Mouth ulcers

What causes mouth ulcers?

In many cases, the reason for mouth ulcers is unclear. Most single mouth ulcers are caused by damage to the lining inside of themouth. For example:

accidentally biting the inside of your cheek or a sharp tooth
poorly fitting dentures
hard food
a defective filling

Its not always clear what causes mouth ulcers that keep returning, but triggers are thought to include:

stress and anxiety
hormonal changes some women develop mouth ulcers during their monthly period
eating certain foods such as chocolate, spicy foods, coffee, peanuts, almonds, strawberries, cheese, tomatoes and wheat flour
toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate
stopping smoking when you first stop smoking, you may develop mouth ulcers

Your genes are also thought to have a rolearound 40% of people who keep gettingmouth ulcers report that it runs in their family.

Medical conditions

Mouth ulcers can sometimes be caused by certain medical conditions, such as:

viral infections including the cold sore virus , chickenpox , and hand, foot and mouth disease
vitamin B12 or iron deficiency
Crohn's disease a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system
coeliac disease a common digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten
reactive arthritis a condition that causes inflammation in various places in the body, usually as a reaction to an infection
weakened immune system for example, due to HIV or lupus
Behets disease a rare and poorly understood condition that alsocauses swelling of the blood vessels

Medications and treatments

Mouth ulcers can sometimes be caused by certain medications or treatments, such as:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen
nicorandil a medication sometimes used to treat angina
beta-blockers used to treat conditions such as angina, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms
a side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy this is known as mucositis

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dez 2018

Articles for mouth ulcers

Introduction

Mouth ulcers are painful sores that appear in the mouth. Although they're uncomfortable, theyre usually harmless and most clear up by themselves within a week or two.

What does a mouth ulcer look like?

Mouth ulcers areusually round or oval sores that commonly appear inside the mouth on the: cheeks lips tongue They can be white, red, yellow or grey in colour and swollen. It's possible to hav

When to see your pharmacist, dentist or GP

Mouth ulcers can be painful, which can make it uncomfortable to eat, drink or brush your teeth. It's usuallysafe to treat mouth ulcers at home. See your GPor dentist if: your mouth ulcer has laste

How to treat mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers dont usually need to be treated, because they tend to clear up by themselves within a week or two. However,treatmentcanhelp to reduce swelling and ease any discomfort. This may help if y

Is itmouth cancer?

In a few cases, a long-lasting mouth ulcer can be a sign of mouth cancer . Ulcers caused by mouth cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, although you can get them in other areas of the mouth.

What causes mouth ulcers?

In many cases, the reason for mouth ulcers is unclear. Most single mouth ulcers are caused by damage to the lining inside of themouth. For example: accidentally biting the inside of your cheek or a

Can mouth ulcers be prevented?

It may not be possible to prevent mouth ulcers, because they're often caused by things you can't control (such as a family history or a medical condition). However, the following may help to reduce y

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