Overview

Mouth ulcers are painful and typically small lesions that develop within the mouth. There are no definite causes of mouth ulcers, but some injuries, allergies, or sensitivities may trigger them. Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or two. See a GP or dentist if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks.

 

Symptoms

Symptoms of mouth ulcers may vary, but they typically include:

• Painful sores that may be yellow, white, or red
• Areas of redness surrounding the sores
• Pain that worsens when you eat, drink, or talk

You may have more than one mouth ulcer at the same time.

Mouth ulcers are not usually contagious unless they’re caused by an infection such as hand, foot, and mouth disease.

 

Treatment

Most of the time, mouth ulcers heal on their own without treatment within a week. There are also over-the-counter treatments available that may decrease discomfort and healing time. These include:

• Using an antimicrobial mouthwash
• Covering the ulcer with topical pastes
• Using a numbing anaesthetic mouth spray

You can find our range of antimicrobial mouthwash at our company’s website:

https://www.beaconshealth.com/

 

Prevention

You can take these steps to help reduce the occurrence of mouth ulcers:

• Avoid very hot or spicy foods and drinks.
• Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth.
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
• Attend regular dental check-ups

 

When to see a doctor

See a doctor or dentist if your mouth ulcer:

• Lasts longer than 3 weeks
• Unusually large, painful or bleeding
• Persistent and keeps recurring
• Concurrent presence of symptoms of general illness, including fever, stomach pain etc.

 

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/mouth-ulcers#diagnosis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-ulcers/

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mouth-sores-and-ulcers