Mouth ulcers can appear on:

  • Gums
  • Tongue
  • Roof of mouth (palate)
  • Inner cheeks
  • Inner lips

These sores are often painful and can make eating, drinking, and speaking uncomfortable.

What are the symptoms of a mouth ulcer?

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

  • Accidentally biting cheek, lip or tongue.
  • Trauma while brushing.
  • An allergic reaction to certain food.
  • Oral Bacterial infection.
  • Deficiency of Vitamins.
  • Genetic/ hereditary pre-disposal.
  • Wearing braces or retainers.
  • Digestive issues like GERD, Indigestion, etc.
  • Hormonal changes during the period.
  • Stress.
  • Lack of sleep.
  • Minor tissue injury from dental work, such as having a cavity filled.

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

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

How to cure mouth ulcers fast and naturally

There are also things we can do at home to relieve mouth sore symptoms:

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Diet high in protein and vitamins.
  • Practice good oral hygiene to keep our mouth as clean as possible.
  • Avoid hot and spicy foods until the ulcer heals.
  • Use an over-the-counter (OTC) topical anesthetic gel.

How long do mouth ulcers last?

In most cases, mouth ulcers go away on their own in about 10 to 14 days. If you have a mouth sore that lasts longer than three weeks, schedule an appointment with your dentist and get a follow up done. They can eliminate the cause, recommend treatment and tell you how to get rid of your mouth ulcer.

NEVER IGNORE AN ULCER IF IT HAS NOT HEALED WITHIN 3 WEEKS EVEN AFTER ELIMINATING THE CAUSE AND TAKING MEDICATIONS.