Blood blisters in Mouth may occur due to various reasons that you might not even be aware of. In general, blisters are fluid sacs that occur when the upper layer of your skin or epidermis is injured. The fluid inside blisters is normally clear and arises from the tissue injured. When the fluid from tissues pools, it forms blisters and operates as a barrier to protect the damaged skin from further harm.
In a few cases, the blood vessels present beneath the injured area will normally rupture and blood starts filling inside of it forming a bubble-like blister called blood blisters.
Similar to clear blisters, the blood blisters appear in areas of more friction. For example, blood blisters may be formed on your feet due to wearing ill-fitted shoes. Or, you might also form blood blisters after gripping oar or rake for a long time. Blood blisters in Mouth are common too.
If there are blood blisters in Mouth, here are possible symptoms, causes, and treatment options to know about.
Symptoms Of Blood Blisters In Mouth
Many types of oral blood blisters are found which are big enough to feel them in the Mouth. You will simply be able to feel the blood blisters in your Mouth through your tongue. They may take place anywhere within your mouth, but most likely they occur on softer surfaces such as your tongue, cheeks, or underside of your lips. You might either develop a single blister or have multiple at a time.
Blood blisters in Mouth vary in color from purple to deep red, and they are usually painful till they pop. These blisters make it highly uncomfortable and painful to brush your teeth or chew your food.
Sometimes people often mistake mouth sores to be blood blisters, how to figure out which one are you having? Let’s see some differences to have a quick idea.
Blood Blisters In Mouth Vs Other Sores
Blood blisters, fever blisters, and canker sores might develop inside your mouth. All these are typically red-colored. However, a few differences are using which you can figure out which condition you are having at the moment.
Canker Sores– These usually start beginning as red ulcers in the mouth rather than having dark red to purple color of blood blisters. Also, these are often covered by yellowish or whitish film.
Fever blisters– These types of blisters often begin with a tingling sensation in the region of blisters. Whereas blood blisters often develop suddenly with no warning at all. A fever blister might occur when you have a fever or swollen lymph nodes. They are mostly seen on the lips or under your nose instead of occurring inside the mouth like blood blisters.
Whatever the blisters are, what do you think triggers or causes these to form inside your mouth? Here are causes to keep in mind.
Causes of Blood Blisters In Mouth
Several causes are leading to blood blisters development within your mouth. These causes include:
- Trauma
- A rare disorder is called Angina Bullosa Hemorrhagic.
- Low count in the platelets, known as Thrombocytopenia.
- Allergy to food items that are high in acidity.
Sometimes, radiation and chemotherapy drugs might also give rise to blood blisters in Mouth. Read all the causes in detail to have a precise idea.
Trauma
Most blood blisters in Mouth develop after a trauma to the mouth this may include biting the cheeks mistakenly, burning your mouth by eating a lot of hot food, or punctuation the soft tissues by eating sharp food like chips. If blood blisters occur as a result of trauma, they will develop soon after the damage to your tissues.
Allergies
Certain medications and food items may irritate your mouth’s lining and lead to the development of blisters. You are more likely to have blood blisters if you already have allergies to these things:
- Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits.
- Cinnamon flavoring.
- Astringents – like those present in Toothpaste and mouthwashes.
Thrombocytopenia
Blood cells known as platelets are responsible for blood clotting. You might have a low platelet count in your blood due to many reasons including pregnancy or taking certain medications such as anticonvulsants or antibiotics. It may happen when your immune system starts destroying the platelets.
Thiscodntion- Thromocytopena may cause blood blisters. Nearly 30,000 fresh cases of this condition are diagnoses each year in the United States and approximately 70% of these cases are prevalent in women.
Angina Bullosa Hemorrhagic
This is a rare disorder that results in the sudden erupting of painful blisters on the tissue of the mouth. The blisters as a result of this only last for minutes and then rupture spontaneously. A study has estimated that nearly 0.5% of the population develops such blisters. These vary from other sorts of blood blisters as they are not related to systemic diseases such as thrombocytopenia and there is no cause to be fund yet.
Some blood blisters may also occur due to serious underlying conditions including the following:
- Oral herpes.
- Renal failure
- oral cancer
- vitamin deficiency
- diabetes
- low platelets
- alcohol abuse
Additional Causes
Sometimes stress may also result in the development of blood blisters within the mouth. Other causes are ill-fitting braces, poorly fitting dentures, crown replacement procedures, etc.
