A
mouth ulcer or
canker sore is a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. The condition is also called
aphthous stomatitis.
A mouth ulcer appears as a yellow or grey oval, on average about 3 mm across, with an inflamed red border. The ulcer may be accompanied by a painful swelling of the
lymph glands[?] below the jaw, which can be mistaken for
toothache[?].
The immediate cause of mouth ulcers is unknown, but factors that appear to provoke them include
stress and illness, damage from rough teeth, and deficiencies in
vitamin B12 and
folic acid.
Other disorders can cause mouth ulcers, including oral thrush, oral cancer, leukoplakia, gingivostomatitis, oral lichen planus and herpes simplex. The treatment depends on the cause.
Mouth ulcers normally heal without treatment within seven to ten days. The symptoms can be alleviated by medicines such as mouthwashes, pastilles and pain-relieving gels, which are available in drugstores. Treatments based on
antibiotics and
steroids are reserved for severe cases, and should be used only under medical supervision. Good oral hygiene and avoidance of spicy foods can help to reduce the pain. The miracle cures that are advertised should be viewed with scepticism.