What is a mouth ulcer?

Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are small sores that develop within the mouth. The cause of mouth ulcers is mysterious however it is known that some injuries, allergies, or food sensitivities may trigger them.

Mouth ulcers are normally small, painful lesions that develop in the mouth or at the base of the gums. They make eating, drinking, and talking feel quite uncomfortable. Mouth ulcers aren’t contagious and usually go away within one to two weeks

Possible causes of mouth ulcers include

Minor mouth injury from dental work, hard brushing, sports injury, or accidental bite

Food sensitivities to acidic foods like strawberries, citrus, and pineapples, and other trigger foods like chocolate and coffee or gluten intolerance

Hormonal changes during menstruation

Lack of essential vitamins, especially B12, zinc, folate, and iron

Mouth bacteria or viral, or fungal infections

Dental braces

Psychological stress

Sleep deprivation

Mouth ulcers also can be a sign of conditions that are more serious

Conditions that may require medical attention include:

• celiac disease (a condition in which the body is unable to tolerate gluten)
• ulcerative colitis
• inflammatory bowel disease
• diabetes mellitus (diabetes type 2)
• a malfunctioning immune system that causes your body to attack the healthy mouth cells instead of viruses and bacteria
• HIV/AIDs

Types of mouth ulcers:

Minor canker sores are small round ulcers that heal within one to two weeks with no scarring.

Major canker sores are larger and deeper than minor ones. They have irregular edges and can take up to six weeks to heal. Major mouth ulcers can result in long-term scarring.

Herpetiform canker sores are pinpoint in size, occur in clusters of 10 to 100, and often affect adults. This type of mouth ulcer has irregular edges and will often heal without scarring within one to two weeks.

Please see a doctor if you develop any of the following:

Unusually large mouth ulcers

Sores that persist for more than three weeks

Sores that are painless

Mouth ulcers that extend to the lips

Pain that can’t be controlled with over-the-counter or natural medication

Severe problems eating and drinking

High fever or diarrhoea whenever the canker sores appear

Several treatments can decrease pain and healing time

These include:

Using a rinse of saltwater and baking soda

Covering mouth ulcers with baking soda paste
applying ice to canker sores

Nutritional supplements like folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and zinc

Natural remedies such as chamomile tea, echinacea, myrrh, and liquorice root

How nutritional therapy may help:

In the case of persistent mouth ulcers, nutritional therapy may be helpful to pinpoint trigger using your medical history and diet analysis. In the meantime, avoiding foods that irritate your mouth can be helpful. That includes acidic fruits like pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, or lemon, as well as nuts, or very spicy food. Instead, focus on alkaline (nonacidic) fruits and vegetables, while the ulcer heals.

Lifestyle advice includes reducing stress, getting adequate sleep and rest and maintaining good oral hygiene by using dental floss daily and brushing after meals.