Why have I got them and how can I get rid of them?

If you’ve ever had a mouth ulcer, you’ll know how much a tiny sore can take over your day. These small, painful patches that suddenly appear inside your mouth make eating, drinking and even talking surprisingly uncomfortable.

The good news is that most heal on their own within a week or two. But understanding why they appear and what you can do to prevent them can make a big difference.

Mouth ulcers are incredibly common. Up to a quarter of the population will experience them at some point in their lives, and they’re especially frequent in teenagers and young adults. Some people get one or two a year; others find they pop up every month. They’re not contagious and they’re usually harmless, but they can still be miserable.

So why do they happen? In many cases, it’s something simple. Trauma to the area—from accidentally biting your cheek, scraping your gums with a toothbrush or irritation from braces or dentures—can trigger an ulcer. Certain foods, especially spicy, salty or acidic ones, can also irritate the lining of your mouth. Stress, fatigue and hormonal changes play a role too, and some people notice ulcers appear around their monthly period or during times of pressure at work or home.

Sometimes the cause is less obvious. Ulcers may be linked to low levels of iron, zinc, folate, B vitamins or vitamin D, or to underlying conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or a suppressed immune system. If a deficiency seems likely, it’s worth asking your primary care doctor for a blood test so that you can get the correct supplements.

Medications, including some anti-inflammatory medications, heart medicines like beta-blockers and lung medicines like bronchodilators, can also trigger them. And for a few people, recurrent ulcers are simply part of their genetic makeup, as they tend to run in families.

People who stop smoking often notice mouth ulcers appearing in the first couple of weeks. This is a withdrawal effect, and around two in five quitters develop them. They’re usually mild and settle within a month.

If you’re unlucky enough to get ulcers regularly, you might be dealing with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, a pattern of repeated ulcers. These ulcers can be tiny and short-lived, or larger and more severe, lasting several weeks. They’re thought to involve an overactive immune response in the mouth, which makes the lining more vulnerable to everyday triggers.

How to get rid of them

While there’s no instant cure and most ulcers clear up on their own within a week or two, there are several ways to ease the pain and help them heal faster. Rinsing with warm saltwater can soothe discomfort and reduce inflammation.

Over-the-counter topical treatments can help ease the pain of mouth ulcers and sometimes shorten how long they last. Local anesthetic gels and sprays, such as lidocaine and benzocaine, numb the area for a short period, making eating and drinking more comfortable.

Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory mouthwash, including chlorhexidine and benzydamine, can also help reduce discomfort and may slightly shorten healing time. For more stubborn or painful ulcers, you can buy steroid tablets that dissolve in the mouth. Doctors or dentists can prescribe steroid sprays or stronger mouthwash to reduce pain and swelling and speed healing.

If you keep getting ulcers, it’s worth looking at your toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent found in many brands, has been linked to mouth ulcers in some people. Switching to an SLS-free toothpaste may help reduce the pain and healing period of ulcers.

Eating softer foods, drinking cool liquids through a straw and avoiding spicy or acidic meals or rough, crunchy foods like chips can also make life more comfortable while an ulcer heals.

Prevention is often easier than treatment. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, keeping up with regular dental checkups and eating a balanced diet can all help protect the lining of your mouth. Managing stress and getting enough sleep may reduce how often ulcers appear. And if you suspect certain foods trigger your ulcers—chocolate, coffee, nuts and tomatoes are common culprits—keeping a diary can help you spot patterns.

If your mouth ulcer lasts longer than three weeks, keeps coming back or looks unusual, it’s important to get it checked. A persistent ulcer can occasionally be a sign of an underlying condition, including mouth cancer, so don’t ignore anything that feels out of the ordinary.

Mouth ulcers may be small, but they can have a big impact. The reassuring news is that simple changes, from switching toothpaste to managing stress, can make them far less frequent. And next time one appears, you’ll know exactly what’s going on and how to help it heal.

Who’s behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news.

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Andrew Zinin

Master’s in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X’s editorial success.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.