Mouth ulcers
Overview
Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. But see a GP or dentist if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks.
Causes
Most single mouth ulcers are caused by things you can try to avoid, such as: biting the inside of your cheekbadly fitting dentures, braces, rough fillings or a sharp toothcuts or burns while eating or drinking – for example, hard food or hot drinksa food intolerance or allergydamaging your gums with a toothbrush or irritating toothpastefeeling tired, stressed or anxious Sometimes they're triggered by things you cannot always control, such as: hormonal changes – such as during pregnancyyour genes – some families get mouth ulcers more oftena vitamin deficiency, such as iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B or vitamin Dmedicines – including some NSAIDs, beta blockers or nicorandilstopping smoking – people may develop mouth ulcers when they first stop smoking If you have several mouth ulcers, it can be a symptom of: hand, foot and mouth disease, which also causes a rash on the hands and feetorallichen planus, which causes a white, lacy pattern inside the cheeksCrohn's diseaseandcoeliac disease(conditions that affect the digestive system)a weakened immune system from having a condition likeHIVorlupus
Treatment
A GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medicine to treat severe, persistent or infected mouth ulcers. Possible treatments include: steroids given as either a mouth spray, tablets that dissolve in your mouth or tablets that can be dissolved in waterpainkilling gels, ointments, sprays or tabletsmouthwashes to kill or remove any germs in your mouth