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Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. But see a GP or dentist if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks.
Mouth ulcers are rarely a sign of anything serious, but may be uncomfortable to live with.
They need time to heal and there's no quick fix.
Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer should help:
use a soft-bristled toothbrush
drink cool drinks through a straw
eat softer foods
get regular dental check-ups
eat a healthy, balanced diet
do not eat very spicy, salty or acidic food
do not eat rough, crunchy food, such as toast or crisps
do not drink very hot or acidic drinks, such as fruit juice
do not use chewing gum
do not use toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate
A pharmacist can recommend a treatment to speed up healing, prevent infection or reduce pain, such as:
You can buy these without a prescription, but they may not always work.
Although most mouth ulcers are harmless, a long-lasting mouth ulcer is sometimes a sign of mouth cancer. It's best to get it checked.
A GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medicine to treat severe, persistent or infected mouth ulcers.
Possible treatments include:
Mouth ulcers usually appear inside the mouth, on the cheeks or lips.
Ulcers can also appear on the tongue.
You may have more than 1 ulcer at a time, and they can change in size.
Mouth ulcers are not contagious and should not be confused with cold sores.
Cold sores appear on the lips or around the mouth and often begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation.
Most single mouth ulcers are caused by things you can try to avoid, such as:
Sometimes they're triggered by things you cannot always control, such as:
If you have several mouth ulcers, it can be a symptom of:
