Mouth ulcers are small, painful patches or lumps inside your mouth.
Mouth ulcers usually heal within 2 weeks. To help ease the symptoms, avoid foods that may damage or hurt your mouth like spicy, salty or crunchy food.
The main symptom of a mouth ulcer is a small, painful patch or lump in your mouth.
The main symptom of a mouth ulcer is a small, painful patch or lump in your mouth.
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.
If you have several mouth ulcers, this can be a symptom of:
Mouth ulcers usually heal within 2 weeks. To help ease the symptoms, avoid foods that may damage or hurt your mouth like spicy, salty or crunchy food.
Mouth ulcers 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
Your GP or dentist may prescribe stronger medication to treat severe, recurrent or infected mouth ulcers.