Mouth ulcers can be very painful and sometimes, it may obstruct our daily routine, such as brushing our teeth, eating a meal or even having a conversation with someone.

At some point in their life, almost everyone has experienced having an ulcer, e.g. from accidentally biting yourself while eating, neglecting to hydrate or due to lack of rest.

Some people get mouth ulcers as regularly as once in a few months or once in a few weeks. Mouth ulcers can appear on the lips, gums, inner cheeks, palate or tongue.

The causes of these ulcers are unknown, and it could also be contributed by trauma, such as stress, allergies, cigarette smoking, iron or other vitamin deficiencies.

Types of common ulcers:

• Aphthous ulcers

Aphthous ulcers are also commonly referred to as canker sores. They appear as a single white sore or a cluster of small white sores surrounded by an area of redness. Canker sores are common and often recur.

• Cold sores

Cold sores are also known as herpetic ulcers. These usually present as groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters around the lips and sometimes under the nose or around the chin. The first infection often occurs in children, sometimes without symptoms, and may be confused with a cold or flu.  Once a person is infected, the virus stays in the body, occasionally causing recurrent attacks. For some people, however, the virus remains inactive.

The types of available treatments for oral lesions or mouth sores depend on the type of condition a person has.

Treatment options:

• Enzyme-based toothpastes may help in the prevention, reduction in frequency and severity of these mouth ulcers. Using the toothpaste together with an enzyme-based mouth rinse may help reduce the irritation and speed up healing process.
• Non-prescription topical ointments can provide temporary relief from pain and discomfort.
• A balanced diet is also beneficial to the reduction of mouth ulcers. Where necessary, your doctor should be able to provide you with the necessary supplements.

It is advisable that if you have persisting ulcers in your mouth for more than two weeks, make an appointment with your dentist to determine the cause and rule out more serious conditions such as oral cancer.

For more information or if you would like to make an appointment with one of our specialists, visit the Specialist Dental Group website and make a booking online.

Have you experienced mouth ulcers before? What types of remedies did you use to relieve the discomfort? Drop us a line in the comment box below.. We look forward to hearing from you!