A mouth ulcer (also termed an oral ulcer, or a mucosal ulcer) is an ulcer that occurs on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
Mouth ulcers are sores that appear in the mouth, often on the inside of the cheeks.
Mouth ulcers, also known as apthous ulcers, can be painful when eating, drinking or brushing teeth.
Occasional mouth ulcers are usually harmless and clear up on their own. Seek medical advice if they last longer than 3 weeks or keep coming back.
Mouth ulcers cannot be caught from someone else.
Up to 1 in 5 people get recurrent mouth ulcers.
What causes mouth ulcers?
The exact cause of most mouth ulcers is unknown. Stress or tissue injury is thought to be the cause of simple mouth ulcers. Certain foods, including citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables (such as lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes and strawberries), can trigger a mouth ulcer or make the problem worse. Sometimes a sharp tooth surface or dental appliance, such as braces or ill-fitting dentures, might also trigger mouth ulcers.
Some cases of complex mouth ulcers are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system; nutritional problems, such as vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron deficiency and gastrointestinal tract disease, such as Coeliac disease and Crohn's disease.
When you first quit smoking, you may develop more mouth ulcers than normal, but this is temporary.
Some medications, including common pain killers, beta-blockers and some chest pain medicines may cause a reaction that leads to mouth ulcers.
The main types of mouth ulcer are:
- Minor ulcers. These are around 2-8mm in diameter and usually clear up in 10 days to 2 weeks.
- Major ulcers. These are bigger and deeper, often with a raised or irregular border. This type of ulcer can take several weeks to heal and may leave a scar in the mouth.
- Herpetiform ulcers: This type of ulcer is a cluster of dozens of smaller sores the size of pinheads.
Although there is no cure for mouth ulcers and they often reoccur, you may be able to reduce their frequency with good dental hygiene and by:
- Avoiding foods that irritate your mouth, including acidic or spicy foods
- Avoiding irritation from gum chewing
- Brushing with a soft-bristled brush after meals and flossing daily, which will keep your mouth free of foods that might trigger a sore.
- Unusually large sores
- Sores that are spreading
- Sores that last three weeks or longer
- Intolerable pain despite avoiding trigger foods and taking over-the-counter pain medication
- Difficulty drinking enough fluids
- A high fever with the appearance of the mouth ulcer(s)
Pain from a mouth ulcer generally lessens in a few days and the sores usually heal without treatment in about a week or two.
If sores are large, painful or persistent, your dentist may prescribe an antimicrobial mouth rinse, a corticosteroid ointment, or a prescription or non-prescription solution to reduce the pain and irritation.
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