What Causes Mouth Skin Peeling?
Having the uncomfortable and sometimes painful sensation of the skin peeling off inside your mouth can be confusing and concerning. This bothersome symptom has a range of potential causes.
Canker Sores
One of the most common triggers of mouth skin sloughing off is canker sores. These small white or yellowish ulcers come from breaks in the delicate tissue inside the mouth, usually along the gums, inner cheeks, or bottom of the mouth.
Canker sores often first show up with a tingling or burning sensation, then progress to an ulcer. The ulcerated area can feel quite painful and make peeling skin flakes inside the mouth.
Certain Foods
Very hot, acidic, salty, or spicey foods can sometimes irritate the mucous membranes in the mouth. This irritation shows up first as redness and a burning feeling, followed by skin peeling a day or two later.
Common culprits for mouth skin sloughing include citrus fruits and juices, vinegar, pickled foods, chips, toast, pizza, and hot soup.
Vitamin Deficiencies
Not getting enough vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B12, zinc, and iron can make the tissue inside your mouth weaker and more prone to irritation. This nutrient deprivation causes the skin to peel more readily after exposure to minor insults.
Yeast Overgrowth
An overabundance of yeast like candida in the mouth is another possível cause underlying oral skin peeling and sores. Yeast feeds on sugars and can get out of control if you consume a lot of breads, simple carbs, or sugary foods and drinks.
When to See a Dentist or Doctor
Occasional minor mouth skin flakes are not too concerning. But if you notice any of the following, consult a professional:
- Skin peeling is severe or widespread
- Sores are extremely painful
- Symptoms last longer than 2 weeks
- You have trouble eating/drinking due to pain
- You have diabetes, autoimmune disorder, or take immunosuppresants
- You also have fever, body aches or diarrhea
Seeking timely treatment is wise to heal mouth tissue, restore nutrients, and ease discomfort.
Blood Tests and Cultures
In order to get to the root cause and customize treatment, the dentist or doctor may decide to run some laboratory tests on blood samples or culture the tissue itself.
Blood tests help identify or rule out vitamin/mineral deficiencies, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, infections and more as potential reasons for chronic mouth skin peeling.
Medications
If an infection is responsible for your symptoms, antibiotics may be necessary to clear it up. Pain medication like Anbesol can temporary numb pain from open sores.
Medications that reduce swelling and inflammation like corticosteroid mouth rinses or pastes can also quickly provide relief if ulcers are causing tissue to slough off.
Soothing Remedies for Mouth Skin Peeling
While waiting to identify the root cause or get treatment, these soothing home remedies can help temper symptoms:
Saltwater Rinses
Gently swishing and gargling with warm saltwater 3-4 times daily cleans the area to prevent infection and washes away irritants. The salt also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
Aloe Vera Gel
Pure aloe vera gel applied directly to ulcers and peeling skin can calm inflammation and encourage healing thanks to its healing enzymes.
Cold Foods and Beverages
Avoiding spicy, acidic or hot consumables gives sensitive tissue a chance to heal. Sipping cold drinks like smoothies or sucking on ice chips stops hot irritation on contact.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Diluting hydrogen peroxide with a bit of water and swishing releases extra oxygen to ulcerated areas to dry them out, reduce pain and support healing.
Just don't swallow the peroxide and limit this remedy to a few times daily to avoid irritation from overuse.
Prevention Strategies
Once you get to the bottom of what is causing skin sloughing inside your mouth, you can take targeted steps to prevent it in the future. Prevention tips include:
Follow an Elimination Diet
If you suspect certain foods trigger irritation and peeling, try avoiding top suspects completely for 3 weeks. Then slowly reintroduce potential irritants one at a time while taking note of symptoms.
Correct Nutrient Deficiencies
Ask your doctor to test your levels of iron, vitamin B12, folate, zinc and other critical nutrients. Correcting deficiencies with diet changes and possibly supplements can strengthen delicate mouth tissue.
Manage Blood Sugar
Getting blood sugar under control can help prevent yeast overgrowth if diabetes or insulin resistance are peeling culprits. Ask your doctor for guidance creating a diet and exercise plan tailored to your needs.
Use Gentle Toothpaste
Harsh foaming agents and chemicals in many mainstream toothpastes can irritate vulnerable mouth skin for some people. Try switching to a natural brand without sodium lauryl sulfate or alcohol.
Quit Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes, e-cigs or other tobacco products, commit to quitting. The smoke and chemicals cause inflammation and tissue irritation making symptoms dramatically worse.
Take Home Message
Mouth skin sloughing off can stem from all kinds of triggers from canker sores to smoking. Pay attention to what precedes symptoms then employ natural home remedies while seeking professional help. Identifying and eliminating causes along with taking preventive measures can provide lasting relief.
FAQs
Why is my mouth skin peeling in flakes?
Common causes include canker sores, food irritants, vitamin deficiencies, yeast overgrowth, smoking, and autoimmune conditions. The tender skin inside the mouth is vulnerable to various insults that make it peel.
What home remedies soothe mouth skin peeling?
Saltwater rinses, pure aloe vera gel, cold foods and drinks, diluted hydrogen peroxide, and avoiding spicy foods can temporarily relieve mouth skin peeling and irritation while waiting to identify root causes.
Should I see a doctor for peeling mouth skin?
You should make an appointment with your dentist or doctor if the skin peeling is widespread, extremely painful, lasts longer than 2 weeks, prevents normal eating/drinking, or if you have other systemic symptoms. Seeking professional help is wise.
How can I prevent my mouth's skin from peeling?
Depending on what's causing your symptoms, prevention strategies may include following an elimination diet, correcting nutrient deficiencies, managing blood sugar, using gentle natural toothpaste, and quitting smoking. Identifying and avoiding triggers is key.
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.
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