If you bite your tongue, or poke your gums on a sharp object, you usually have an immediately painful reaction. Mouth tissues are extremely sensitive! But have you also noticed that wounds from such injuries heal really fast in comparison to other scrapes and cuts on elbows and knees?
For a long time, it has been known that saliva is important for oral wound healing, but it was a mystery as to exactly why. A recent study in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal (FASEB) presents a strong case for how saliva helps healing. Researchers found that a salivary peptide called histatin-1 supports healing and increases blood vessel formation. Based on this research, scientists are studying how this knowledge may have practical applications. Dr. Vicente Torres, associate professor at the Institute for Research in Dental Sciences within the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Chile said, “These findings open new alternatives to better understand the biology underlying the differences between oral and skin wound healing. We believe that the study could help the design of better approaches to improve wound healing in tissues other than the mouth.”
What should you do if you have a mouth sore or wound that is not healing? Get it checked out at the Yuba City Dentistry Group as soon as possible. Sometimes a mouth sore that doesn’t heal on it’s own is a symptom of something serious, like oral cancer or an infection. Our Yuba City dentist will perform an examination of your mouth to determine the cause of your wound and help you decide on a solution so you’re back to feeling better!
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