Mouth ulcers are small sores that affect the inner lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks or roof of the mouth. They are very common and most cases can be relieved with straightforward treatments.
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Mouth ulcers are small sores that develop on your inner lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks or roof of your mouth.
While mouth ulcers are very common and often nothing to worry about, they can be sore and can make eating, drinking and speaking uncomfortable.
Most mouth ulcers will heal within two weeks without treatment, but some may be more long-term or severe, requiring treatment.
There are several types of mouth ulcers:
Canker sores: also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores are the most common type of mouth ulcer. Some people are more prone to them and they usually appear as a result of minor trauma, like biting your inner lip, eating acidic foods and stress.
Oral lichen planus: this is an inflammatory condition that sometimes causes sores and small swellings in the mouth. Oral lichen planus most commonly affects women over 50.
Erythroplakia: this condition causes red patches of gum, often behind the lower front teeth or under the tongue and is often caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Erythroplakia patches are usually precancerous or cancerous.
Oral cancer: oral cancer lesions can appear as red or white mouth sores or ulcers, but unlike normal ulcers, they won’t heal on their own. If you’ve had a mouth ulcer for more than 3 weeks, it’s important to have it checked by a specialist.
Mouth ulcers often appear as sores on your inner lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks or roof of your mouth.
The exact signs and symptoms of mouth ulcers vary depending on the cause, but they can be:
Mouth ulcers aren’t contagious, so they cannot be spread through kissing or sharing food.
Many things can cause ulcers to develop, including a range of lifestyle factors and medical conditions.
Common causes of mouth ulcers include:
If you have recurring ulcers or have had an ulcer for more than three weeks, we recommend making an appointment to see a OneWelbeck maxillofacial specialist at our Oral and Facial Health Clinic. Our specialists will look to diagnose the cause of your ulcers and implement an effective treatment plan.
Your specialist will take a thorough history and examine your mouth. They may also perform blood tests, mouth swabs and sometimes an oral biopsy if you have a lot of ulcers, they’re severe or a health condition is suspected.
Some things you can do at home to help speed up the healing process and reduce pain caused by mouth ulcers include:
Things that can help you prevent mouth ulcers include:
If your mouth ulcers are severe or recurring, our specialists may recommend one or several of the following treatments:
Get in touch today to book an appointment with a OneWelbeck maxillofacial specialist.
We have brought together a team of leading oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, and dental experts to create our Oral & Facial Health team. These highly experienced clinicians are leaders in their field, dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care.