Mouth Ulcer: Causes, Treatment & Prevention
A mouth ulcer occurs when a part of the lining of the inside of your mouth becomes damaged. The area that hurts is known as a mouth ulcer. They are very common and can be caused by many different things. The majority are not caused by anything serious and will improve on their own within 2 weeks. They look like red and white lesions on the inside of your cheeks that are usually less than ½ inch in size. You can sometimes get larger mouth ulcers which can appear at the bottom of the gums, under or on the tongue. Most people have at least one attack of mouth ulcers in their life but they are more common in women and under the age of 40. They cannot be passed on by kissing or sharing utensils. Unfortunately, up to 1 in 5 people have recurrent attacks of mouth ulcers. Over a third of people with recurrent mouth ulcers have a family history of it and this figure rises to over 80% if both parents suffered from recurrent mouth ulcers. Certain medical conditions can also predispose to chronic mouth ulcers developing, such as: Vitamin B12 deficiency. Viral infections – a very common trigger for mouth ulcers. Iron deficiency. Celiac disease (intolerance to a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley). Crohn's disease. Reiter's syndrome. HIV infection. Occasionally, mouth ulcers can be linked to medication and common examples include: Painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Nicorandil and beta blockers – both used in heart conditions.
Reviewed: 14.03.2025 | 3 min read
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