Mouth ulcers, commonly referred to as canker sores, are painful sores that form in your mouth or around the base of your gums. They are normally small in size, but can cause a lot of discomfort when eating, drinking, or speaking.
Canker sores are not contagious and generally disappear within a couple of weeks. Still, if you have a large mouth ulcer or one that is very painful, treatment can help alleviate some of the discomfort.
What Causes Mouth Ulcers?
Though there is no specific cause linked to mouth ulcers, common triggers include biting your cheek, sensitivity to acidic foods, lack of certain vitamins and minerals, poorly fitted braces or dentures, hormonal changes, stress, or infections.
Sometimes, mouth ulcers can be a sign of a more serious problem. These include celiac disease, IBS, diabetes, Behcet’s disease, or HIV/AIDs.
Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers
There are three types of mouth ulcers, each of which has its own set of symptoms.
Minor
These types of mouth ulcers are small, usually round or oval lesions that generally heal within 1-2 weeks with no scarring.
Major
Major mouth ulcers are deeper and larger than minor mouth ulcers. The edges are usually irregular and they can take up to six weeks to fully heal. Major canker sores usually result in scarring.
Herpetiform
Herpetiform mouth ulcers are teeny-tiny and occur in clusters. They also have irregular edges, but unlike major mouth ulcers, they heal within a couple of weeks with no scarring.
When To See A Doctor
You should check in with your general practitioner if you have extremely large mouth ulcers, if you get new canker sores before the old ones have healed, lesions last more than three weeks, painless lesions, canker sores on the lips, pain with no relief from OTC medications, or mouth ulcers coupled with fever or diarrhoea.
As mentioned, sometimes mouth ulcers can be a sign of a greater problem. So, it’s important to seek medical attention if your mouth ulcers are causing the aforementioned problems.
How To Treat Mouth Ulcers
In general, most canker sores don’t require treatment. But if you are in pain and need some relief, mouth ulcer treatment in Australia can be found at your local pharmacies or even using at-home remedies.
You can try the following for mouth ulcer treatment:
- Saltwater and baking soda rinse
- Applying milk of magnesia or baking soda paste to the mouth ulcer
- OTC benzocaine products
- Applying ice to the mouth ulcer
- Using a mouth rinse that contains steroids
- Nutritional supplements
How To Prevent Mouth Ulcers
- There are steps you can take to reduce the frequency and severity of mouth ulcers. Avoid acidic fruits like grapefruit, pineapple, oranges, or lemons. Spicy foods may also trigger canker sores.
- Take a daily multivitamin.
- Avoid speaking while chewing to minimise accidentally biting your cheeks or tongue.
- Maintain good oral hygiene.
- Avoid mouthwashes that contain sodium lauryl sulphate.
- Get enough sleep each night.
Mouth ulcers are certainly not pleasant but are usually harmless and go away on their own without treatment.