Oral inflammation

Oral inflammation is redness, swelling, soreness or bleeding of the gums, tongue, cheeks or other soft tissues inside the mouth.

It can be localized, as with a single canker sore or an irritated area near a tooth, or widespread, as in gingivitis, periodontitis or the mouth ulcers that accompany some autoimmune diseases and cancer therapies. Common triggers include dental plaque, injury from sharp foods or dental appliances, infections, dry mouth and nutritional deficiencies. A dentist or physician assesses it by examining the tissues, checking for bleeding on probing, and sometimes ordering cultures or a biopsy when a lesion does not heal within a couple of weeks.

Persistent oral inflammation matters beyond the mouth, since chronic gum disease is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. Cannabinoids have been studied in laboratory and small human studies for inflammatory signaling in oral tissues, but the evidence is early and no cannabinoid has an approved use for any mouth condition.