What Causes Mouth Ulcers and How to Treat Them?

CLINICAL CONTENT WRITTEN & REVIEWED BY CLOVE CLINICAL TEAM

Last Modified: February 4, 2022

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Mouth ulcers are painful lesions that develop in the mouth or at the bottom of the gums. While they cause inconvenience, many people often ignore them. It is suggested that if your mouth ulcers last even after two weeks, you must contact your dentist as they can be indicators of an underlying condition.

What Causes Mouth Ulcers?

There are several reasons which can cause mouth ulcers. Some of the common factors known to trigger the growth of mouth ulcers are:

Oral Trauma and Irritation

This is one of the most common causes of mouth ulcers. Rough brushing, oral injury, ill-fitting braces, chewing hard foods, and broken or sharp teeth can cause trauma and irritation.

Stress and Anxiety

Your emotional health has a huge impact on your physical health. When you are under stress, the hormones produced by your body are capable of putting you at a high risk of mouth ulcers.

Is an Unhealthy Lifestyle Affecting Your Oral Health?

Nutritional Deficiencies

We all need some particular nutrients for our bodies so that they can function properly. Vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron deficiencies can lead to mouth ulcers. Your doctor can prescribe a supplement or even recommend a diet if your ulcers tend to recur because of these deficiencies.

Underlying Conditions

As it is mentioned above, ulcers can also be an indicator of some underlying problems. Ulcers are one of the symptoms which are caused due to conditions such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, suppressed immune system, and reactive arthritis.

Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers

It is easy to identify mouth ulcers as they have some very distinguishable features. Some of them include circular or elliptical shapes and are red and inflamed around the edges. In terms of colour, you will identify them as white, yellow, or grey. They usually tend to appear on and under the tongue’s surface and even inside of lips as well as cheeks. It is rare but ulcers can also form on the roof of the mouth.

Some Effective Tips to Deal with Ulcers:

It is advised to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth if your ulcer is impeding brushing properly.
Avoid hard foods such as toasts and biscuits and try to eat only liquid foods and soft food items.
It often happens for some people that they get ulcers due to eating hot and spicy foods. So, if you have witnessed that such foods trigger your ulcers, try to avoid them in your diet.
Focus on reducing your stress levels by engaging in any activity that you enjoy doing. You can also incorporate yoga and meditation in your daily routine for the same.

Oral Ulcers – A Quick Advice

You can follow the above-mentioned tips to prevent ulcers but if they last for more than three weeks then make sure you get a proper mouth ulcer treatment from expert dentists at your nearest Clove Dental clinic. We have a team of experts who can offer you the best oral treatment. Schedule an appointment with us now!