Mouth ulcers are small sores, which develop in the mouth; they are not usually anything to worry about, but they can be painful and if they linger around, it’s best to get them checked out.

About mouth ulcers

Ulcers are painful sores, which are found most commonly on the inside of the cheeks or lips; they usually develop after you’ve cut your mouth. Many people find that they get an ulcer when they’ve accidentally caught the inside of their cheek or their tongue when chewing food. Ulcers can be yellow, grey or blue in colour; sometimes they are completely harmless, but they can be often be painful, especially if you touch them by accident when you’re brushing your teeth or eating something sour or sharp, such as a fizzy sweet or a crisp, for example.

It’s common to have an ulcer, but if you develop them on a regular basis, this can be symptomatic of stress and feeling unwell or run down.

What can I do for an ulcer?

In most cases, ulcers go away within 7 days without the need for any treatment; however, if you have an ulcer that is causing you problems, you can buy gels to help reduce pain. These are available at chemists; if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist or give us a quick call.

In very rare occasions, ulcers can be symptomatic of oral cancer and we strongly advise patients to arrange an appointment with us or their GP if they have ulcers that appear to be healing very slowly. If you’ve had an ulcer for 2 weeks or longer, it’s best to get it checked out. In the vast majority of cases, there will be nothing to worry about, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Sometimes, ulcers appear when you’re stressed and tired; if you’re find that you are stressed out on a regular basis, try to reduce stress levels by taking time out to relax, using breathing exercises and sharing any problems you have.