| |
stomatitis
(sto″mә-ti´tis)
pl. stomati´tides
inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth; both gingivitis and glossitis are forms of stomatitis. Symptoms include swelling, redness, sometimes an unpleasant odor, and later ulcerations. Many conditions
can cause this: there may be actual injury to the inside of the mouth, as from cheek-biting, jagged teeth, tartar accumulations, or badly fitting dentures. There may be exposure to an irritating substance, such as alcohol or tobacco. Sometimes an infectious agent causes stomatitis, such as a bacteria, fungus, or virus.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
Click here for important legal information about Dorland's Medical Dictionary.
|
