Mouth ulcer (PART 1)

Mouth ulcers are painful round or oval sores that form in the mouth, most often on the inside of the cheeks or lips. They're usually white, red, yellow or grey in colour and are inflamed (red and swollen) around the edge.                                                                                        Although mouth ulcers can be uncomfortable, especially when you eat, drink or brush your teeth, they are usually harmless.

Most mouth ulcers will clear up by themselves within a week or two. You only need to seek medical attention if the ulcer gets worse or lasts for longer than three weeks, or if you develop ulcers regularly.

Mouth ulcers cannot be caught from someone else. Up to 1 in 5 people get recurrent mouth ulcers.

Types of mouth ulcer:

The main types of mouth ulcer are:

Minor ulcers: These are around 2-8mm in diameter and usually clear up in 10 days to 2 weeks.

Major ulcers: These are bigger and deeper, often with a raised or irregular border. This type of ulcer can take several weeks to heal and may leave a scar in the mouth.

Herpetiform ulcers: This type of ulcer is a cluster of dozens of smaller sores the size of pinheads.

What causes mouth ulcers?

The exact cause of most mouth ulcers is unknown. Stress or tissue injury is thought to be the cause of simple mouth ulcers. Certain foods, including citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables (such as lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes and strawberries), can trigger a mouth ulcer or make the problem worse. 

Sometimes a sharp tooth surface or dental appliance, such as braces or ill-fitting dentures, might also trigger mouth ulcers.

Some cases of complex mouth ulcers are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system; nutritional problems, such as vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron deficiency and gastrointestinal tract disease, such as Coeliac disease and Crohn's disease.

When you first quit smoking, you may develop more mouth ulcers than normal, but this is temporary.

Some medications, including common pain killers, beta-blockers and some chest pain medicines may cause a reaction that leads to mouth ulcers.

                                                                                                               to be continued

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