The most common causes
– Canker sores. These are shallow white ulcers that appear inside the mouth. The exact cause is unknown, but they are triggered by stress, minor injuries, or a weak immune system (1).
– Biting the inside of your cheek or lips by accident. Also when you wear braces or have a broken tooth. The constant rubbing will cause ulcers.
– Burning yourself with hot food. Also, strong mouthwashes can cause blisters and sores.
– Cold sores: Also known as fever blisters, they are caused by the herpes virus (HSV-1). They are fluid-filled blisters around the lips, but they can also grow inside the mouth. Cold sores are contagious and can be transmitted through kisses or sharing a bottle. When they dry, they turn into ulcers.
– Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD): This one affects children. It is caused by a virus (coxsackievirus) and can cause painful blisters in the mouth, hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks.
Not so frequent causes
– Crohn’s disease or coeliac disease.
– Iron deficiency can cause sores. It is very common in young women with heavy periods.
– Lichen planus is a condition that can affect different parts of your body, like your skin, mouth, or even your genitals. Your own immune system attacks your body by mistake. When it affects your mouth, you might see white patches that look like a lacy pattern. It can be painful to eat or drink (2).
– Autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Behçet’s disease…
– Some medications can cause ulcers as a side effect, like ibuprofen or some chemotherapy drugs.
– Mouth cancer. If you have an ulcer and it won’t heal after 2-3 weeks you have to worry it’s something else, like mouth cancer.
How to treat mouth ulcers
Treatment depends on the cause.
If you have cold sores from herpes, use some antiviral medication, such as acyclovir. Start as soon as possible when you notice the initial tingling sensation. You can also use some topical creams with antiviral drugs. They can help reduce the symptoms and promote healing. You can apply them directly to the cold sore.
If you have canker sores, your ulcers will heal on their own in 10-14 days. You can’t speed it up but you can reduce the symptoms (3):
- avoid spicy foods
- keep your mouth clean
- drink a lot of water
- use an alcohol-free mouthwash twice daily
Finally, if your ulcer doesn’t heal after 2 weeks, go to your doctor to rule out mouth cancer.
Sources
- Causes of blisters: https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_causes_of_blisters_in_the_mouth/article.htm
- Treatment for ulcers: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mouth-ulcers
- Lichen planus: https://www.aaom.com/oral-lichen-planus
Leave a Reply