Mouth Ulcers
What are mouth ulcers?
Ulcers normally appear as small, painful sores that may be pink, white or yellow in colour. They often cause discomfort while eating, drinking and talking. They are usually harmless and heal on their own within 1–2 weeks. See a dentist or GP if an ulcer lasts longer than 3 weeks, keeps coming back, or becomes more painful or red.
What causes mouth ulcers?
Most single mouth ulcers are caused by minor injury — for example, biting your cheek, brushing too hard, or a sharp tooth or filling. Recurrent mouth ulcers can be a sign of an underlying medical problem such as iron or vitamin B12 deficiency or Crohn's disease, and can also be linked to hormonal changes and poor oral hygiene.
Types of ulcers
There are 3 main types of ulcers:
Minor aphthous ulcers
These are the most common mouth ulcers. They are small, round or oval-shaped, less than 10mm across, and typically heal within 1–2 weeks.
Major aphthous ulcers
This type of ulcer is larger — generally 10mm or more — and usually appears one or two at a time. They are deeper, can be very painful, and may take up to 6 weeks to heal.
Herpetiform ulcers
This type occurs when many tiny ulcers appear at once and merge into irregular shapes. They may take from 1 week up to 2 months to heal.
Mouth ulcer symptoms
- Redness, soreness, tenderness or a burning feeling in the mouth
- Swelling around the sores
- Pain while eating, drinking or speaking
- Irritation from hot or spicy foods and drinks
Causes of mouth ulcers
General causes
Mouth ulcers can be triggered by many factors, including poor oral hygiene, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, hormonal changes (for example during periods), food allergies or sensitivities, family history, low levels of vitamin B12, iron or folic acid, and stopping smoking.
Injury
They can result from biting the inside of your cheek or tongue, eating hard or very hot foods, brushing too hard, sharp teeth, or poorly fitting dentures.
Medical conditions
- Infections: herpetic stomatitis, chickenpox, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and hand, foot and mouth disease.
- Gut conditions: coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Blood disorders: anaemia, leukaemia and neutropenia.
- Rheumatic conditions: lupus, reactive arthritis and Behçet's disease.
- Skin conditions: pemphigus, chronic ulcerative stomatitis, lichen planus and erythema multiforme.
Some medicines can also cause mouth ulcers, such as ibuprofen and some medicines for angina, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm. Ulcers can also be a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Self-care tips
Most ulcers heal on their own within a couple of weeks. You can help ease the pain by using a soft toothbrush, avoiding hot, spicy and acidic foods, drinking through a straw, and using a pharmacy mouthwash, gel or lozenges to ease discomfort. If an ulcer hasn't healed within 3 weeks, see a dentist or GP.
What our patients say
I've had several treatments at The Dentist, Implants, Veneers, Emergency Centre, including wisdom tooth extraction, crowns, and fillings, and I couldn't be more pleased with the care I've received. The team is professional, caring, and ensures every visit is as comfortable as possible. The dentist took great care to make sure I …
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I've had several treatments at The Dentist, Implants, Veneers, Emergency Centre, including wisdom tooth extraction, crowns, and fillings, and I couldn't be more pleased with the care I've received. The team is professional, caring, and ensures every visit is as comfortable as possible. The dentist took great care to make sure I felt at ease during each procedure, and the results have always been excellent. Whether it's routine dental work or something more complex, I highly recommend trying this place. They truly go above and beyond to provide exceptional service
Very good experience - I have waited approximately 6 months before reviewing their service.
I called the Dentist at the practice on Boxing Day in December 2023. I was extremely nervous about attending their practice due to a poor service I received at a different dentist on the Yew Tree, West Bromwich.
I was asked to attend thei…Read full review
Very good experience - I have waited approximately 6 months before reviewing their service.
I called the Dentist at the practice on Boxing Day in December 2023. I was extremely nervous about attending their practice due to a poor service I received at a different dentist on the Yew Tree, West Bromwich.
I was asked to attend their surgery as they suspected I needed a root canal procedure.
The Dentist put my mind at ease and agreed to inform me fully of the procedure. He had full faith in his ability to deliver a service with no pain to be experienced whatsoever.
I did not believe him but I knew I needed the surgery.
He proved me wrong and I had the best experience at a Dentist surgery ever.
I experienced no pain and no discomfort at all. This was a massive relief for me.
The procedure was expensive however it was what I expected due to the Christmas holidays and also having neglected my dental hygiene for years and not having seen a Dentist regularly.
They had me attend approximately 5-6 times over 2-3 months in order to finish the procedure properly with a crown and fitting.
The staff are friendly and very well trained.
I am extremely grateful for their service and I recommend them to all friends and family.
God Bless you all and good luck for the future.
I had been suffering with pain for a few weeks from my wisdom tooth. But unable to get into my usual dental surgery for over a month.
Found an appointment for same day. And due to being anxious about dentist I was worried about going.
When I arrived the staff greeted me and eased my nerves.
During the consultant the dentist and …Read full review
I had been suffering with pain for a few weeks from my wisdom tooth. But unable to get into my usual dental surgery for over a month.
Found an appointment for same day. And due to being anxious about dentist I was worried about going.
When I arrived the staff greeted me and eased my nerves.
During the consultant the dentist and staff made me felt at ease. Went through each step and then went through treatment options. Needed to have the tooth removed. The nurse and dentist were amazing. Comforted me and also allowed to have my mum in the room with me. They went through the procedure with my and then my after care afterwards. I would definitely recommend to anywho is nervous about going to the dentist like me.
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