Home remedies for blood blisters in Mouth
Most types of blood blisters in the Mouth can be handled with some home remedies. People having blood blisters in their Mouth can attempt the following:
1. Ice
Icing any blood blister in Mouth may help relieve the inflammation and also restrict the blister from developing again if the ice is implemented quickly after the injury.
To use an ice cube or ice pack on the blood blister in the mouth, a person must hold the ice cube right on the blister for nearly 10 minutes or so many times a day. A person may also use slight pressure to assist in stopping the bleeding if it is occurring from the blister. A flavored iced popsicle can likewise be used similarly.
2. Cucumber slices
Cucumbers comprise silica, a compound that can be helpful in skin regeneration and skin healing. To apply a cucumber slice on the blood blister, a person must take a small slice of cool cucumber on the tender area or blisters a few times a day till the blister completely heals. A person having oral blood blisters may also sip cucumber water to aid with healing.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile tea or drink is famous for its comforting qualities and is often used to give relief in case of mouth sores. People having blood blisters in their mouths must try taking a cup of chamomile tea to relieve any soreness and support healing.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is a traditional famous spice, particularly in curries. Ayurvedic medication, which is a kind of folk medication discovered principally in South Asia, usually uses turmeric to heal pain and swelling.
Sadly, research has uncovered little proof to confirm turmeric’s use as a discomfort reliever or as an anti-inflammatory means. However, there are anecdotal pieces of evidence that suggest it is useful for certain symptoms. To use this cure on your oral blood blister, a spoon of turmeric should be combined with honey to produce a balm and employed directly to the injured area.
5. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is abundant in astringent tannins that serve to decrease pain and dry any blisters. Some analysis shows that witch hazel might also lessen inflammation. To apply witch hazel on the blood blister within the mouth, a person must soak a cotton swab in the witch hazel and dab this swab on their blister.
The mouth must be kept open for a few minutes to leave the witch hazel to dry. This can be replicated numerous times a day till the blister cures. Some individuals might experience moderate allergic reactions after using witch hazel. The witch hazel may be dabbed on a tiny, non-sensitive region in your skin first to examine for an allergy. The adverse reaction may appear in the next 24 hours, witch hazel is normally safe to use.
Treatment of blood blisters in the Mouth
If you have blood blisters in your mouth, know that most types usually o=come and go on their own and need no medical attention or treatment. Here are a few tips to manage blood blisters in case you developed some:
- You can use over-the-counter medication to relieve pain or apply an ice pack to the area injured by blisters.
- Avoid any food items that may further irritate the blood blisters including spicy and hot food items. Also, do not eat sharp food that may injure the blister.
- Never attempt to pop a blister. This will only increase the chances of infection and healing of blisters will certainly delay. Let the blisters pop naturally on their own
These were a few things you can manage on your own, but this does not mean you have to ignore the blister and try to manage even if it gets worse. If the condition get’s worse, you should see your healthcare expert. Here are some things to know in case there is a need to visit a doctor:
- The blister grows in size and becomes so large that it begins to interfere with your breathing and swallowing.
- It is taking more than a week for the blister to heal completely.
- The blister has become so painful that it starts interfering with your routine activities. The doctor may prescribe some medications or soothing mouthwash for the healing to speed up.
- You have recurrent blisters.
- The blisters appear to be infected. Some signs of infection in the blood blisters include being warm to the touch, red tissues around the blisters, and pus draining out of the blisters.
If you notice any of these signs, it is highly recommended that you see your doctor.
The Bottom Line
You may develop blood blisters in the mouth due to various reasons. Mostly, these blisters are benign and are caused due to trauma within the mouth. They will heal quickly without needing to visit a doctor for treatment. Also, being mindful of what to eat and how to eat may help you avoid blood blisters as a result of trauma.
However, above mentioned are few signs in which the blisters may be due to some other condition. You must visit a doctor if you relate to the symptoms.
References:
- https://www.wjgnet.com/2218-6263/full/v4/i1/1.htm
- https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mouth-and-dental-disorders/symptoms-of-oral-and-dental-disorders/mouth-sores-and-inflammation
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angina_bullosa_haemorrhagica