What You need to know about Mouth Ulcer

What are the symptoms of a mouth ulcer?

Mouth ulcers are usually easy to spot. They appear as sores on your gums, tongue, inner cheeks, inner lips or roof of your mouth.

Mouth sores are typically:

• Red around the edges.
• White, yellow or gray in the center.

You may only develop one ulcer, or there might be more. Other symptoms could include:

• Swelling around the ulcers.
• Increased soreness when brushing your teeth.
• Pain that worsens when eating spicy, salty or sour foods.

What causes mouth ulcers?

Mouth ulcers may occur for a number of reasons, including:

• Minor tissue injury from dental work, such as having a cavity filled.
• Accidentally biting your cheek or tongue.
• An allergic reaction to certain bacteria.
• Wearing braces or retiners.
• Using harsh or abrasive toothpaste.
• Eating lots of acidic foods, such as oranges, pineapples and strawberries.
• Hormonal changes during your period
• Stress
• Lack of sleep.

How do you treat a mouth ulcer?

While most mouth sores heal on their own, your provider may prescribe medications to help ease discomfort. Common mouth ulcer treatments include:

• Antiseptic gels or mouth rinses like Orajel™ or Anbesol®.
• Steroid ointments like triamcinolone.
• Immunosuppressants Immunosuppressants (in severe cases).