What Causes Mouth Ulcers And Do They Need Treatment?
Mouth ulcers are relatively common but how concerned should we be?
Most of us will have probably had a mouth ulcer at some point in our life. They can appear almost anywhere inside the oral cavity, including on the cheeks, lips, tongue or gums. Sometimes you might notice one while eating because something suddenly feels sore. On other occasions, you may not realise you have one until you brush your teeth and catch it with the toothbrush.
Fortunately, most mouth ulcers are nothing to worry about and will disappear on their own. They can, however, be surprisingly painful while they are there. So what causes them, and should patients of the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic in Canterbury consider having one checked?
What does a mouth ulcer look like?
A typical mouth ulcer is a small sore area with a pale or yellowish centre and a red area around it. They can be quite small, although some are considerably larger. You may have just one ulcer or several at the same time. Eating can be uncomfortable, particularly if the food is spicy, salty or acidic. Even brushing your teeth can be awkward if the ulcer is located in an inconvenient place.
Generally speaking though, an ulcer will usually go of its own accord within a week or two.
Obvious causes of ulcers
Accidentally biting the inside of your cheek, catching your lip with a toothbrush or eating something sharp that scratches the inside of your mouth can all cause an ulcer to appear. A poorly fitting denture, brace or other dental appliance can also rub against the tissues and cause an ulcer. Even a sharp edge on a tooth or filling can occasionally be responsible. If the same area keeps getting irritated, the ulcer may continue to return until the source of the irritation is dealt with. For this reason, if you find that an ulcer keeps appearing in the same spot, you should ask our Canterbury dentists to take a look to see if it is a tooth that is causing the issue.
The role of stress
Some people notice that mouth ulcers tend to appear when they are particularly stressed or run down. This is not necessarily the case for everyone, but there does appear to be a link for some. You may also notice ulcers appearing when you have not been sleeping particularly well or when you have been unwell. Hormonal changes can be another possible factor. Sometimes, though, an ulcer appears for no obvious reason at all. This can be frustrating, but it does not necessarily mean that there is anything significantly wrong.
Mouth ulcers and your diet
Certain nutritional deficiencies have been associated with recurring mouth ulcers. These include deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 and folate, among others. That does not mean that everyone who gets an ulcer needs to start taking supplements. There are many other possible explanations, and taking supplements unnecessarily is not particularly helpful though it may be worth trying to eat more healthily in some cases. If you regularly develop mouth ulcers, particularly if they are large or take a long time to heal, your Canterbury dentist or doctor may be able to advise whether further investigation is necessary.
Relieving discomfort from ulcers
It is rare for an ulcer to disappear overnight which means you may have some discomfort for a while until it heals. You can help to minimise this by avoiding spicy, salty or acidic foods. Very hot food and drinks may also make the area more painful. Some people find that rinsing the mouth with warm salt water provides temporary relief. There are also gels, mouthwashes and other products available from pharmacies that can help with discomfort.
Brushing your teeth with a mouth ulcer
Make sure that you continue to brush your teeth if you have a mouth ulcer. You may need to be a little more gentle around the affected area though. Avoiding brushing your teeth to keep the ulcer more comfortable may lead to more serious issues such as tooth decay or gum disease so do make sure to maintain your usual oral health regime. Use a soft toothbrush if your normal one feels uncomfortable and take care around the ulcer.
When should a mouth ulcer be checked?
Most mouth ulcers will heal naturally within around two weeks. If an ulcer has not healed after this time, it is sensible to have it checked, particularly if you cannot identify an obvious cause. This doesn’t inevitably mean that a persistent ulcer is necessarily something serious. There are many harmless reasons why an ulcer might take longer to disappear. However, an ulcer that does not heal should not simply be ignored. The same applies if an ulcer is unusually large, keeps returning, bleeds without an obvious reason or becomes increasingly painful.
Your dentist can examine the ulcer and decide whether anything further needs to be done or may refer you to your GP if there are any potential concerns. Remember though, that this is purely a precaution and doesn’t necessarily indicate anything serious.
Generally speaking then, there is no need to contact us if an ulcer develops, unless you feel that there is good reason to do so. Keeping your teeth and gums clean and having regular dental check ups will probably help to avoid them and may also aid quicker healing if they do occur.
For oral health checks or dental hygienist appointments, you can book an appointment at the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic by calling us on 01227 463529.