Overview
Mouth ulcers are small, painful sores inside the lips, cheeks or on the tongue that make eating and talking uncomfortable. Most are harmless, triggered by minor injury, stress or certain foods, and heal within one to two weeks. An ulcer that refuses to heal after three weeks must be examined.
Symptoms
- Small round or oval sores with a white or yellow centre
- Burning or stinging pain, worse with spicy or acidic food
- Sores inside lips, cheeks, tongue or floor of the mouth
- Sometimes several sores at once
- Healing within 7 to 14 days
Causes & risk factors
- Minor injury — biting the cheek, hard brushing, sharp foods
- Stress and fatigue
- Vitamin B12, folate or iron deficiency
- Hormonal changes; certain foods
- Underlying conditions when ulcers are frequent or persistent
Treatment & self-care
Most ulcers heal on their own; warm salt-water rinses, soft bland foods and pharmacy gels ease the pain meanwhile. Frequent crops of ulcers deserve a check for deficiencies or underlying illness. Avoid silver nitrate, battery contents or caustic home applications.
See a doctor urgently if
- An ulcer lasting more than three weeks
- An ulcer that is painless but persistent (needs cancer check)
- Ulcers with fever, eye or genital sores
- Ulcers so painful you cannot eat or drink