I need help with mouth sores
Mouth sores - Auckland, St Heliers. Should I be worried if I keep getting mouth ulcers?
While not usually a sign of a serious problem, mouth ulcers and sores can be very painful and annoying.
How do I know if I have a mouth ulcer?
If you have a raw, sore spot inside your mouth, you probably have an ulcer. Ulcers can appear anywhere on the inside of your cheeks and lips, on the roof of your mouth, and on your tongue. They have a defined outer edge, a white, grey, or yellow centre, and a red, inflamed halo. You can have more than one ulcer at a time, ranging from just a couple of millimetres in diameter to very large sores. Mouth ulcers are often extremely painful, because the nerves are close to the skin’s surface inside your mouth. It can make it difficult for you to eat, drink, brush your teeth, or even talk.
Why do I have mouth ulcers?
An ulcer will often develop if you accidentally break the skin inside your mouth – perhaps by biting the inside of your cheek or bumping your gum with your toothbrush. They are also a common side-effect of burning your mouth on hot food or drink. If you have dental braces, a rough spot on a tooth, or ill-fitting dentures, they can irritate your mouth enough for an ulcer to develop. Other causes of ulcers include the viruses that cause cold sores and chicken pox, autoimmune conditions, allergies, medications, hormone changes, stress, radiotherapy treatments, nutritional deficiencies, and nicotine withdrawal. In rare cases, long-lasting ulcers can be a sign of a more serious health problem.
What treatments are available for mouth ulcers?
We can fix your teeth or dentures to remove the irritation that’s causing your mouth ulcers.
Common questions about mouth ulcers
-
Although they are painful and annoying, mouth ulcers are not usually a cause for major concern. However, if you get a lot of ulcers that have no obvious cause, they could result from an underlying medical condition. If you have frequent ulcers, or an ulcer that lasts longer than three weeks, it’s important to get it checked by your dentist or GP.
-
Most treatments for mouth ulcers focus on numbing the pain and reducing the inflammation while your ulcer heals. They come as gels, creams, pastes, and mouthwashes containing analgesic and sometimes antiviral medication. An infected ulcer might require antibiotics. If your ulcers are caused by irritation from chipped teeth or ill-fitting dentures, fixing them will prevent future ulcers forming.
-
You can’t cure mouth ulcers at home, but you can do things to make yourself more comfortable while you wait for them to go away. Over-the-counter pain relief and ulcer gels or pastes will help to ease the discomfort. While your ulcer is healing, avoid hot, spicy, or acidic foods and drinks and use a soft toothbrush.
-
Sometimes mouth ulcers result from a vitamin or mineral deficiency. If you regularly get ulcers, you might be low in vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin B12, zinc, or iron. These deficiencies can indicate an underlying health problem that is preventing you from absorbing nutrients correctly, such as celiac disease. They can also result from a poor diet or drinking too much alcohol.
-
Most people experience mouth ulcers at some stage in their life, and often they appear for no apparent reason. A good oral hygiene routine and a healthy diet will help to prevent ulcers caused by bacteria in the mouth and nutrient deficiencies. Getting chipped or broken teeth or ill-fitting dentures fixed by your dentist will prevent ulcers caused by irritation.
-
The cost of treating mouth ulcers depends on the underlying cause. If you have a problem with ulcers, come see us for a check-up so we can identify if there is a dental issue involved. If so, we’ll give you a quote and discuss your payment options. If necessary, we can refer you to your GP.