What Causes Skin Peeling in Your Mouth and How to Treat It

What Causes Skin Peeling in the Mouth

Having your mouth's interior skin peel can be uncomfortable and concerning. However, in most cases, it is harmless and easily treatable. Several factors could be behind this issue, including brushing too hard, using a new toothpaste or mouthwash, eating acidic or spicy foods, infections, mouth sores, and more.

When the soft tissue lining your mouth peels, it is often due to irritation or damage that affects the mucous membranes. The most common causes of peeling skin in the mouth are:

1. Aggressive Brushing

Brushing your teeth is vital for good oral hygiene, but it is possible to be too vigorous. Using a stiff-bristled toothbrush and brushing too harshly can lead to abrasions of the gums and the soft tissue inside the mouth. This physical irritation is likely the most common reason for peeling, soreness, and rawness of the mouth's lining.

To avoid this, use a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush and brush gently. Take care to not scrub aggressively, especially where the hard surfaces of toothbrush bristles commonly rub, including along the gums and the insides of the cheeks and lips.

2. New Toothpaste or Mouthwash

Some ingredients commonly found in oral hygiene products can irritate the sensitive skin inside the mouth and lead to peeling. This includes strong antiseptics, antimicrobial agents like triclosan, detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and the foaming agent sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).

Alcohol is another possible culprit, as are fragrances, flavors, and preservatives. Switching to a toothpaste or mouthwash without irritating ingredients often solves the problem of mouth peeling. Opt for products labeled as sensitive, organic, or made for babies.

3. Spicy, Sour, or Acidic Foods

What you eat can also impact the health of your mouth's lining. Many acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and soda can irritate the mucosa. Spicy foods seasoned with chili peppers may sting. Sour treats like Warheads candy can scrape and burn sensitive skin.

Limiting your consumption of acidic, spicy, and sour foods reduces this irritation. When you do eat these items, be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward.

4. Canker Sores

Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that crop up inside the mouth, usually along the inner lips or cheeks. They often first emerge with a tingling or burning sensation. Later, a round, shallow, white-ish sore with a red border develops and may peel.

The exact cause of canker sores is uncertain, but they frequently flare due to stress, injury, spicy foods, nutrient deficiencies, allergies, and hormonal shifts. Most clear up within a week or two without treatment.

5. Oral Lichen Planus

Lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that can affect the skin, including inside the mouth. Oral lichen planus appears as lacey white patches that may peel. It also causes painful ulcers. The cause is unknown but may involve the immune system attacking cells.

Oral lichen planus tends to come and go. Doctors may prescribe topical corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, retinoids, or other medicines to reduce flare-ups.

6. Allergies or Sensitivities

Being allergic or sensitive to certain foods, oral care products, medications, latex, metals, fillings, and more could spark mouth peeling. The reaction is triggered by the immune system overreacting to a harmless substance.

Symptoms arise within minutes to hours after exposure and primarily include raised bumps, hives, swelling, itching, and peeling of the lips, tongue, and inside of the cheeks or roof of the mouth.

7. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

This very contagious viral infection causes a fever along with painful mouth ulcers and a rash on the hands and feet. It often affects young children but can strike adults as well.

The ulcers tend to first form on the tongue, gums and inner cheeks. After a few days, the tissue peels away, leaving raw spots inside the mouth.

8. Oral Thrush

Oral thrush results from an overgrowth of yeast known as Candida that normally lives in the mouth. It is most common in newborns, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals but can affect anyone.

White, bumpy patches develop on the gums, tongue, palate and insides of the cheeks. These can become red and irritated and may start peeling with eating or brushing.

9. Certain Medications

Some medications have mouth peeling as a potential side effect. Chemotherapy drugs are a prime example, as they can damage rapidly dividing cells like the tissue lining the mouth. Other medicines known to sometimes cause peeling include:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Antihypertensives
• NSAIDs
• Retinoids

If medication is suspected, talk with your doctor about alternatives or ways to prevent mouth irritation.

