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.

Mouth ulcers are common and can usually be managed at home, without seeing your dentist or GP. Visit your pharmacist first, unless your ulcer has lasted longer than three weeks.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016

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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