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 lasted three weeks
  • you keep getting mouth ulcers
  • your mouth ulcer becomes more painful or redthis could be a sign of a bacterial infection, which may need treatment with antibiotics

Mouth ulcers are alsoa possible symptom of a viral infection that mainly affects young children, called hand, foot and mouth disease. Speak to your GP or call NHS 111 if you're unsure.

Read about the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease .

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018