Treating and Preventing Peeling in the Mouth

In the majority of cases, peeling in the mouth is minor and clears up quickly on its own. But while it heals, there are things you can do to soothe irritation and prevent the issue from reoccurring.

Gentle Oral Hygiene

Be very gentle when brushing, flossing or using mouthwash while your mouth lining is irritated and peeling. Switch to an ultra-soft toothbrush, use a light touch, and avoid areas that are most sensitive.

Rinsing your mouth with a mild, non-alcohol mouthwash that contains ingredients like aloe, glycerin or xylitol may provide relief without further irritation.

Saltwater Rinses

Saltwater rinses are an easy, effective way to promote healing of mouth irritation. Swish a tsp of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water around your mouth 2 to 3 times a day.

The salt helps draw out fluid and reduces swelling and inflammation. It also encourages the growth of new tissue.

Avoid Irritants

While your mouth is healing, steer clear of triggers that could worsen irritation. These include alcohol, tobacco, spicy foods, acidic foods and drinks, coarse or crunchy foods like chips, and hot foods and beverages.

Try a Healing Ointment

Applying a thin layer of an ointment containing ingredients like vitamin E, beeswax, olive oil, or aloe vera to the peeling areas of your mouth can aid healing.

Products like Orabase, Zilactin, and Kanka are OTC pastes designed specifically for mouth sores.

Take Supplements

Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies have been linked to mouth peeling and canker sores, including vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, zinc, iron and folate. Taking a daily multivitamin may help.

Specific supplements like vitamin B12, L-lysine, zinc, vitamin C and quercetin also support oral health.

Visit Your Dentist

Schedule a dental appointment if peeling in your mouth persists longer than 2 weeks or frequently recurs. Your dentist can examine your mouth and determine if any underlying issues need treatment.

For canker sores, they may recommend prescription pastes or creams containing steroids, anesthetics or antimicrobials to reduce discomfort and encourage healing.

When to Seek Medical Care

In most cases, peeling in the mouth is minor and will clear up soon as long as you avoid irritants. However, contact your doctor or dentist if you experience any of the following:

• Peeling that lasts longer than 2 weeks
• Frequent recurrences of peeling
• Severe pain
• Difficulty eating, drinking or talking
• Fever, headache or other flu-like symptoms
• Redness, swelling or pus
• Lesions elsewhere on your skin or genitals
• Unexplained weight loss
• Numbness

These could indicate an underlying condition needing medical care. Prompt evaluation and treatment are important, especially if an infection is suspected.

When Peeling in the Mouth Is Serious

While generally harmless, there are some rare instances where mouth peeling might signal a more serious issue requiring medical intervention. These include:

Oral Cancer

Red or white mouth patches that bleed easily could potentially indicate oral cancer. Other possible signs are swelling, numbness, pain, and difficulty swallowing or speaking.

Oral cancer has a high cure rate when treated early. Seek prompt medical attention if you notice suspicious mouth lesions.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

This severe, sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction causes painful lesions and peeling on the lips, eyes, mouth, genitals and skin. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, and blisters.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome requires hospitalization. It is most often sparked by medications.

Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare autoimmune disorder that leads to severe blistering and sloughing off of skin cells, including inside the mouth. It typically starts with painful lesions and peeling mucosa.

Without treatment, pemphigus vulgaris can be fatal. But the condition is manageable long-term with prescription medications like corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

When to See a Doctor for Mouth Peeling

Schedule an appointment with your physician or dentist if mouth peeling persists longer than 2 weeks or keeps recurring. They can identify any underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment.

See a doctor right away if mouth peeling is severe, makes eating or talking difficult, or occurs alongside other symptoms like fever or skin blistering. Prompt medical attention is essential for rare but dangerous conditions like oral cancer, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and pemphigus vulgaris.

With proper care, mild to moderate cases of mouth peeling usually heal within 7-14 days. Avoiding irritants and practicing good oral hygiene helps prevent future recurrences.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.