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What are Mouth Ulcers?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are open sores that develop inside a person’s mouth. They are caused by a variety of things, including viruses, bacteria, and cancer. Sometimes sores develop as the result of a medical condition while others form while a person is using a certain type of medication. Mouth ulcers may also form because the inside of the mouth is injured, such as from a hard bite to the cheek or after a chemical irritates the oral cavity tissues.

In some cases, canker sores form because of a person’s own immune system. In such a case, the immune system may overreact to a foreign body or treat the mouth tissue as if it were foreign, causing a sore in the affected area. Some people seem prone to developing them when they are fatigued, stressed, or ill with an unrelated condition. They may also form in relation to hormonal fluctuations and the sudden loss of weight. Mouth ulcers may even develop during a woman's menstrual period or as a result of vitamin deficiencies.

When a person has a canker sore, the affected area may sting or burn. A spot or bump may appear next, though it is usually replaced by an open sore. The length of time the ulcer takes to fully develop may depend on what caused the ulcer.

Stress may lead to the development of mouth ulcers.
Stress may lead to the development of mouth ulcers.

Typically, mouth ulcers are whitish, yellowish, or grayish and are surrounded by a red area of inflammation. In some cases, a white circle forms around the ulcerated tissue. The colored area inside of the reddened inflammation usually develops because layers of a protein called fibrin have formed at the site of the ulcer. Sometimes a person also experiences swollen glands in the area below the jawline while he has a canker sore.

Women may experience mouth ulcers during their menstrual period.
Women may experience mouth ulcers during their menstrual period.

Often, mouth ulcers go away on their own, without requiring any medical treatment. Sometimes people use oral numbing agents to reduce pain and make living with them more tolerable. Depending on the severity of the case, a person may need a prescription medication to numb the area. Minor cases can be treated with over-the-counter medications instead. In very severe cases, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics or steroids to treat canker sores.

Medication may be required to treat a mouth ulcer.
Medication may be required to treat a mouth ulcer.

Usually, patients aim to merely treat the symptoms of mouth ulcers, as their causes are often undiagnosed. If the specific cause of a canker sore is known, a doctor may treat that condition as well. A person should seek medical advice if he’s has a sore for more than three weeks.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon241259

I was suffering from mouth ulcers for the last thirty years. I tried allopathic, Ayurvedic and homoeopathic treatment but they were of no use. By taking a naturopathic treatment I, was fully cured in one month. I have cured permanently many persons of mouth ulcers.

ysmina

@feruze-- Have you heard of magic mouthwash? It's a special mouthwash that is prescribed by the doctor. It has different ingredients in it depending on what it's being used for. The doctor writes the prescription and the pharmacist mixes it up for you. Magic mouthwash has done wonders for my recurrent mouth ulcers.

Aside from that, gargling with warm salt water is a good home remedy to kill bacteria in the mouth and helps with preventing ulcers too. I've heard that taking folic acid supplements helps, but can't vouch for that one because I've never tried them. I do know that folic acid is essential in the diet though, so it probably helps.

bear78

My sister gets mouth ulcers a lot. She has Crohn's disease, it's an inflammatory disease that affects the digestive system. Mouth ulcers was one of the first symptoms she had of the disease and has suffered from them since her diagnosis.

They usually come up in clusters and can get very bad. I remember times that she couldn't speak or eat properly because of it. If it comes up in the back of her throat, it makes it hard for her to swallow too.

Mouth hygiene helps, but she hasn't really found any mouth ulcer cures. Does anyone know any remedies that might help?

fify

I get a mouth ulcer whenever I use a prescribed medication for over two weeks. The medication is a proton pump inhibitor that helps limit the production of acid in the stomach. I take it for acid reflux disease.

The only problem with it is that it causes a painful mouth ulcer after daily use. It usually shows up after the second week and does not go away unless I take a few days off of the medication. So that's what I do, I take it for 2 weeks and then stop for 3-4 days for the mouth ulcer to go away.

The medication doesn't even list this as a side effect but it can't be a coincidence. I don't have any viral or bacterial infections and I take my vitamins so this has to be the reason.

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    • Stress may lead to the development of mouth ulcers.
      By: .shock
      Stress may lead to the development of mouth ulcers.
    • Women may experience mouth ulcers during their menstrual period.
      By: blackday
      Women may experience mouth ulcers during their menstrual period.
    • Medication may be required to treat a mouth ulcer.
      By: Klaus Eppele
      Medication may be required to treat a mouth ulcer.
    • Mouth ulcers may develop as a result of fatigue.
      By: jedi-master
      Mouth ulcers may develop as a result of fatigue.
    • Mouth ulcers may lead to swollen glands just below the jawline.
      By: Alexander Raths
      Mouth ulcers may lead to swollen glands just below the jawline.
    • Mouth ulcers often go away on their own.
      By: yanmingzhang
      Mouth ulcers often go away on their own.