillers, such as ointments and mouthwash.

Coxsackievirus infection. This virus causes the appearance of red spots and painful blisters on your hands, feet and roof of mouth. People of all ages can be infected by coxsackievirus, but children under the age of five are the most affected.

There isn’t any special treatment for this infection. Antibiotics aren’t efficient when it comes to coxsackievirus infection. You can use medicines for reducing fever and painkillers. Drink a lot of water and rest until the disease goes over.

Candidiasis. This illness is also known as thrush and it includes the overgrowth of fungi. The most common symptoms are red spots and white patches on the corners and roof of the mouth. People suffering from diabetes and/or with dentures usually suffer from oral candidiasis.

The best treatment option for candidiasis are antifungal medicines. They are available as tablets, lozenges and liquids and are usually used 10 to 14 days. As sometimes a more serious medical issue lies behind oral candidasis, you should consult your doctor, especially if this condition is repeated.

Erythroplakia. The symptoms of this issue may include red spots on roof of mouth and a red patch on the gums and floor of the mouth. Erythroplakia is one of the medical conditions for which doctors cannot precise the cause. Some of them claim that smoking, alcohol use, various irritations and poor nutrition may lead to this condition. However, since erythroplakia may involve the risk of mouth cancer, consult your doctor as soon as you notice this red patch.

Erythroplakia can be treated in various ways. The treatment options often include surgery in order to remove it, cryosurgery and laser removal. If you suffer from this condition, you should see your doctor very frequently and he or she will make the best decision about the treatment.

Petechiae. This condition indicates that small blood vessels under the skin have ruptured. Petechiae occurs as a consequence of too much pressure on the capilaries, bleeding disorders or some infections. One of the symptoms of petechiae may be red spots on roof of mouth.

If you want to prevent or treat petechiae, you should take dandelion roots, which improve the blood coagulation and boost your liver function. You can also try using a homeopatic medicine called Arnica Montana.

Lichen Planus. Lichen planus is an inflammatory lesion that itches. It can also occur in a form of a rash on the skin surface or in the mouth. This condition may involve red spots on roof of mouth. It can also look like laces or be in a form of spots of white colour. You cannot be infected by lichen planus and it doesn’t have to do with cancer nor it increases the risk of it.

Lichen planus isn’t treated in some specific way. You should use painkillers and keep the rash clean in order to prevent further infections. Stay away from spicy and acidic food in order to avoid pain. Stick to mild and soft food such as mashed potatoes. Avoid drinking alcohol or washing your mouth with substances that contain alcohol.

Injuries. Red spots on roof of your mouth may appear due to an injury, for instance, when you hit this area while eating. This injury will go over by itself.

These injuries are usually healed in 7 or 14 days. In order to reduce pain, suck a piece of ice, rinse your mouth with salt water and avoid eating acidic and spicy food, such as tomatoes or citrus fruit.

Burns. Red spots of roof of mouth can sometimes be a burn caused by too hot food or drinks, like for example coffee or tea.

Red spots on roof of mouth caused by burning heal after 3 to 7 days by themselves. You should eat soft food and drink cold drinks. If this burn doesn’t heal after 7 days, you should consult the dentist.

Cold sores. Red spots on roof of your mouth may also indicate cold sores. Although lips are the typical area where cold sores appear, these sores can occur on the roof of your mouth as well. Cold sores are painful blisters filled with fluid, which rupture later and the pain subsides then. These sores are usually healed within eight or ten days. Do not touch or pick them. In the case cold sores don’t heal after eight or ten days, don’t hesitate to consult your dentist.

Oral cancer. Eventually, red spots on the roof of your mouth may sometimes indicate the presence of oral cancer. Always see your dentist if the red spots on the roof of your mouth don’t heal after 14 days. In that case you should visit your dentist right away since oral cancer is best treated at early stages. If oral cancer is suspected, you should see a surgeon, who will then do a biopsy of the suspicious sore.

The treatment for oral cancer includes surgery, that is, the removal of the sore, radiation and chemotherapy in order to make sure that the cancer didn’t disseminate.

Although in most cases red spots on the roof of your mouth isn’t something you should be upset about and they often heal by themselves, if you notice them you should always consult your doctor or dentist in order to properly treat this condition.